Sunan an-Nasa'i #2438
The Book of Fasting
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَيْفُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، مِنْ خِيَارِ الْخَلْقِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَسْوَدُ بْنُ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَبِي عَقْرَبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الصَّوْمِ فَقَالَ " صُمْ يَوْمًا مِنَ الشَّهْرِ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زِدْنِي زِدْنِي . قَالَ " تَقُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زِدْنِي زِدْنِي يَوْمَيْنِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زِدْنِي زِدْنِي إِنِّي أَجِدُنِي قَوِيًّا . فَقَالَ " زِدْنِي زِدْنِي أَجِدُنِي قَوِيًّا " . فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لَيَرُدُّنِي قَالَ " صُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ " .
"I asked the Messenger of Allah about fasting and he said: 'Fast one day of the month.' I said: 'Fast one day of the month.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, let me do more, let me do more.' He said: 'Let me do more, let mo do more; I am able for it.' Then the Messenger of Allah fell silent until I thought that he was going to refuse my request. Then he said: 'fast three days of each month."'
Narrated by It was narrated from Abu Nawfal bin Abi 'Aqrab that his father said:
Context
In this hadith, a companion of the Prophet ﷺ inquires about fasting, expressing a desire to do more than the prescribed one day a month. The Prophet ﷺ responds by gradually increasing the recommendation to three days a month, highlighting the importance of moderation in worship and the need to avoid overburdening oneself, even when one feels capable.
Modern Application
Today, many Muslims choose to fast outside of Ramadan for spiritual growth and discipline. This hadith encourages individuals to find a balance in their fasting practices, ensuring they do not overextend themselves while still seeking to enhance their spiritual connection.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Fasting because it discusses the practice of fasting and its recommended frequency.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌۭ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍۢ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
سُورَةُ المُجَادلَةِ
Al-Mujaadila (The Pleading Woman)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
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.
سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ
Maryam (Mary)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَكُلِى وَٱشْرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيْنًۭا ۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ ٱلْبَشَرِ أَحَدًۭا فَقُولِىٓ إِنِّى نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ صَوْمًۭا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ إِنسِيًّۭا
So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.' "
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةًۭ ۖ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمْزًۭا ۗ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًۭا وَسَبِّحْ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِبْكَٰرِ
He said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He Said, "Your sign is that you will not [be able to] speak to the people for three days except by gesture. And remember your Lord much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning."
Common Words
140 total114 unique17 repeated
فمن5x
من5x
على3x
أيام3x
ٱلله3x
كان2x
منكم2x
مريضا2x
أو2x
سفر2x
فعدة2x
أخر2x
خير2x
لم2x
يريد2x
بكم2x
قال2x
أياما1x
معدودت1x
وعلى1x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #2438 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Fasting. It is graded Hasan and narrated by It was narrated from Abu Nawfal bin Abi 'Aqrab that his father said:.