Tag: Q n A, Bukhari

The news of my daily fasting and praying every night throughout the night reached the Prophet. So he
sent for me or I met him, and he said, “I have been informed that you fast everyday and pray every
night (all the night). Fast (for some days) and give up fasting (for some days); pray and sleep, for your
eyes have a right on you, and your body and your family (i.e. wife) have a right on you.” I replied, “I
have more power than that (fasting).” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Then fast like the fasts of (the Prophet)
David”. I said, “How?” He replied, “He used to fast on alternate days, and he used not to flee on
meeting the enemy.” I said, “From where can I get that chance?” (`Ata’ said, “I do not know how the
expression of fasting daily throughout the life occurred.”) So, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, twice, “Whoever fasts
daily throughout his life is just as the one who does not fast at all.”

The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to `Abdullah), “Fast three days a month.” `Abdullah said, (to the Prophet) “I am
able to fast more than that.” They kept on arguing on this matter till the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Fast on
alternate days, and recite the whole Qur’an once a month.” `Abdullah said, “I can recite more (in a
month),” and the argument went on till the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Recite the Qur’an once each three days.”
(i.e. you must not recite the whole Qur’an in less than three days).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, “You fast daily all the year and pray every night all the night?” I replied in the
affirmative. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If you keep on doing this, your eyes will become weak and your body
will get tired. He who fasts all the year is as he who did not fast at all. The fasting of three days (a
month) will be equal to the fasting of the whole year.” I replied, “I have the power for more than this.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Then fast like the fasting of David who used to fast on alternate days and would
never flee from the battle field, on meeting the enemy.”

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was informed about my fasts, and he came to me and I spread for him a leather
cushion stuffed with palm fires, but he sat on the ground and the cushion remained between me and
him, and then he said, “Isn’t it sufficient for you to fast three days a month?” I replied, “O Allah’s
Apostle! (I can fast more).” He said, “Five?” I replied, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more).” He said,
“Seven?” I replied, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more).” He said, “Nine (days per month)?” I
replied, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more)” He said, “Eleven (days per month)?” And then the
Prophet said, “There is no fast superior to that of the Prophet (ﷺ) David it was for half of the year. So, fast
on alternate days.”

My friend (the Prophet (ﷺ) ) advised me to observe three things:
(1) to fast three days a month;
(2) to pray two rak`at of Duha prayer (forenoon prayer); and
(3) to pray witr before sleeping.

The Prophet (ﷺ) paid a visit to Um-Sulaim and she placed before him dates and ghee. The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
“Replace the ghee and dates in their respective containers for I am fasting.” Then he stood somewhere
in her house and offered an optional prayer and then he invoked good on Um-Sulaim and her family.
Then Um-Sulaim said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I have a special request (today).” He said, “What is it?”
She replied, “(Please invoke for) your servant Anas.” So Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) did not leave anything good
in the world or the Hereafter which he did not invoke (Allah to bestow) on me and said, “O Allah!
Give him (i.e. Anas) property and children and bless him.” Thus I am one of the richest among the
Ansar and my daughter Umaina told me that when Al-Hajjaj came to Basra, more than 120 of my
offspring had been buried.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Isn’t it true that a woman does not pray and does not fast on menstruating? And
that is the defect (a loss) in her religion.”

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Do not fast continuously day and night (practice Al-Wisal) and if anyone of you
intends to fast continuously day and night, he should continue till the Suhur time.” They said, “But
you practice Al-Wisal, O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)!” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I am not similar to you;. during my
sleep I have One Who makes me eat and drink.”

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever died and he ought to have fasted (the missed days of Ramadan) then
his guardians must fast on his behalf.”

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! My mother died and she ought to have
fasted one month (for her missed Ramadan). Shall I fast on her behalf?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied in the
affirmative and said, “Allah’s debts have more right to be paid.” In another narration a woman is
reported to have said, “My sister died…”
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: A woman said to the Prophet (ﷺ) “My mother died and she had vowed to fast but
she didn’t fast.” In another narration Ibn `Abbas is reported to have said, “A woman said to the
Prophet, “My mother died while she ought to have fasted for fifteen days.”