Moderation in Worship

Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ came in when a woman was sitting beside me. He asked me, "Who is she?" I said: "She is the one whose performance of Salat (prayer) has become the talk of the town." Addressing her, he ﷺ said, "(What is this!) You are required to take upon yourselves only what you can carry out easily. By Allah, Allah does not withhold His Mercy and forgiveness of you until you neglect and give up (good works). Allah likes the deeds best which a worshipper can carry out constantly".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

- وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن النبي ﷺ دخل عليها وعندها امرأة قال: من هذه؟ قالت: هذه فلانة تذكر من صلاتها قال: " مه عليكم بما تطيقون، فوالله لا يمل الله حتى تملوا" وكان أحب الدين إليه ما داوم صاحبه عليه. ((متفق عليه)) .

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ to inquire about the worship of the Prophet ﷺ. When they were informed, they considered their worship insignificant and said: "Where are we in comparison with the Prophet ﷺ while Allah has forgiven his past sins and future sins". One of them said: "As for me, I shall offer Salat all night long." Another said: "I shall observe Saum (fasting) continuously and shall not break it". Another said: "I shall abstain from women and shall never marry". The Prophet ﷺ came to them and said, "Are you the people who said such and such things? By Allah, I fear Allah more than you do, and I am most obedient and dutiful among you to Him, but still I observe fast and break it; perform Salat and sleep at night and take wives. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah does not belong to me".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: جاء ثلاثة رهط إلى بيوت أزواج النبي ﷺ، يسألون عن عبادة النبي ﷺ، فلما أخبروا كأنهم تقالوها وقالوا: أين نحن من النبي ﷺ قد غفر الله له تقدم من ذنبه وما تأخر. قال أحدهم: أما أنا فأصلي الليل أبداً وقال الآخر: وأنا أصوم الدهر أبداً ولا أفطر، وقال الآخر: وأنا أعتزل النساء فلا أتزوج أبداً، فجاء رسول الله ﷺ إليهم فقال: "أنتم الذين قلتم كذا وكذا؟! أما والله إني لأخشاكم لله وأتقاكم له لكني أصوم وأفطر، وأصلي وأرقد، وأتزوج النساء، فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني" ((متفق عليه)) .

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Ruined are those who insist on hardship in matters of the Faith." He repeated this three times.

[Muslim].

وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه أن النبي ﷺ قال: "هلك المتنطعون" قالها ثلاثاً " ((رواه مسلم))

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The religion (of Islam) is easy, and whoever makes the religion a rigour, it will overpower him. So, follow a middle course (in worship), if you can't do this, do something near to it and give glad tidings and seek help (of Allah) at morn and at dusk and some part of night".

[Al-Bukhari].

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي ﷺ قال: " إن الدين يسر، ولن يشاد الدين إلا غلبه، فسددوا وقاربوا وأبشروا، واستعينوا بالغدوة والروحة وشيء من الدلجة" ((رواه البخاري)). وفي رواية له : سددوا وقاربوا واغدوا وروحوا، وشيء من الدلجة، القصد القصد تبلغوا .

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ came into the mosque and noticed a rope stretched between two poles. He enquired, "What is this rope for?" He was told: "This is Zainab's rope. When during her voluntary prayer, she begins to feel tired, she grasps it for support". The Prophet ﷺ said, "Untie it. You should perform prayers so long as you feel active. When you feel tired, you should go to sleep".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: دخل النبي ﷺ المسجد فإذا حبل ممدود بين الساريتين فقال: "ما هذا الحبل" قالوا : هذا حبل لزينب، فإذا فترت تعلقت به. فقال النبي ﷺ " حلوه، ليصل أحدكم نشاطه فإذا فتر فليرقد" ((متفق عليه)) .

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When one of you feels drowsy during prayer, let him lie down till drowsiness goes away from him, because when one of you performs prayers while feeling sleepy, he does not know whether he seeks forgiveness or abuses himself".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: " إذا نعس أحدكم وهو يصلي، فليرقد حتى يذهب عنه النوم، فإن أحدكم إذا صلى وهو ناعس لا يدري لعله يذهب ويستغفر فيسب نفسه" ((متفق عليه)) .

Jabir bin Samurah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I used to perform prayer with the Prophet ﷺ and his Salat was of a moderate length and his Khutbah too was moderate in length.

