7/1. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1639 — Fasting as a Shield
What was narrated concerning the virtues of fasting
Hadith About Fasting as a Shield From the Fire
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1639
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1639
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، أَنْبَأَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، أَنَّ مُطَرِّفًا، مِنْ بَنِي عَامِرِ بْنِ صَعْصَعَةَ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ الثَّقَفِيَّ دَعَا لَهُ بِلَبَنٍ يَسْقِيهِ فَقَالَ مُطَرِّفٌ: إِنِّي صَائِمٌ . فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ: " الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ كَجُنَّةِ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنَ الْقِتَالِ " .
Mutarrif Narrated from:
‘Uthman bin Abul-‘As Ath-Thaqafi invited him to drink some milk that he poured for him. Mutarrif said: “I am fasting.” ‘Uthman said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Fasting is a shield against the Fire just like the shield of anyone of you against fighting.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1639In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1639
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1639
This Hadith about fasting as a shield comes through a simple scene. ‘Uthman bin Abul-‘As offered Mutarrif milk, but Mutarrif said he was fasting. ‘Uthman then mentioned that he heard the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم say: “Fasting is a shield against the Fire just like the shield of anyone of you against fighting.” The image is easy to understand. A shield protects a person in battle, and fasting is described here as a shield against the Fire. The Hadith does not list every detail of how to fast. It focuses on the protective value of fasting and connects a daily act of worship to safety in the Hereafter.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fasting is described as a shield against the Fire.
- The comparison to a battle shield makes the teaching easy to picture.
- Mutarrif’s fasting became the reason this reminder was mentioned.
- The Hadith points to fasting as a serious act, not only leaving food.
