The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: The fast most liked by Allah is the one observed by Dawud (David), and the prayer dearer to Allah is the one offered by Dawud (David): he would sleep half the night, and stand (in prayer) one-third of it, and sleep one-sixth of it. He would go without fasting one day, and fast the other day.
Hadith Text & Reference
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: The fast most liked by Allah is the one observed by Dawud (David), and the prayer dearer to Allah is the one offered by Dawud (David): he would sleep half the night, and stand (in prayer) one-third of it, and sleep one-sixth of it. He would go without fasting one day, and fast the other day.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 2448 | Book: Fasting (Kitab Al-Siyam)
Meaning & Significance
This noble hadith highlights the excellence of Prophet Dawud's (AS) worship pattern, which combines balanced devotion with moderation. The fasting of Dawud (fasting every other day) represents the optimal middle path between excessive austerity and negligence in worship.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) specifically praised this practice as "most liked by Allah" because it maintains consistent devotion without causing physical exhaustion or neglect of worldly responsibilities, embodying the Islamic principle of moderation in all acts of worship.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam An-Nawawi explains that Dawud's fasting pattern (one day fasting, one day breaking) is superior to continuous fasting because it preserves one's strength for other obligations and prevents weariness that might diminish the quality of worship. This approach allows sustained devotion throughout life.
The night prayer schedule described demonstrates perfect time management: half the night for rest, one-third for prayer, and one-sixth for sleep before dawn. This balanced distribution ensures both spiritual fulfillment and physical restoration, making the worship sustainable and pleasing to Allah.
Scholars note that while this practice is highly recommended, it should not lead to neglecting family duties or one's health. The wisdom lies in its balance - it is strenuous enough to be meritorious yet manageable enough to be consistent.
Practical Application
Muslims may adopt this fasting pattern (known as Sawm Dawud) as a voluntary practice, particularly for those who can maintain it without hardship. It serves as an ideal model for combining various acts of worship while maintaining balance in one's daily life.
The hadith teaches us that the best worship is that which is performed consistently, even if moderate, rather than intense but sporadic devotion. This principle applies to all aspects of Islamic practice - consistency with moderation is superior to excess followed by abandonment.