Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 1903
sahih

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)"

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏

‏ مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ ‏

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References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 30, Hadith 13
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 127 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Among the wisdoms behind fasting and its great aims are to attain Taqwa (mindfulness of Allah), tame sexual urges, and discipline the ‘self’ (i.e., practice self-restraint). The ultimate purpose of fasting is notto abstain from eating and drinking only, but rather to discipline, refine, and reform the ‘self’. In this hadeeth, the Prophet ﷺ warned those who perceive fasting as mere refrainment from eating and drinking, and do not abstain from lying, deviation from the truth, and following falsehood and doubtful matters, that Allah, Exalted is He, does not accept their refrainment from eating and drinking. However, this does not mean commanding those who observe fasting and fall into sin to give up fasting, but rather it serves as a warning against false speech and acting upon it, and it also emphasizes the gravity of committing these sins while fasting, as it causes the decrease in the rewards of one of the best (and most rewardable) worshipful acts. How should someone abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual activity, and yet let his rewards diminish because of false speech and acting upon it! It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger.” [Sunan Ibn Maajah]. This hadeeth urges the fasting person to give up evil deeds and forbidden acts. .
Related hadiths6
Compare isnād across 6 related chains →