22/76. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2391 — Rights Over You
Fasting one day, and not fasting one day, and the difference in the wording of the transmitters Of The Narration Of 'Abdullah Bin 'Amr About It
Your Body Has a Right Over You: Hadith on Balanced Fasting
Sunan an-Nasai : 2391
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2391
أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ دُرُسْتَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حُجْرَتِي فَقَالَ " أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ " . قَالَ بَلَى . قَالَ " فَلاَ تَفْعَلَنَّ نَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجَتِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِضَيْفِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِصَدِيقِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّهُ عَسَى أَنْ يَطُولَ بِكَ عُمُرٌ وَإِنَّهُ حَسْبُكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثًا فَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا " . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ . قَالَ " صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ " . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ . قَالَ " صُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ " . قُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ قَالَ " نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah entered my apartment and said: "I have been told that you stand all night (in prayer) and fast all day.' I said: 'Yes (I do).' He said: 'Do not do that. Sleep and stand (in prayer); fast and break your fast. For your eyes have a right over you, your body has a right over you, your body has a right over you, your wife has a right over you, your guest has a right over you, and your friend has a right over you. I hope that you will have a long life and that it will be sufficient for you to fast three days of each month. That is fasting for a lifetime, because a good deed is equal to ten like it.'I said : 'I feel able to do more.' I was strict, so I was dealt with strictly. He said: 'Fast three days each week.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that; I was strict, so I was dealt with strictly. He said: 'Observe the fast of the Prophet of Allah, Dawud, peace be upon him. I said: 'What was the fast of Dawud?' he said: 'Half of a lifetime."''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 2391In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 302English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2393
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2391
This hadith explains balanced fasting with very clear words. The Messenger of Allah was told that Abdullah stood all night in prayer and fasted all day. He told him not to do that. Instead, he should sleep and stand, fast and break the fast. The Prophet then listed rights: the eyes have a right, the body has a right, the wife has a right, the guest has a right, and the friend has a right. He also said that fasting three days each month is enough, because a good deed is equal to ten like it, so it is like fasting for a lifetime. When Abdullah kept asking for more, he was finally directed to the fast of Dawud, described as half of a lifetime.
What we learn from this hadith
- The eyes and body have rights that should not be ignored.
- A wife, guest, and friend also have rights mentioned in the hadith.
- Three monthly fasts are described as like fasting for a lifetime.
- Being strict on oneself can lead to stricter demands.
