Allah said: All the deeds of the son of Adam are for himself except for fasting, as it is, indeed, for Me, and I give reward for it

Chapter: Should one say, "I am observing Saum (fast)" on being abused?

Authentic hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1904

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ الزَّيَّاتِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ قَالَ اللَّهُ

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ‏.‏ وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ، وَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ أَحَدِكُمْ، فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَصْخَبْ، فَإِنْ سَابَّهُ أَحَدٌ، أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ صَائِمٌ‏.‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ، لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ، وَإِذَا لَقِيَ رَبَّهُ فَرِحَ بِصَوْمِهِ ‏"

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Allah said: All the deeds of the son of Adam are for himself except for fasting, as it is, indeed, for Me, and I give reward for it. Fasting is a shield. When it is the day when any of you is fasting, let him not engage in obscenity, and let him not speak in a loud voice. If anyone insults him or fights with him, let him say: Verily, I am a fasting person. By the One in Whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, the smell of the mouth of the fasting person is more pleasant in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. The fasting person will rejoice twice: when he breaks his fast, he rejoices, and when he meets his Lord, he rejoices at his fast."

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 1904, 5927, 7492, 7538), Muslim (No. 1151b, 1151d, 1151e), At-Tirmidhi (No. 764), An-Nasa’i (No. 2214, 2215, 2216, 2217, 2218), Ibn Majah (No. 1638) and Ahmad (No. 6877, 7289, 7368, 7456, 9337, 9508, 9532, 9761).

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Allah Almighty says in the Qudsi Hadīth:

Every righteous deed offered by the son of Adam is multiplied by ten up to seven hundred times, except for fasting, which is for Me, as it does not involve ostentation, and I give reward for it. So, none but Me knows how great its reward is and how many times it is multiplied.

Then he said: (Fasting is a shield), protection, shelter, and a fortified fort against the Fire because it is all about abstaining from desires and committing sins, and the Fire is surrounded with desires.

(When it is the day when any of you is fasting, let him not engage in obscenity) at all through sexual intercourse and foreplay or through any obscene speech.

(And let him not speak in a loud voice) by quarreling and shouting.

(If anyone insults him or fights with him) in Ramadan, let him say: I am a fasting person; perhaps this will deter him. However, if he insists on real fighting, he should expel him with the least violent means first.

Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swore by the One in Whose Hand that his soul is that the foul breath of the fasting person resulting from fasting is more pleasant than the smell of musk in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment and is a means of receiving a greater reward than that of the musk, which is recommended to be used on Fridays and during the Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) sessions.

The fasting person will have two occasions to rejoice: when breaking his fast, he rejoices at breaking his fast that eliminates his hunger and thirst; and he rejoices at completing his fast and accomplishing his act of worship, at the alleviation from his act of worship to his Lord, and at the strength it provides him with for his future fasting.

(And when he meets his Lord, he rejoices at his fast), i.e., at its recompense and reward.

Lessons

The merit of fasting is that it protects the one who observes it from desires in this worldly life and from the punishment of the Fire in the Hereafter.
Abandoning obscene speech and idle talk, enduring people's offense patiently, and responding to their abuse with patience and kindness are among the manners of fasting.
When a fasting person or a worshipper rejoices for completing and finishing his act of worship, this does not diminish his reward in the Hereafter.
Ultimate happiness is achieved by meeting Allah Almighty when the patient and those who used to observe fast will be given their reward without measure.
Informing people of an act of obedience, in case of necessity and benefit, is not deemed ostentation when one says: "I am fasting."
The person whose fasting is perfect is he whose limbs abstain from sins, whose tongue abstains from lying, obscene speech, and words of falsehood, and whose stomach abstains from food and drink.
Emphasis on the prohibition of noise, quarreling, and shouting during the fast, as the non-fasting person is also prohibited from such things.
This Hadīth is part of what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) narrates from his Lord, and it is called Qudsi or Divine Hadīth. Its wording and meaning are from Allah, yet it does not have the unique characteristics of the Qur'an, including reciting it as a form of worship, getting purified for it, presenting it as a challenge, its miraculousness, etc.

Explanation in Arabic

أَخْبَرَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنَّ الله تعالى يقول في الحديث القدسي:

كل عمل ابن آدم يُضاعَف الحسنةُ بعشرِ أمثالها إلى سبعمائة ضعف، إلا الصيام؛ فإنه لي حيث لا يقع فيه الرياء، وأنا أجزي به فأَنْفَرِد بِعلِم مِقدار ثوابه وتضعيف حسناته.

ثم قال: (والصيام جُنّة) ووقاية وسِتْر وحِصْن حَصِيْن مِن النار؛ لأنه إمساك عن الشهوات والوقوع بالآثام، والنارُ مَحْفُوفة بالشهوات.

(فإذا كان يوم صوم أحدكم فلا يرفث) بالجماع ومُقَدِّماته، ولا بالكلام الفاحش مطلقًا.

(ولا يَصخب) بالخِصَام والصِّياح.

(فإنْ سابّه أحد أو قاتله) في رمضان فليقل: إني امرؤٌ صائم؛ لعله يكف عنه، فإنْ أصرَّ إلا المقاتلة حقيقة دَفَعَهُ بالأخفِّ فالأخف كالصَّائل.

