16/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1429h — Invitation While Fasting
The command to accept invitations
Accepting a Feast Invitation While Fasting
Sahih Muslim : 1429h
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1429h
وَحَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مُوسَى بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَجِيبُوا هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةَ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ لَهَا " . قَالَ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ يَأْتِي الدَّعْوَةَ فِي الْعُرْسِ وَغَيْرِ الْعُرْسِ وَيَأْتِيهَا وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ .
Nafi Narrated from:
I heard Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) narrating that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Accept the feast when you are invited to it. And Abdullah (b. Umar) used to come to the feast, whether it was a wedding feast or other than that, and he would come there even in the state of fasting.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1429hIn-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 119USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3344
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1429h
This Hadith teaches accepting a feast invitation and adds an important report about Ibn Umar's practice. Nafi heard Abdullah ibn Umar narrate that Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to accept the invitation when invited to it. The narration then says Ibn Umar would attend invitations, whether they were wedding feasts or not, and he would attend even while fasting. This does not say in this wording that every fasting person must eat. It simply shows that attending itself has value. The Hadith about invitation while fasting teaches that a person can still honor the host and be present, even if he is not eating because of fasting.
What we learn from this hadith
- A feast invitation should be accepted when possible.
- Ibn Umar attended both wedding and non-wedding invitations.
- Being fasting did not stop Ibn Umar from attending.
- Presence itself can honor the host.
