Pause and identify the Companion, the scholar, and the prominent figure.
A new challenge: Who am I?
I am one of the Muhajirun (Emigrants) among the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the son of a noble Companion.
I embraced Islam and migrated before my father, and I was known for my knowledge, worship, and the recording of hadith.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to forbid his Companions from writing down his hadith.
Then, he granted me permission.
I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, shall I write down what I hear from you?"
He replied, "Yes."
I asked, "In times of contentment and in times of anger?"
He said, "Yes, for I say nothing but the truth."
I used to fast frequently and recite the Qur'an often.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, advised me to moderate my worship.
He said to me, "Have I not been informed that you fast every day and recite the entire Qur'an every night?"
I replied, "Yes, O Prophet of Allah."
I intended nothing by that but good.
He said, "It is sufficient for you to fast three days every month."
I said, "O Prophet of Allah,"
"I am capable of more than that."
He said, "Your wife has a right over you,"
"Your visitors have a right over you,"
"And your body has a right over you."
"So, fast the fast of Dawud, the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him,"
"For he was the most devout of people."
I asked, "O Prophet of Allah, what is the fast of Dawud?"
He said, "He used to fast one day and break his fast the next."
Then he said,
"And recite the Qur'an once every month."
I said, "O Prophet of Allah,"
"I am capable of more than that."
He said, "Then recite it every twenty days."
I said, "O Prophet of Allah,"
"I am capable of more than that."
He said, "Then recite it every ten days."
I said, "O Prophet of Allah,"
"I am capable of more than that."
He said, "Then recite it every seven days."
"And recite it in three days, but do not exceed that, for your wife has a right over you, your visitors have a right over you, and your body has a right over you."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said to me,
"You do not know; perhaps you will live a long life,"
Meaning that it would become difficult for you.
So, I ended up following what the Prophet, peace be upon him, had told me.
When I grew old, I wished I had accepted the concession of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
I would fast for several days in a row,
Then I would break my fast for a number of days equal to those I had fasted.
I would recite my portions of the Qur'an in the same way,
Sometimes adding a little, sometimes subtracting a little,
But I would always fulfill it either in seven days or in three.
I used to say, "I parted from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, upon a certain matter,"
"And I dislike to deviate from it to anything else."
So, who am I?