22/63. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2317 — Fidyah Exception
Interpreting the saying of Allah, The Mighty And Sublime: "And as for those who can fast with difficulty,(e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskin (poor person) (for every day)"
Fidyah for Those Unable to Fast: Ibn Abbas' Explanation
Sunan an-Nasai : 2317
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2317
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا وَرْقَاءُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ } يُطِيقُونَهُ يُكَلَّفُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ وَاحِدٍ { فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا } طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ آخَرَ لَيْسَتْ بِمَنْسُوخَةٍ { فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ } لاَ يُرَخَّصُ فِي هَذَا إِلاَّ لِلَّذِي لاَ يُطِيقُ الصِّيَامَ أَوْ مَرِيضٍ لاَ يُشْفَى .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Concerning this verse "And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskin (poor person) (for every day)." That for those who can fast with difficulty means they find it hard; to feed a Miskin means feeding one poor person for each day. But whoever does good of his own accord means feeding another poor person. This is not abrogated, and it is bette for him. And: that "you fast is better for you" means there is no concession regarding this except for those who are not able to fast, or who are incurably sick.
[1] Al-Baqarah 2:184.[3] Al-Baqarah 2:184.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2317In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 228English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2319
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2317
This Hadith gives Ibn 'Abbas' explanation of the verse about fidyah for fasting. He explains those who can fast with difficulty as people who find fasting hard. Feeding a poor person means one poor person for each day, and doing extra good means feeding another poor person. In this narration, he says the verse is not abrogated and that fasting is better. He also limits the concession in this text to one who is not able to fast or one who is sick and not expected to recover. For searches like fidyah for unable to fast and Ibn Abbas fasting fidyah, this report gives the wording needed.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fidyah is described as feeding one poor person for each day.
- Feeding another poor person is mentioned as extra good.
- The concession is linked here to inability to fast or incurable sickness.