[Muslim].

وعن أبي عبد الله جابر بن سمرة رضي الله عنهما قال: "كنت أصلى مع النبي ﷺ الصلوات، فكانت صلاته قصداً وخطبته قصداً" ((رواه مسلم)).

Abu Juhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abud-Darda'. Salman paid a visit to Abud-Darda' and found Umm Darda' (his wife) dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied: "Your brother Abud-Darda' is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world. In the meantime Abud-Darda' came in and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abud-Darda' to eat (with him) but Abud-Darda' said: "I am fasting." Salman said: "I am not going to eat unless you eat." So, Abud-Darda' ate (with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abud-Darda' got up (to offer the night prayer) but Salman asked him to sleep and Abud-Darda' slept. After some time Abud-Darda' again got up but Salman asked him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman asked him to get up and both of them offered (Tahajjud) prayer. Then Salman told Abud-Darda': "You owe a duty to your Rubb, you owe a duty to your body; you owe a duty to your family; so you should give to every one his due. Abud-Darda' came to the Prophet ﷺ and reported the whole story. Prophet ﷺ said, "Salman is right".

[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أبي جحيفة وهب بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال: آخى النبي ﷺ بين سلمان وأبى الدرداء ، فزار سلمان أبا الدرداء، فرأى أم الدرداء متبذلة فقال: ما شأنك قالت: أخوك أبو الدرداء ليس له حاجة في الدنيا، فجاء أبو الدراداء فصنع له طعاماً، فقال له: كل فإنى صائم، قال: ما أنا بآكل حتى تأكل، فأكل، فلما كان الليل ذهب أبو الدرداء يقوم فقال له: نم، فنام، ثم ذهب يقوم فقال له : نم، فلما كان من آخر الليل قال سلمان: قم الآن: فصليا جميعاً، فقال له سلمان: إن لربك عليك حقاً، وإن لنفسك عليك حقاً، ولأهلك عليك حقاً، فأعط كل ذى حق حقه، فأتى النبي ﷺ فذكر ذلك له، فقال النبي ﷺ "صدق سلمان" ((رواه البخاري)).

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ was informed that I said that I would perform prayers the whole night and observe fasting every day as long as I live. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Is it you who said this?" I said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! I ransom you with my parents, it is I who said that." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "You will not be able to do that. Observe fast and break it; sleep and get up for prayer, and observe fast for three days during the month; for every good is multiplied ten times and that will be equal to fasting the whole year." I said, "O Messenger of Allah! I can do more than that." He said, "Observe fast one day and leave off the next two days." I said, "O Messenger of Allah! I have strength to do more than that." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Observe fast every other day, and that is the fasting of Dawud ﷺ and that is the most moderate fasting".

According to another narration: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "That is the best fasting." I said, "But I am capable of doing more than this". Thereupon, Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "There is nothing better than this." 'Abdullah bin 'Amr (May Allah be pleased with them) said (when he grew old): "Had I accepted the three days (fasting during every month) as the Messenger of Allah had said, it would have been dearer to me than my family and my property".

In another narration 'Abdullah is reported to have said: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, "O 'Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you observe fast during the day and offer prayer all the night." I replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!" Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Don't do that. Observe fast for few days and then leave off for few days, perform prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right upon you, and your eyes have a right upon you; and your wife has a right upon you; your visitors have a right upon you. It is sufficient for you to observe fast three days in a month, as the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting the whole year." I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "O Messenger of Allah! I have strength." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Observe fast like the fasting of Prophet Dawud ﷺ, and do not fast more than that." I said: "How was the fasting of Prophet Dawud?" He ﷺ said, "Half of the year (i.e., he used to fast on every alternate day)."

Afterwards when 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) grew old, he used to say: "Would that I had availed myself of the concession granted to me by Messenger of Allah."

In another narration 'Abdullah is reported to have said: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "I have been informed that you observe fast continuously and recite (the whole of the Qur'an) every night." I said, "Messenger of Allah! It is right, but I covet thereby nothing but good," whereupon he ﷺ said, "Then observe fasts like the fasting of Prophet Dawud ﷺ as he was the most ardent worshipper of Allah; recite the Qur'an once every month." I said, "O Prophet of Allah! I am capable of doing more than that." He said, "Then recite it (the complete Qur'an) in every twenty days." I said, "O Prophet of Allah I am capable of reciting more than that." He said, "Then recite it once in every ten days." I said, "O Prophet of Allah! I am capable of reciting more than that." He said, "Then recite it once in every seven days, but not recite more than that." The Prophet of Allah also said to me, "You do not know, you may have a longer life". When I grew old I wished I had availed myself of the concession (granted to me by) the Prophet of Allah.

