7/53. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1762 — Women and Voluntary Fasting
A woman who fasts without the permission of her husband
Women Fasting Without Permission Hadith
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1762
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1762
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ النِّسَاءَ أَنْ يَصُمْنَ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ أَزْوَاجِهِنَّ .
Abu Sa'eed Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade women from fasting without the permission of their husbands.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1762In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 125English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1762
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1762
This women fasting without permission hadith gives a short but serious instruction. Abu Sa’eed narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade women from fasting without the permission of their husbands. The text does not mention Ramadan directly, but it is placed with narrations about fasting permission, so the focus is on optional fasting. The lesson is not that fasting is disliked. Fasting remains an act of worship. The point here is that voluntary worship should not ignore the rights of marriage. A Muslim home needs mercy, communication, and balance. This hadith reminds believers that even good deeds should be done in a way that does not create harm or tension.
What we learn from this hadith
- Optional fasting should be connected with communication in married life.
- The narration points to the husband’s permission in this specific case.
- Good deeds should not lead to neglecting close personal rights.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught balance between worship and household duties.
