a Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah with unkempt hair and said: "O Allah has enjoined upon me of Salah." He said: "The five daily prayers, unless you do any more voluntarily." He said: "Tell me what Allah has enjoined upon me voluntarily." He said: "Tell me what Allah has enjoined upon me of fasting." He said: "Fasting the month of Ramadan, unless you do any more voluntarily." He said: "Tell me what Allah has enjoined upon me of Zakah." The Messenger of Allah told him of the laws of Islam, He said: "By the One Who has honored you, I will not do anything voluntarily, and I will not do anything voluntarily, and I will not do less than that which Allah has enjoined upon, me: The Messenger of Allah said: "He will succeed if he is sincere," or "He will enter Paradise if he is sincere."
Narrated by It was narrated from Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah that:
Context
In this hadith, a Bedouin approaches the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to inquire about the obligatory acts of worship in Islam. The Prophet outlines the five daily prayers, the fasting of Ramadan, and the laws of Zakah. The Bedouin expresses his determination to adhere strictly to these obligations without any voluntary acts, prompting the Prophet to affirm that sincerity in fulfilling these duties leads to success.
Modern Application
This hadith encourages Muslims today to focus on fulfilling their religious obligations sincerely. It serves as a reminder that while additional acts of worship are commendable, the primary focus should be on performing the obligatory acts with dedication and sincerity.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Fasting because it outlines the fundamental acts of worship that are obligatory for Muslims.
And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] Allah. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
But among the bedouins are some who believe in Allah and the Last Day and consider what they spend as means of nearness to Allah and of [obtaining] invocations of the Messenger. Unquestionably, it is a means of nearness for them. Allah will admit them to His mercy. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.
This hadith is #2095 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Fasting. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah that:.