In another narration 'Abdullah is reported to have said: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best fasting with Allah is that of (Prophet) Dawud, and the best prayer with Allah is that of Dawud ﷺ for he would sleep half of the night and stand for prayer for the third of it and (then) would sleep sixth part of it; he observed fast one day and leave off the other. He would not flee on meeting the enemy".

In another narration 'Abdullah is reported to have said: My father helped me marry a noble woman and he used to inquire of his daughter-in-law regarding her husband. She would say: "He is, indeed, a fine man. Since I have come to him, he has neither stepped on my bed nor he has had sexual intercourse with me". When this state of affairs lasted for some time, my father mentioned the matter to Messenger of Allah ﷺ who directed my father saying, "Send him to me". I went to him accordingly. He asked me, "How often do you observe fast?" I replied; "Daily". He asked me, "How long do you take in reading the Noble Qur'an completely." I said, "Once every night". Then he narrated the whole story. He (in his old age) would recite one seventh of his nightly recitation to some members of his family during the day to lighten his task at night. Whenever he wished to have a relief from his fast on alternate days, he would give up fasting for a few days and make up deficiency later by observing the number of fasts he had missed. He would not give up the number of fasts altogether because he did not like to abandon what he had settled with Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

وعن أبي محمد عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما قال: أخبر النبي ﷺ أني أقول: والله لأصومن النهار، ولأقومن الليل ماعشت، فقال رسول الله ﷺ : أنت الذي تقول ذلك؟ فقلت له: قد قلته بأبى أنت وأمى يا رسول الله. قال:"فإنك لا تستطيع ذلك؛ فصم وأفطر، ونم وقم، وصم من الشهر ثلاثة أيام فإن الحسنة بعشر أمثالها، وذلك مثل صيام الدهر" قلت: فإنى أطيق أفضل من ذلك قال: فصم يوما وأفطر يومين، قلت: فإنى أطيق أفضل من ذلك، قال: "فصم يوماً وأفطر يوماً، فذلك صيام داود ﷺ، وهو أعدل الصيام". وفي رواية: "وهو أفضل الصيام" فقلت : فإني أطيق أفضل من ذلك. فقال رسول الله ﷺ: " لا أفضل من ذلك" ولأن أكون قبلت الثلاثة الأيام التي قال رسول الله ﷺ أحب إلي من أهلي وما لي. وفي رواية: "ألم أخبر أنك تصوم النهار وتقوم الليل؟" قلت : بلى يا رسول الله قال: "فلا تفعل: صم وأفطر ، ونم وقم فإن لجسدك عليك حقاً، وإن لعينيك عليك حقاً، وإن لزوجك عليك حقاً، وإن لزورك عليك حقاً، وإن بحسبك أن تصوم في كل شهر ثلاثة أيام ، فإن لك بكل حسنة عشر أمثالها، فإن ذلك صيام الدهر" فشددت فشدد علي، قلت: يا رسول الله إني أجد قوة، قال: "صم صيام نبي الله داود ولا تزد عليه" قلت: وما كان صيام داود؟ قال: "نصف الدهر" فكان عبد الله يقول بعدما كبر: يا ليتني قبلت رخصة رسول الله ﷺ. وفي رواية: " ألم أخبر أنك تصوم الدهر، وتقرأ القرآن كل ليلةٍ؟‍‍‍‍‍‍" فقلت: بلى يا رسول الله، ولم أرد بذلك إلا الخير قال: "فصم صوم نبي الله داود، فإنه كان أعبد الناس، واقرأِ القرآن كل شهرٍ" قلت: يا نبي الله إني أطيق أفضل من ذلك؟ قال: "فاقرأه في كل عشرين" قلت: يا نبي الله إني أطيق أفضل من ذلك؟ قال: "فاقرأه في كل عشر" قلت يا نبي الله إني أطيق أفضل من ذلك؟ قال: "فاقرأه في كل سبع ولا تزد على ذلك". فشددت فشدد علي ، وقال لي النبي ﷺ: "إنك لا تدري لعلك يطول بك عمر" قال: فصرت إلى الذي قال لي النبي ﷺ، فلما كبرت وددت أني كنت قبلت رخصة نبي الله ﷺ. وفي رواية: " وإن لولدك عليك حقاً" وفي رواية: " لا صام من صام الأبد" ثلاثاً. وفي رواية: "أحب الصيام إلى الله تعالى صيام داود، وأحب الصلاة إلى الله تعالى صلاة داود: كان ينام نصف الليل، ويقوم ثلثه، وينام سدسه، وكان يصوم يوما ويفطر يوماً، ولا يفر إذا لاقى". وفي رواية: أنكحني أبي امرأة ذات حسب، وكان يتعاهد كنته-أي : امرأة ولده- فيسألها عن بعلها، فتقول له : نعم الرجل من رجل لم ييطأ لنا فراشاً ولم يفتش لنا كنفاً منذ أتيناه. فلما طال ذلك عليه ذكر ذلك للنبي ﷺ. فقال: "القنى به" فلقيته بعد ذلك فقال: "كيف تصوم؟" قلت كل يوم، قال: "وكيف تختم؟" قلت: كل ليلةٍ، وذكر نحون ما سبق ، وكان يقرأ على بعض أهله السبع الذي يقرؤه، يعرضه من النهار ليكون أخف عليه بالليل، وإذا أراد أن يتقوى أفطر أياماً وأحصى وصام مثلهن كراهية أن يترك شيئاً فارق عليه النبي ﷺ. كل هذه الروايات صحيحة معظمها في الصحيحين وقليل منها في أحدهما. .

