7/51. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1758 — Allah’s Right Is Greater
One who dies owing a fast that he vowed to observe
Hadith on Fasting Debt and the Right of Allah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1758
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1758
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ الْبَطِينِ، وَالْحَكَمِ، وَسَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، وَعَطَاءٍ، وَمُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُخْتِي مَاتَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا صِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ قَالَ " أَرَأَيْتِ لَوْ كَانَ عَلَى أُخْتِكِ دَيْنٌ أَكُنْتِ تَقْضِينَهُ " . قَالَتْ بَلَى . قَالَ " فَحَقُّ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ " .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
A woman came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, my sister has died and she owed a fast of two consecutive months.’ He said: ‘Do you not think that if your sister owed a debt, you would pay it off for her?’ She said: ‘Of course.’ He said: ‘The right of Allah is greater.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1758In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 121English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1758
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1758
This hadith about fasting debt after death records a woman asking about her sister, who died while owing two consecutive months of fasting. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered with a comparison: if her sister had a debt, would she pay it? She said yes. He then said, “The right of Allah is greater.” The text teaches that owed worship should not be ignored. It uses a simple example everyone understands: debt. The narration does not give every legal detail about who must fast or feed in every situation. It simply shows that the obligation owed to Allah deserves serious attention. This fits searches like “right of Allah is greater hadith.”
What we learn from this hadith
- Owed fasts are compared to a debt in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم answer.
- The right of Allah is described as greater.
- The woman’s concern for her deceased sister is treated seriously.
- The hadith uses an easy example to explain responsibility.
