The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ طَلْحَةَ بْنَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ ثَائِرَ الرَّأْسِ نَسْمَعُ دَوِيَّ صَوْتِهِ وَلاَ نَفْهَمُ مَا يَقُولُ حَتَّى دَنَا فَإِذَا هُوَ يَسْأَلُ عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ وَاللَّيْلَةِ " . قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهُنَّ قَالَ " لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ " . قَالَ " وَصِيَامُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ " . قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهُ قَالَ " لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ " . وَذَكَرَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الزَّكَاةَ قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهَا قَالَ " لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ " . فَأَدْبَرَ الرَّجُلُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَزِيدُ عَلَى هَذَا وَلاَ أَنْقُصُ مِنْهُ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَفْلَحَ إِنْ صَدَقَ " .
"A man from the people of Najd came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with unkempt hair. We could hear him talking loudly but we could not understand what he was saying until he came closer. He was asking about Islam. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: 'Five prayers each day and night.' He said: 'Do I have to do anything else' He said: 'No, unless you do it voluntarily.' He said: 'And fasting the month of Ramadan.' He said: 'Do I have to do anything else?' He said: 'No, unless you do it voluntarily.' And the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned Zakah to him, and he said: 'Do I have to do anything else?' He said: 'No, unless you do it voluntarily.' The man left saying: 'By Allah, I will not do any more than this or any less.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'He will achieve salvation, if he is speaking the truth.'"
Narrated by It was narrated from Abu Suhail, from his fatehr, that he heard Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah say:
Context
In this hadith, a man from Najd approaches the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) seeking knowledge about the core tenets of Islam. The Prophet succinctly outlines the five daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and Zakah, emphasizing that these are the fundamental obligations without additional burdens unless voluntarily taken on.
Modern Application
This teaching serves as a reminder for Muslims today to focus on the essential acts of worship while also encouraging voluntary acts of goodness. It highlights the balance between obligation and personal devotion.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Fasting because it outlines the essential acts of worship that form the foundation of a Muslim's faith.
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.
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.
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
This hadith is #460 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Salah. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from Abu Suhail, from his fatehr, that he heard Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah say:.