On what basis is the continuous fasting of some of the Companions to be understood?

Question:
There are reports narrated from 'Umar, 'A'ishah, and Abu Talhah, found in al-Tabarani, Abu Bakr al-Firyabi, and Ibn Sa'd, that they used to fast continuously, and some of them used to fast for their entire lives. On what basis are these reports to be understood?

Answer:
The one who fasts continuously is one from whom the evidence has been hidden. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade continuous fasting and forbade fasting for one's entire life. He who fasts forever has not truly fasted, and if any of the Companions did so, it is because the Sunnah was hidden from him. The Sunnah is the authority over people: [al-Nisa:59], and not to Zayd and 'Amr, [al-Nisa:59].
Q: The prevalence of such a matter regarding the prohibition of continuous fasting?
A: In any case, a person should seek to follow the Sunnah, and he is not bound by the actions of Zayd and 'Amr. He should seek to follow the Sunnah if he wishes to fast one day and break the fast the next, or fast on Mondays and Thursdays, or fast three days of every month; that is good. As for fasting continuously for one's entire life, that is not fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , "He who fasts forever has not truly fasted." He (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade this. When they requested to fast continuously, he fasted continuously with them for one day, then another day, until they saw the new moon, and he said: , as if he was disciplining them when they refused to stop.