22/78. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2397 — What Lifetime Fasting Means
Fasting ten days of the month, and the Different Wording Reported by the Narrators in the Narration Of 'Abdullah Bin 'Amr About It
What Fasting for a Lifetime Means in Hadith
Sunan an-Nasai : 2397
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2397
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَسْبَاطٍ، عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَرَدْتُ بِذَلِكَ إِلاَّ الْخَيْرَ . قَالَ " لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ وَلَكِنْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى صَوْمِ الدَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ " . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " فَصُمْ عَشْرًا " . فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا " .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'I have heard that you stand (in prayer) all night and fast all day.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I only meant good by that.' He said: 'One who fasts every day of his life has not truly fasted. But I will tell you what fasting for a lifetime means: Three days of every month.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said 'Observe the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him; he used to fast one day and not the next.''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 2397In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 308English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2399
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2397
This hadith explains what fasting for a lifetime means in a balanced way. The Prophet heard that Abdullah bin Amr stood in prayer all night and fasted all day. Abdullah said he only meant good by it. The Prophet answered that one who fasts every day of his life has not truly fasted. Then he guided him to the meaning of fasting for a lifetime: three days of every month. Abdullah asked for more, and the Prophet mentioned five days, then ten days, and finally the Fast of Dawud, peace be upon him, who fasted one day and broke his fast one day. The hadith is clear that good intention needs the right method.
What we learn from this hadith
- Good intention does not make every personal practice correct.
- Fasting every day is described as not truly fasting.
- Three monthly fasts are presented as fasting for a lifetime.
- The Fast of Dawud is given for one able to do more.
