22/77. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2395 — Gradual Fasting Guidance
Mention of fasting more or less, and mentioning the differences reported in the narration Of 'Abdullah Bin 'Amr About That
Alternate-Day Fasting Hadith and Gradual Prophetic Guidance
Sunan an-Nasai : 2395
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2395
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ ذَكَرْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الصَّوْمَ فَقَالَ " صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ عَشْرَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ تِلْكَ التِّسْعَةِ " . فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أَقْوَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ تِسْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ تِلْكَ الثَّمَانِيَةِ " . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَقْوَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " فَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ثَمَانِيَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ تِلْكَ السَّبْعَةِ " . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَقْوَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ حَتَّى قَالَ " صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا " .
`Amr Narrated from:
I spoke to the Prophet and he said: 'Fast one day out of ten and you will have the reward of the other nine.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast one day out of eight and you will have the reward of the other eight.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast one day out of eight and you will have the reward of the other seven.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' 'Fast one day and not the next.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2395In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 306English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2397
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2395
This alternate-day fasting hadith shows a gradual conversation between Abdullah bin Amr and the Prophet. Abdullah mentioned fasting, and the Prophet first told him to fast one day out of ten, with reward for the other nine. Abdullah said he was able to do more. The Prophet then moved to one day out of nine, then one day out of eight, each time mentioning reward for the remaining days. Abdullah continued to say he was stronger than that, until the guidance reached fasting one day and not the next. The text teaches that voluntary fasting was not presented as one harsh jump. It was discussed through levels, with the final pattern being alternate-day fasting.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet began with a lighter fasting pattern.
- Abdullah asked for more because he felt able.
- The guidance moved step by step toward alternate-day fasting.
- The final pattern mentioned is fasting one day and breaking the next.