Hanzalah Al-Usayyidi (May Allah be pleased with him) who was one of the scribes of Messenger of Allah ﷺ, reported:
I met Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) he said: "How are you O Hanzalah?" I said, "Hanzalah has become a hypocrite". He said, "Far removed is Allah from every imperfection, what are you saying?" I said, "When we are in the company of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he reminds us of Hell-fire and Jannah, we feel as if we are seeing them with our very eyes, and when we are away from Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we attend to our wives, our children, our business, most of these things (pertaining to life hereafter) slip out of our minds." Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah, I also experience the same thing". So Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) and I went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I said to him, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Hanzalah has turned hypocrite." Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "What has happened to you?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah, when we are in your company, and are reminded of Hell-fire and Jannah, we feel as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but when we go away from you and attend to our wives, children and business, much of these things go out of our minds." Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my life if your state of mind remains the same as it is in my presence and you are always busy in remembrance (of Allah), the angels will shake hands with you in your beds and in your roads; but Hanzalah, time should be devoted (to the worldly affairs) and time should be devoted (to prayer)". He (the Prophet ﷺ) said this thrice.

[Muslim].

وعن أبي ربعي حنظلة بن الربيع الأسيدى الكاتب أحد كتاب رسول الله ﷺ قال: لقيني أبو بكر رضي الله عنه فقال: كيف أنت يا حنظلة؟ قلت: نافق حنظلة؟ قلت: نافق حنظلة ‍‍( قال: سبحان الله ما تقول؟ ( قلت: نكون عند رسول الله ﷺ يذكرنا بالجنة والنار كأنا رأي عين، فإذا خرجنا من عند رسول الله ﷺ عافسنا الأزواج والأولاد والضيعات نسينا كثيراً. قال أبو بكر رضي الله عنه : فوالله إنا لنلقى مثل هذا، فانطلقت أنا وأبو بكر حتى دخلنا على رسول الله ﷺ. فقلت: نافق حنظلة يا رسول الله ( فقال رسول الله ﷺ : "وما ذاك؟" قلت: يا رسول الله نكون عندك تذكرنا بالنار والجنة كأنا رأي العين، فإذا خرجنا من عندك عافسنا الأزواج والأولاد والضيعات نسينا كثيراً. فقال رسول الله 0: "والذي نفسي بيده لو تدومون على ما تكونون عندي وفي الذكر لصافحتكم الملائكة على فرشكم وفي طرقكم، ولكن يا حنظلة ساعة وساعة" ثلاث مرات، ((رواه مسلم)).