7/43. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1741 — Balanced Fasting Without Self-Harm
Fasting during the sacred months
Hadith About Balanced Fasting and Sacred Months
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1741
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1741
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي السَّلِيلِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُجِيبَةَ الْبَاهِلِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَوْ عَنْ عَمِّهِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَنَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي أَتَيْتُكَ عَامَ الأَوَّلِ . قَالَ " فَمَا لِي أَرَى جِسْمَكَ نَاحِلاً " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَكَلْتُ طَعَامًا بِالنَّهَارِ مَا أَكَلْتُهُ إِلاَّ بِاللَّيْلِ . قَالَ " مَنْ أَمَرَكَ أَنْ تُعَذِّبَ نَفْسَكَ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَقْوَى . قَالَ " صُمْ شَهْرَ الصَّبْرِ وَيَوْمًا بَعْدَهُ . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَقْوَى . قَالَ " صُمْ شَهْرَ الصَّبْرِ وَيَوْمَيْنِ بَعْدَهُ " . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَقْوَى . قَالَ " صُمْ شَهْرَ الصَّبْرِ وَثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ بَعْدَهُ وَصُمْ أَشْهُرَ الْحُرُمِ " .
Abu Mujibah Al-Bahili Narrated from:
It was narrated from Abu Mujibah Al-Bahili that his father or, his paternal uncle, said: “I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, I am the man who came to you last year.’ He said: ‘Why do I see your body so thin (and weak)?’ He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I do not eat during the day; I only eat at night.’ He said: ‘Who commanded you to punish yourself?’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I am strong enough.’ He said: ‘Fast the month of patience* and one day after it.’ I said: ‘I am strong enough (to do more).’ He said: ‘Fast the month of patience and two days after it.’ I said: ‘I am strong enough (to do more).’ He said: ‘Fast the month of patience and three days after it, and fast the sacred months.’”
[1] It is the month of Ramadân ( Sindî ).Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1741In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 104English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1741
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1741
This hadith about voluntary fasting shows that worship should not become self-punishment. The man had stopped eating during the day and had become thin and weak. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed his condition and asked why his body looked so weak. When the man said he only ate at night, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, “Who commanded you to punish yourself?” This makes the message clear: fasting is worship, but the body also has a right. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then guided him step by step: fast the month of patience, then add one, two, and three days, and fast the sacred months. The tone is gentle and measured, not harsh.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fasting should not be turned into self-punishment.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم cared about a person’s physical condition while guiding worship.
- Extra fasting can be increased in a measured way when a person is able.
- The sacred months are mentioned here as times connected with fasting.
