22/56. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2300 — Continual Fasting
Mention of the different report from Sulaiman bin Yasar in the Narration of Hamzah bin 'Amr about that
Continual Fasting While Traveling: The Prophetic Option
Sunan an-Nasai : 2300
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2300
أَخْبَرَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ أَبِي أَنَسٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، وَحَنْظَلَةَ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَانِي جَمِيعًا، عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَسْرُدُ الصِّيَامَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَسْرُدُ الصِّيَامَ فِي السَّفَرِ فَقَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصُمْ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَفْطِرْ " .
Hamzah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
I used to fast continually at the time of the Messenger of Allah. I said: 'O continually while traveling.' He said: 'If you wish then fast, and if you wish then do not fast.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2300In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 211English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2302
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2300
This Hadith speaks about fasting while traveling from the case of Hamzah bin 'Amr. He said that he used to fast continually at the time of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and mentioned that he continued fasting while traveling. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered: if you wish, then fast; and if you wish, then do not fast. This is helpful because Hamzah was not asking as someone new to fasting. He described a habit of frequent fasting, yet the answer still gave him a choice in travel. The Hadith shows that regular fasting does not remove the travel allowance in the wording of this report. It also keeps the matter simple: fast if you wish, or do not fast if you wish.
What we learn from this hadith
- Hamzah used to fast continually at that time.
- He asked about continuing that habit while traveling.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم allowed him to fast if he wished.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also allowed him not to fast if he wished.
