13/35. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1159f — Avoid Perpetual Fasting
Prohibition of Fasting for a lifetime for the one who will be harmed by that or who will neglect other duties, or does not break his fast on the two 'Ids or during the days of At-Tashriq; It is better to fast alternate days
No Reward for Perpetual Fasting Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 1159f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1159f
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَطَاءً، يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، - رضى الله عنهما - يَقُولُ بَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنِّي أَصُومُ أَسْرُدُ وَأُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ فَإِمَّا أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ وَإِمَّا لَقِيتُهُ فَقَالَ " أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُ وَتُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ حَظًّا وَلِنَفْسِكَ حَظًّا وَلأَهْلِكَ حَظًّا . فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصَلِّ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ عَشْرَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ تِسْعَةٍ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أَجِدُنِي أَقْوَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " فَصُمْ صِيَامَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ " . قَالَ وَكَيْفَ كَانَ دَاوُدُ يَصُومُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ " كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى " . قَالَ مَنْ لِي بِهَذِهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ عَطَاءٌ فَلاَ أَدْرِي كَيْفَ ذَكَرَ صِيَامَ الأَبَدِ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ " .
'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. 'As Narrated from:
It was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that I observe fast successively and pray during the whole night. He sent for me or I met him and he (the Holy Prophet) said: It has been conveyed to me that you observe fast continuously and do not break it and pray during the whole night. Don't do that. for there is share for your eyes, share for your own self, share for your family; so observe fast and break it, pray and sleep and observe fast for one day during the ten days, and there is a reward for you (for other) nine (days besides the tenth day of the fast).I said: Apostle of Allah, I find myself more powerful than this. He said: Then observe the fast of David (peace be upon him). He ('Amr) said: Apostle of Allah, how did David observe fast? He (the Holy Prophet) said: He used to fast one day and break it on the other day, and he did not run (from the battlefield) as he encountered (the enemy). He said: Apostle of Allah, who can guarantee this for me (will I also encounter the enemy dauntlessly)?'Ata', the narrator of the hadith, said: I do not know how there (crept in) the matter of perpetual fast. The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ), however, said: He who observed perpetual fast did not fast at all; he who observed perpetual fast did not fast at all, he who observed perpetual fast did not fast at all.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1159fIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 240USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2591
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1159f
This Hadith gives a strong warning about perpetual fasting. Abdullah b. Amr was fasting successively and praying through the whole night. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم told him not to do that, because his eyes, his own self, and his family had a share upon him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised fasting and breaking the fast, praying and sleeping, and mentioned a lighter pattern before guiding him to the fast of Dawud. At the end, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم repeated that the one who observes perpetual fast did not fast at all. For readers searching for no reward for fasting every day Hadith, this narration shows that worship must not crush the rights of the body and family.
What we learn from this hadith
- Continuous fasting is strongly discouraged in this narration.
- The eyes, self, and family each have a share that must be respected.
- The fast of Dawud is presented as a better pattern than nonstop fasting.
- Prayer at night should be joined with sleep, not used to remove rest completely.
