83/31. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6704 — Balanced Worship Over Harsh Vows
To vow for something not possessed, and for something sinful
Hadith About Balanced Worship and Harsh Vows
Sahih Bukhari : 6704
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6704
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ بَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ إِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلٍ قَائِمٍ فَسَأَلَ عَنْهُ فَقَالُوا أَبُو إِسْرَائِيلَ نَذَرَ أَنْ يَقُومَ وَلاَ يَقْعُدَ وَلاَ يَسْتَظِلَّ وَلاَ يَتَكَلَّمَ وَيَصُومَ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مُرْهُ فَلْيَتَكَلَّمْ وَلْيَسْتَظِلَّ وَلْيَقْعُدْ وَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ ". قَالَ عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
While the Prophet (ﷺ) was delivering a sermon, he saw a man standing, so he asked about that man. They (the people) said, "It is Abu Israil who has vowed that he will stand and never sit down, and he will never come in the shade, nor speak to anybody, and will fast.'' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Order him to speak and let him come in the shade, and make him sit down, but let him complete his fast."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6704In-book reference : Book 83, Hadith 81USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 78, Hadith 695
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6704
This hadith about balanced worship describes Abu Israil, who vowed to stand and not sit, stay away from shade, avoid speaking, and fast. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw him while delivering a sermon and asked about him. After hearing the details, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered that he should speak, come into the shade, sit down, and complete his fast. This hadith clearly separates a valid act of worship from unnecessary hardship. The fast remained, but the harmful or excessive parts were stopped. A person searching for a hadith about vows and hardship can see that Islam does not praise every difficult action. Worship should follow guidance, not self-imposed suffering.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stopped parts of the vow that caused needless hardship.
- Abu Israil was still told to complete his fast.
- Silence, standing, and avoiding shade were not treated as needed here.
- Balanced worship is better than self-imposed suffering.
