22/73. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2383 — Limits in Voluntary Fasting
Mentioning the different reports from Ghaylan bin Jarir about it
Hadith on Lifetime Fasting and Limits in Worship
Sunan an-Nasai : 2383
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2383
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِيَّ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِهِ فَغَضِبَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولاً . وَسُئِلَ عَمَّنْ صَامَ الدَّهْرَ فَقَالَ " لاَ صَامَ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَ أَوْ مَا صَامَ وَمَا أَفْطَرَ " .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah was asked about his fasting and he got angry. 'Umr said: "We are content with Allah as our lord, Islam as our religion and Muhammad as or Prophet." And he was asked about someone who fasted for the rest of his life and said: "He neither fasted nor broke his fast." 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2383In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 294English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2385
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2383
This hadith on lifetime fasting begins with the Messenger of Allah being asked about his own fasting, and he became angry. Umar then expressed contentment with Allah as Lord, Islam as religion, and Muhammad as Messenger. The narration then turns to the question of a person who fasts for the rest of his life. The Prophet replied that such a person neither fasted nor broke his fast, or similar wording. The core message is about limits in voluntary fasting. The hadith does not praise making fasting a nonstop life pattern. Instead, it shows that worship should be guided by the Prophet’s teaching. Even when someone wants to do good, the way of worship matters.
What we learn from this hadith
- Asking about worship should be done with care and respect.
- Lifetime fasting is corrected in this narration.
- Strong personal effort should not replace prophetic guidance.
- Contentment with Allah, Islam, and the Messenger is shown as a noble response.
