13/35. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1159o — Accepting Ease in Worship
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
Accepting the Prophet’s Concession in Worship
Sahih Muslim : 1159o
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1159o
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ مَهْدِيٍّ، - قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، - حَدَّثَنَا سَلِيمُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مِينَاءَ، قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَلِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ بِي قُوَّةً . قَالَ " فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا " . فَكَانَ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي أَخَذْتُ بِالرُّخْصَةِ .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me! 'Abdullah b. 'Amr, it has been conveyed to me that you observe fast during the day and stand in prayer during the whole night. Don't do that, for your body has a share of its own in you, your eye has a share of its own in you, your wife has a share of her own in you. Observe fast and break it too. Fast for three days in every month and that is a perpetual fasting.I said! Messenger of Allah, I have got strength enough (to do more than this), whereupon he said: Then observe the fast of David (peace be upon him). Observe fast one day and break it (on the other) day. And he ('Abdullah b. 'Amr) used to say: Would that I had availed myself of this concession.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1159oIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 249USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2599
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1159o
This Hadith teaches balance and accepting ease in worship. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم heard that Abdullah b. Amr fasted by day and prayed through the night. He told him not to do that, because the body, eyes, and wife each had a share upon him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised fasting and breaking the fast, and fasting three days each month, which he described as perpetual fasting in reward. When Abdullah said he had strength for more, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم guided him to the fast of Dawud: one day fasting and one day breaking. Abdullah later wished he had taken the concession. This makes the Hadith a strong reminder not to reject ease when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم offers it.
What we learn from this hadith
- The body, eyes, and wife have shares that must be respected.
- Three fasts each month are described as a form of perpetual fasting in reward.
- The fast of Dawud is one day fasting and one day breaking.
- A person may later wish they accepted an easier prophetic allowance.
