Sunan Abi Dawud

The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: Fast is a shield ; when one of you is fasting, he should neither behave in an obscene manner nor foolishly. If a man fights or abuses him, he should say: I am fasting, I am fasting.

I have seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) using a tooth-stick while he was fasting. Musaddad added in his version: "more often than I could count."

AbuBakr ibn AbdurRahman reported on the authority of a Companion of the Prophet (ﷺ): I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) commanding the people while he was travelling on the occasion of the conquest of Mecca not to observe fast. He said: Be strong for your enemy. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted himself. Narrated AbuBakr: A man who narrated his tradition to me said: I have seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in al-Arj pouring water over his head while he was fasting, either because of thirst or because of heat.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Snuff up water freely unless you are fasting.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: A man who cupped and a man who has himself cupped broke their fast. The narrator Shayban said in his version: AbuQilabah told me that AbuAsma' ar-Rahbi told him that Thawban, the client of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), told him that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say this.

The tradition mentioned above (No. 2361) has also been transmitted by Shaddad ibn Aws through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: While Shaddad ibn Aws was walking along with the Prophet (ﷺ)....The narrator then transmitted the rest of the tradition to the same effect.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to a man at al-Baqi' while he was cupping on the 18th of Ramadan ; he (the Prophet) was holding my hand. Thereupon he said: A man who cups and a man who gets himself cupped break their fast. Abu Dawud said: The narrator Khalid al-Hadhdha' transmitted a similar tradition from Abu Qilabah through a different chain of narrators mentioned by the narrator Ayyub.

The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: A man who cups and a man who gets himself cupped break their fast.

The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: A man who cups and a man who gets himself cupped break their fast. Abu Dawud said: Ibn Thawban transmitted a similar tradition from his father on the authority of Makhul through an chain of narrators mentioned by him.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had himself cupped when he was fasting. Abu Dawud said: Wuhaib b. Khalid narrated a similar tradition from Ayyub through a different chain of narrators. Ja'far b. Rabi'ah and Hisham, that is, Ibn Hassan, narrated a similar tradition from 'Ikrimah on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had himself cupped when he was fasting and wearing ihram (pilgrim garb).

A man from the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) told me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited cupping and perpetual fasting, but he had not made them unlawful showing mercy on his Companions. Thereupon he was asked: Messenger of Allah, you observe perpetual fast till dawn. He replied: I observe perpetual fast till dawn (for) my Lord gives me food and drink.

We would not allow a man who was fasting to get himself cupped due to abomination of hardship.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Neither vomiting, nor emission, nor cupping breaks the fast of the one who is fasting.

The Prophet (ﷺ) commanded to apply collyrium mixed with musk at the time of sleep. He said: A man who is fasting should abstain from it. Abu Dawud said: Yahya b. Ma'in said to me: This tradition about the use of collyrium is munkar (i.e. contradicts the sound traditions on the subject).

'Ubaid Allah b. Abu Bakr b. Anas reported on the authority of Anas b. Malik that he used to apply collyrium when he was fasting.

I did not see any of our companions who abominated the use of collyrium by a man who fasting. Ibrahim would permit the man who was fasting to apply collyrium with aloes.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: if one has a sudden attack of vomiting while one is fasting, no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally he must make atonement.

That Abu ad-Darda' narrated to him: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) vomited and broke his fast. Then I met Thawban, the client of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), in the mosque in Damascus, I said (to him): Abu al-Darda has told me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) vomited and broke his fast. He said: He spoke the truth ; and I poured out water for his ablution (ﷺ).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to kiss and embrace while he was fasting, but he was the one of you who had most control over his desire.

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to kiss (me) during the month of fasting.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to kiss me when he was fasting and when I was fasting.

I got excited, so I kissed while I was fasting, I then said: Messenger of Allah, I have done a big deed; I kissed while I was fasting. He said: What do you think if you rinse your mouth with water while you are fasting. The narrator Isa ibn Hammad said in his version: I said to him: There is no harm in it. Then both of them agreed on the version: He said: Then what?

