22/58. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2308 — Continual Fasting
Mentioning the Differences in the Report from Hisham 'Urwah about it
Continual Fasting and Travel: The Prophetic Choice
Sunan an-Nasai : 2308
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2308
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ حَمْزَةَ الأَسْلَمِيَّ، سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الصَّوْمِ فِي السَّفَرِ وَكَانَ رَجُلاً يَسْرُدُ الصِّيَامَ . فَقَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصُمْ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَفْطِرْ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
Hamzah Al-Aslami asked the Messenger of Allah about fasting while traveling as he was a man who used to fast continually. He said: "If you wish then fast and if you wish then do not fast."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2308In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 219English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2310
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2308
This Hadith mentions that Hamzah Al-Aslami used to fast continually, then asked about fasting while traveling. The Prophet gave a simple and kind answer: if you wish, fast, and if you wish, do not fast. The report is helpful for people searching continual fasting in Islam and fasting while traveling. It shows that even a person with a strong fasting routine was not told that he must keep fasting on a journey. At the same time, he was not stopped from fasting if he wished. The text keeps both options open, which is the main teaching of this narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- Continual fasting does not cancel the travel permission.
- A traveler may continue fasting if he chooses.
- A traveler may stop fasting during travel if he chooses.
