8/35. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 733 — Daytime Voluntary Intention
Performing A Voluntary Fast Without Planning It The Night Before
Voluntary Fast Intention During the Day Hadith
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 733
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 733
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَمَّتِهِ، عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ طَلْحَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمًا فَقَالَ " هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَيْءٌ " . قَالَتْ قُلْتُ لاَ . قَالَ " فَإِنِّي صَائِمٌ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah Visited Me One Day And Said: 'Do You Have Anything (To Eat)?'" She Said: "I Said: 'No.' He Said: 'Then I Am Fasting.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 733In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 52English translation : Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 733
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 733
This hadith about voluntary fast intention during the day is narrated by Aishah, the Mother of the Believers. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم visited her and asked if there was anything to eat. When she said no, he said, “Then I am fasting.” The text is simple, but it carries a useful lesson: voluntary fasting can be connected with the situation of the day. It should not be confused with the earlier hadith about required fasts needing intention before Fajr, because the comments there already made a difference between required and voluntary fasting. Here, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم begins fasting when no food is found. The report shows ease in voluntary worship and a calm way to turn an ordinary moment into worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked about food before saying he was fasting.
- The report points to ease in voluntary fasting.
- This should be understood separately from required fasts needing intention before Fajr.
- A simple day without food became a chance for voluntary worship.