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to kiss her and suck her tongue when he was fasting.

A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) whether one who was fasting could embrace (his wife) and he gave him permission; but when another man came to him, and asked him, he forbade him. The one to whom he gave permission was an old man and the one whom he forbade was a youth.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would be overtaken by the dawn when he was in a state of sexual defilement. The narrator 'Abd Allah al-Adhrami said in his version: During Ramadan, due to sexual intercourse and no owing to a dream (i.e. nocturnal emission), and would fast. Abu Dawud said: How brief is this sentence uttered by the narrator, this is, "he was overtaken by daw when he was in the state of sexual defilement"? The tradition says: The Prophet (ﷺ) was overtaken by dawn in the state of sexual defilement when he was fasting.

A man said to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): Messenger of Allah, I was overtaken by dawn while I was sexually defiled, and I want to keep fast. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: I am also overtaken by dawn while I am in the state of sexual defilement ; I also want to keep fast. I take a bath and I keep fast. The man said: Messenger of Allah, you are not like us ; Allah has forgiven you your past and future sins. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) became angry and said: I swear by Allah, I hope I shall be the most fearful of you of Allah, and most familiar of you with what I follow.

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: I am undone. He asked him: What has happened to you ? He said: I had intercourse with my wife in Ramadan (while I was fasting). He asked: Can you set a slave free ? He said: No. He again asked: Can you fast for two consecutive months ? He said: No. He asked: Can you provide food for sixty poor people ? He said: No. He said: Sit down. Then a huge basket containing dates ('araq) was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ). He then said to him: Give it as sadaqah (i.e. alms). He said: Messenger of Allah, there is no poorer family than mine between the two lave plains of it (Medina). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) laughed so that his eye-teeth became visible, and said: Give it to your family to eat. Musaddad said in another place: "his canine teeth".

This was a special concession for him. If a man commits this act today, the expiation is necessary for him. Abu Dawud said: Al-Laith b. Sa'd, al-Awza'i, Mansur b. al-Mu'tamir and 'Irak b. Malik have narrated this tradition like the one narrated by Ibn 'Uyainah. Al-Awza'i narrated in his version the words: Beg pardon of Allah.

(A man broke his fast intentionally) during Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded him to emancipate a slave, or fast for two months, or feed sixty poor men. He said: I cannot provide. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Sit down. Thereafter a huge basket of dates ('araq) was brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: Take this and give it as sadaqah (alms). He said: Messenger of Allah, there is no poorer than I. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) thereupon laughed so that his canine teeth became visible and said: Eat it yourself. Abu Dawud said: Ibn Juraij narrated it from al-Zuhri in the wordings of the narrator Malik that a man broke his fast. This version says: You should either free a slave, or fast for two months, or provide food for sixty poor men.

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ). He broke his fast during Ramadan. He then narrated the rest of this tradition adding: Then a huge basket containing fifteen sa's of dates was brought to him. He said: Eat it yourself and your family and keep one fast and beg pardon of Allah.

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) during Ramadan in the mosque. He said: Messenger of Allah, I am burnt. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked him what happened to him. He said: I had sexual intercourse with my wife. He said: Give sadaqah (alms). He said: I swear by Allah, I possess nothing with me, and I cannot do this. He said: Sit down. He sat down. While he was waiting, a man came forward driving his donkey loaded with food. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Where is the man who was burnt just now ? Thereupon the man stood up. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Give it as sadaqah (alms). He asked: Messenger of Allah, to others than us ? By Allah. we are hungry, we have nothing (to eat). He said: Eat it yourselves.

A huge basket containing twenty sa's (of dates) was brought.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone breaks his fast one day in Ramadan without a concession granted to him by Allah, a perpetual fast will not atone for it.

Sufyan and Shu'bah differed among themselves on the name of the narrator Ibn al-Mutawwas and Abu al-Mutawwas.

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, I ate and drank in forgetfulness when I was fasting. Hie said: Allah had fed you and given you drink.

If I had some part of the fast of Ramadan to make up, I would not be able to atone for it except in Sha'ban.

