“The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) forbade uninterrupted fasting (wiṣāl). A man from among the Muslims said to him, ‘But you practice uninterrupted fasting, O Messenger of Allah.’ He replied, ‘Which of you is like me? I spend the night while my Lord feeds me and gives me drink.’ When they refused to desist from uninterrupted fasting, he continued fasting with them for one day, then another, until they sighted the crescent. He then said, ‘Had it been delayed, I would have continued with you,’ as a form of disciplinary warning for their refusal to desist.”
Narrated by al-Bukhārī (no. 1965, the wording is his) and Muslim (no. 1103), from the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).
In another wording reported by al-Bukhārī (no. 1966): “Beware of uninterrupted fasting (wiṣāl),” repeated twice, and he said, “Undertake only that amount of deeds which you are able to bear.”
In another narration reported by al-Bukhārī (no. 1967), from the ḥadīth of Abū Saʿīd (may Allah be pleased with him): “Whoever among you wishes to practice uninterrupted fasting, let him do so only until the pre-dawn meal (suḥūr).”
Brief Explanation of the Hadith
The fundamental principle in acts of worship is to emulate the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and to follow him in his statements and actions. However, among acts of worship are some that were exclusive to him (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and not shared with his community. Among these is what Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) forbade uninterrupted fasting (wiṣāl). Wiṣāl refers to a person joining the fast of one day with that of the following day without breaking the fast in between. It was prohibited because of the hardship it imposes upon the ‘Ummah and to prevent leading to excessiveness and undue rigor in religion, for the Sharīʿah is founded upon ease and the removal of hardship from those who are legally responsible.
Some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) found the Prophet’s (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) practice of uninterrupted fasting puzzling, so one of them asked him by way of inquiry: “You practice uninterrupted fasting, O Messenger of Allah.”
This question was not posed as an objection, but rather as a request for clarification and an exploration of the ruling or its underlying wisdom.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) clarified to them that uninterrupted fasting was among his exclusive privileges, and that he was given special divine assistance in fasting, as indicated by his statement: “I spend the night while my Lord feeds me and gives me drink.”
The scholars have differed regarding the meaning of this feeding and giving drink. It has been said that it is literal—that Allah, Exalted is He, feeds him and gives him drink in an extraordinary manner. This does not contradict fasting, because what nullifies the fast, according to Islamic law, is ordinary food and drink; as for that which is extraordinary and beyond customary means, it is not treated as such. It has also been said that the meaning is figurative—that Allah, Exalted is He, pours into his heart the strength of faith and the sweetness of intimate communion that take the place of food and drink. This is part of the perfection of divine support and the special distinction granted to him (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
According to either interpretation, this indicates that this ruling was exclusive to him, and that the ‘Ummah is not burdened with the like of it, as a mercy to them and to remove hardship.
Then, when some of the Companions did not desist from uninterrupted fasting—not out of defiance, but because they thought the prohibition was not decisive—the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) continued fasting with them day after day by way of discipline, until the crescent appeared. He then said: “Had it been delayed, I would have continued with you,” as one who administers disciplinary punishment. He then granted a concession to whoever wished to practice uninterrupted fasting, limiting it to continuing only until the pre-dawn meal (suḥūr), as stated in the other narration. This was out of mercy and compassion for the ‘Ummah, and to close the door to excessiveness, affectation, and undue rigor in religion.
Thus, it becomes clear that the ḥadīth guides one to moderation in worship, so that a Muslim performs only what he is able to bear, without overburdening himself or practicing undue rigor. The Sharīʿah is based on ease, removing hardship, and taking into account the circumstances of those who are legally responsible. It also indicates that no one else is to be compared to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in this regard, for he was granted certain acts of worship exclusively.