83/31. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6701 — Allah Does Not Need Self-Torture
To vow for something not possessed, and for something sinful
Hadith About Self-Torture in Worship
Sahih Bukhari : 6701
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6701
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنْ تَعْذِيبِ هَذَا نَفْسَهُ ". وَرَآهُ يَمْشِي بَيْنَ ابْنَيْهِ. وَقَالَ الْفَزَارِيُّ عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ حَدَّثَنِي ثَابِتٌ عَنْ أَنَسٍ
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah is not in need of this man) torturing himself," when he saw the man walking between his two sons (who were supporting him).
[1] The man had vowed that he would perform the Hajj on foot though he was old and sick.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6701In-book reference : Book 83, Hadith 78USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 78, Hadith 692
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6701
This hadith about self-torture in worship shows the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم seeing a man walking between his two sons while they supported him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Allah is not in need of this man torturing himself. The wording is short, but the lesson is direct. Worship is not meant to become self-inflicted harm. A person may think that making worship harder always makes it better, but this narration rejects that idea in this case. The man was not praised for pushing himself in a harmful way. Instead, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم pointed out that Allah does not need such torture from him. Worship should follow sound guidance, not hardship for its own sake.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah is not in need of a person torturing himself.
- Hardship for its own sake is not praised in this narration.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected harmful behavior linked to worship.
- Acts of devotion should stay within guided and reasonable limits.
