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Sahih al-Bukhari 6134 (Book 78, Hadith 161) #5890
Balancing Religious Obligations

SUMMARY: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advised Abdullah bin Amr not to fast and pray excessively, but rather to balance his religious obligations with other duties such as taking care of his body, family, and guests.

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: Allah's Messenger entered upon me and said, "Have I not been informed that you offer prayer all the night and fast the whole day?" I said, "Yes". He said, "Do not do so; Offer prayer at night and also sleep; Fast for a few days and give up fasting for a few days because your body has a right on you, and your eye has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you. I hope that you will have a long life, and it is sufficient for you to fast for three days a month as the reward of a good deed, is multiplied ten times, that means, as if you fasted the whole year". I insisted (on fasting more) so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "I can do more than that (fasting)" The Prophet said, "Fast three days every week". But as I insisted (on fasting more) so I was burdened. I said, "I can fast more than that". The Prophet said, "Fast as Allah's prophet David used to fast". I said, "How was the fasting of the prophet David?" The Prophet said, "One half of a year (ie he used to fast on alternate days)'.
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ بَلَى‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ، قُمْ وَنَمْ، وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّكَ عَسَى أَنْ يَطُولَ بِكَ عُمُرٌ، وَإِنَّ مِنْ حَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَإِنَّ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا فَذَلِكَ الدَّهْرُ كُلُّهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ قُلْتُ أُطِيقُ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَصُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ وَمَا صَوْمُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ قَالَ ‏"‏ نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ

TOPICS
prayer  *  fasting  *  balance  *  obligations  *  salat  *  sawm  *  mizan  *  wajibat

QUICK LESSONS:
Strive for balance between spiritual obligations & worldly responsibilities

EXPLANATIONS:
This hadith is about the importance of balancing religious obligations with other duties in life. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advised Abdullah bin Amr not to fast and pray excessively, but rather to take care of his body, family, and guests. He suggested that fasting three days a month would be sufficient for him as the reward for good deeds is multiplied ten times when done in moderation. When Abdullah insisted on fasting more than that, he was given a hard instruction by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): Fast three days every week. When he still insisted on fasting more than that, he was told to fast like how Prophet David used to do which was half a year or alternate days. This hadith teaches us that we should strive for balance in our lives between our spiritual obligations and worldly responsibilities so we can live a healthy life both physically and spiritually.

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