7/46. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1749 — Bilal’s Fasting and Angels’ Forgiveness
Concerning the fasting person when others are eating in his presence
Hadith About Bilal Fasting While Food Was Served
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1749
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1749
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُصَفَّى، حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ لِبِلاَلٍ " الْغَدَاءُ يَا بِلاَلُ " . فَقَالَ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " نَأْكُلُ أَرْزَاقَنَا وَفَضْلُ رِزْقِ بِلاَلٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَشَعَرْتَ يَا بِلاَلُ أَنَّ الصَّائِمَ تُسَبِّحُ عِظَامُهُ وَتَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ مَا أُكِلَ عِنْدَهُ " .
Sulaiman bin Buraidah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to Bilal: ‘Come and eat, O Bilal.’ He said: ‘I am fasting.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘We are eating our provision, but most of Bilal’s provision is in Paradise. Do you realise, O Bilal, that the bones of the fasting person glorify Allah and the angels pray for forgiveness for him so long as food is eaten in front of him?’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1749In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 112English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1749
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1749
This hadith about Bilal fasting gives a vivid picture of restraint. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم invited Bilal to eat, but Bilal said he was fasting. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied that they were eating their provision, while Bilal’s provision was in Paradise. He then mentioned that the bones of the fasting person glorify Allah and the angels seek forgiveness for him as long as food is eaten in front of him. The wording praises the fasting person’s state without blaming those who were eating. It teaches that fasting has hidden honor with Allah. Searchers looking for “Bilal fasting hadith” or “bones of fasting person glorify Allah” will find this narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- Bilal remained fasting when invited to eat.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spoke highly of the fasting person’s unseen reward.
- The hadith mentions angels seeking forgiveness for the fasting person.
- Those eating their provision were not criticized in the narration.