The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone dies when some fast is due from him (i.e. which he could not keep) his heir must fast on his behalf. Abu Dawud said: This applies to the fast which a man vows ; and this is the opinion of Ahmad b. Hanbal.

If a man falls ill during Ramadan and he dies, while he could not keep the fast, food will be provided (for the poor men) on his behalf ; there is no atonement (for his fasts) due from him. If there is some vow which he could not fulfill, his heir must atone on his behalf.

Hamzat al-Aslami asked the Prophet (ﷺ): Messenger of Allah, I am a man who keeps perpetual fast, may I fast while on a journey? He replied: Fast if you like, or break your fast if you like.

I said: Messenger of Allah. I am a master of mounts and I use them ! I myself travel on them and I rent them. This month, that is, Ramadan, happend to come to me (while I am on a journey), and I find myself strong enough (to fast) as I am young, and I find that it is easier for me to fast than to postpone it, and i becomes debt due from me. Does it bring me more reward, Messenger of Allah, if I fast, or if I break ? He replied: Whichever you like, Hamzah.

The Prophet (ﷺ) left Medina for Mecca till he reached 'Usfan, He then called for a vessel (of water). It was raised to his mouth to show it to the people, and that was in Ramadan. Ibn 'Abbas used to say: The Prophet (ﷺ) fasted and he broke his fast. He who likes may fast and he who likes may break.

We travelled along with the Prophet (ﷺ) during Ramadan. Some of us were fasting and other broke their fast. Those who fasted did not find fault with those who broke, and those who broke their fast did not find fault with those who fasted.

I came to Abu Sa'id al-Khudri while he was giving his legal opinion to the people who bent down on him. So I waited to see hi when he was alone. When he became alone, I asked him about keeping fast while travelling. He said: we went out along with the Prophet (ﷺ) in Ramadan in the year of conquest of Mecca. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted and we fasted until he reached a certain stage. He said: You have come near your enemy; the breaking of fast will bring you more strength. Then morning came when some of us fasted and other broke their fast. He (Abu Sa'id al-Khudri) said: We then proceeded and alighted at a stage. He said: You are going to attack your enemy tomorrow morning ; breaking the fast will bring you more strength ; so break your fast (i.e. do not keep fast). This resolution (of breaking the fast) took place (due to the announcement) from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Abu Sa'id said: Then I found myself keeping fast along with the Prophet (ﷺ) before and after that.

The Prophet (ﷺ) saw a man who had been put in the shade and saw a crowd of people around him (in the course of a journey). He said: Fasting while on journey is not part of righteousness.

A man from Banu Abdullah ibn Ka'b brethren of Banu Qushayr (not Anas ibn Malik, the well-known Companion), said: A contingent from the cavalry of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raided us. I reached (for he said went) to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who was taking his meals. He said: Sit down, and take some from this meal of ours. I said: I am fasting, he said: Sit down, I shall tell you about prayer and fasting. Allah has remitted half the prayer to a traveller, and fasting to the traveller, the woman who is suckling an infant and the woman who is pregnant, I swear by Allah, he mentioned both (i.e. suckling and pregnant women) or one of them. I was grieved for not taking the food of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

We went out along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for some battle in intense heat, so much so that one of us placed his hand on his head, or placed his palm on his head, due to intense heat, No one of us fasted except the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and 'Abd Allah b. Rawahah.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If anyone has a riding beast which carries him to where he can get sufficient food, he should keep the fast of Ramadan wherever he is when it comes.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone is on a journey and Ramadan comes... He then narrated the rest of the tradition to the same effect.

Ja'far ibn Jubayr said: I accompanied AbuBusrah al-Ghifari, a Companion of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), in a boat proceeding from al-Fustat (Cairo) during Ramadan. He was lifted (to the boat), then his meal was brought to him. The narrator Ja'far said in his version: He did not go beyond the houses (of the city) but he called for the dining sheet. He said (to me): Come near. I said: Do you not see the houses? AbuBusrah said: Do you detest the sunnah (practice) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? The narrator Ja'far said in his version: He then ate (it).