Musnad Ahmad Hadith 6878

It is narrated from Ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that once the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) came to his house and the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Are you the one about whom I have been informed that you say, 'I will stand in prayer every night and fast every day'?" I submitted, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah! I am the one who said this." The Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said: "It is sufficient for you to fast only three days every month; this is equal to fasting all the time." I imposed hardship upon myself, so hardship was imposed upon me. I submitted, "I have the strength for more than this." The Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Then fast three days every week." I imposed hardship, so hardship was imposed upon me. I submitted, "O Messenger of Allah! I have the strength for something better than this." The Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Then fast one day and leave one day; this is the most moderate way of fasting, and this is the way of Dawud (peace be upon him)." Then the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Your soul has a right over you, and your family also has a right over you." The narrator says that then Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) continued to fast according to this method until he became old and weak. At that time, he used to say, "Now I prefer to accept the concession of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) more than my family and wealth."