He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “The first person to be judged on the day of resurrection will be a man who died as a martyr. He will be brought forward, and after God has reminded him of the favour He showed him and the man acknowledges it, He will ask, ‘What did you do to show gratitude for it?’ The man will reply, ‘I fought for Thy cause till I was martyred.’ God will say, ‘You lie. You fought that people might call you courageous, and they have done so.’ Command will then be issued about him, and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hell. Next a man who has acquired and taught knowledge and read the Qur’an will be brought forward, and after God has reminded him of the favour He showed him and the man acknowledges it, He will ask, ‘What did you do to show gratitude for it?’ The man will reply, ‘I acquired and taught knowledge and read the Qur’an for Thy sake.’ God will say, 'You lie. You acquired knowledge that people might call you learned, and you read the Qur’an that they might call you a reader, and they have done so.’ Command will then be issued about him, and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hell. Next a man whom God has made affluent and whom He has given all kinds of property will be brought forward, and after God has reminded him of the favour He showed him and the man acknowledges it, He will ask, ‘What did you do to show gratitude for it?’ The man will reply, ‘I have not neglected to give liberally for Thy sake to all the causes approved by Thee for this purpose.’ God will say, ‘You lie. You did it that people might call you generous, and they have done so.’ Command will then be issued about him, and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hell.” Muslim transmitted it.

Nubaisha al-Hudhali reported God’s messenger as saying, “The days of at-tashriq* are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of God.” *The three days after the sacrifice on the tenth of Dhul Hijja. The name is said to have been given because the flesh of the victims is cut into strips and put in the sun to dry; but other explanations are also given. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying. “None of you must fast on a Friday unless he fasts the day before or the day after.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not choose Thursday night as a particular night for prayer, and do not choose Friday as a particular day for fasting, unless it occurs during a fast one of you is observing.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone fasts for a day while engaged in jihad, God will remove him* seventy years’ distance from hell.” *Literally, ‘his face’. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As told of God’s messenger saying to him, “Have I not been informed, ‘Abdallah, that you fast during the day and get up at night for prayer?” [Mirqat explains this as meaning all night.] When he replied that that was so, he said, “Do not do it. Fast and break your fast, get up for prayer and sleep, for you have a duty to your body, your eye, your wife, and your visitors. May he who observe a perpetual fast never fast!* Fasting three days every month is equivalent to a perpetual fast. Fast three days every month and recite the Qur'an every month.” When he replied that he was able to do more than that, he said, “Observe the most excellent fast, that of David, fasting every second day, and recite the Qur’an once every seven nights, but do no more than that.” * Cf. the similar phrase in the tradition of Abu Qatada (p.434). Some hold that the meaning here is, ‘He who observes a perpetual fast has not fasted.’ (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Men’s deeds are presented [to God] on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like mine to be presented when I am fasting.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you fast three days in the month, Abu Dharr, fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said that God’s messenger used to fast the first three days every month, and he would seldom break his fast on a Friday. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Abu Dawud transmitted up to “three days every month.”

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger used to fast on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday one month, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the next. Tirmidhi transmitted it.