ثم حَلَف صلى الله عليه وسلم وأقسم بالذي نفسه بيده أنَّ تَغَيُّرَ رائحةِ فمِ الصائم بسبب الصيام أطيبُ عند الله يوم القيامة من ريح المِسْك عندكم، وأكثر ثوابًا من المسك المندوب إليه في الجُمَع ومجالس الذكر.

وللصائم فرحتان يفرحهما: إذا أفطر فَرِح بفطره بزوال جوعه وعطشه حيث أُبِيْحَ له الفطر، وفَرِحَ بتمام صومه وخاتمة عبادته، وتخفيف من ربه، ومعونة على مستقبل صومه.

(وإذا لقي ربه فرح بصومه) بجزائه وثوابه.

فضل الصيام وأنه يحفظ صاحبَه في الدنيا من الشهوات، وفي الآخرة من عذاب النار.
من آداب الصوم ترك الكلام الفاحش واللَّغَط، والصبر على أذَى الناس ومقابلة إساءتهم بالصبر والإحسان.
الصائم أو العابد إذا فَرِح بسبب إكمال عبادته والانتهاء منها لم ينقص ذلك من أجره في الآخرة.
الفرحة الكاملة هي بلقاء الله تعالى، عندما يُوَفَّى الصابرون والصائمون أجرهم بغير حساب.
إعلام الناس بالطاعة عند الحاجة والمصلحة ليس من الرياء لقوله: (إني صائم).
الصائم الكامل صومه هو الذي صامت جوارحه عن الآثام، ولسانه عن الكذب والفحش، وقول الزور، وبطنه عن الطعام والشراب.
تأكيد النهي عن الصَّخَب والخِصام والصِّياح حالَ الصوم، وإلا فَغَيْرُ الصائم مَنهيٌّ عن ذلك أيضًا.
هذا الحديث مما يرويه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن ربه، ويسمى بالحديث القدسي أو الإلهي، وهو الذي لفظه ومعناه من الله، غير أنه ليست فيه خصائص القرآن التي امتاز بها عما سواه، مِن التَّعَبُّد بتلاوته والطهارة له والتَّحَدِّي والإعجاز وغير ذلك.

Classical commentary

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani — Fath al-Bari

قَوْله فِيهِ ( وَلَا يَصْخَبُ ) كَذَا لِلْأَكْثَرِ بِالْمُهْمَلَةِ السَّاكِنَةِ بَعْدَهَا خَاء مُعْجَمَة , وَلِبَعْضِهِمْ بِالسِّين بَدَلَ الصَّاد وَهُوَ بِمَعْنَاهُ , وَالصَّخَب الْخِصَام وَالصِّيَاح , وَقَدْ تَقَدَّمَ أَنَّ الْمُرَادَ النَّهْي عَنْ ذَلِكَ تَأْكِيده حَالَة الصَّوْمِ , وَإِلَّا فَغَيْرُ الصَّائِم مَنْهِيّ عَنْ ذَلِكَ أَيْضًا. قَوْلُهُ : ( لَخُلُوفُ ) كَذَا لِلْأَكْثَرِ , وَلِلْكُشْمِيهَنِيِّ " لَخُلُفُ " بِحَذْفِ الْوَاوِ كَأَنَّهَا صِيغَةُ جَمْع , وَيُرْوَى فِي غَيْرِ الْبُخَارِيِّ بِلَفْظ " لَخُلْفَةُ " عَلَى الْوَحْدَةِ كَتَمْر وَتَمْرَة. قَوْلُهُ : ( لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا : إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ ) زَاد مُسْلِم " بِفِطْرِهِ " , وَقَوْلِهِ " يَفْرَحُهُمَا "…

Scholar	Grade	Applies to	Work
Al-Bukharid. 256 AH	Authenticصحيح	The hadith	صحيح البخاري No. 1904

Grades of other versions (9)

AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح النسائي (2227)
AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح النسائي (2228)
AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح النسائي (2216)
AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح الترغيب (978)
AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح الجامع (4328)
Authentic chainAl-Albani إسناده صحيح — صحيح النسائي (2215)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'ut إسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين — تخريج المسند لشعيب (7693)
AuthenticMuslim صحيح — صحيح مسلم (1151)
Authenticالهيتمي المكي صحيح أو حسن — الزواجر عن اقتراف الكبائر (1/196)

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 5927

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(Allah said), 'Every good deed of Adam's son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.' Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk."

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ، إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 7492

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah said: The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from Hell) and there are two pleasures for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his…

الصَّوْمُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَأَكْلَهُ وَشُرْبَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي، وَالصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ، وَلِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ وَفَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يَلْقَى رَبَّهُ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 7538

The Prophet (ﷺ) said that your Lord said, "Every (sinful) deed can be expiated; and the fast is for Me, so I will give the reward for it; and the smell which comes out of the mouth of a fasting person, is better in Allah's Sight than the smell of musk." (See Hadith No. 584)

لِكُلِّ عَمَلٍ كَفَّارَةٌ، وَالصَّوْمُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1151b

Allah, the Majestic and the Exalted, said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is done for My sake, and I will give a reward for it. By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ هُوَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخِلْفَةُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1151d

Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone) will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone…

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَلاَ يَسْخَبْ فَإِنْ سَابَّهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Hadith qudsi Sahih Muslim 1151e

Every (good) deed of the son of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has said: With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it, for one abandons his passion and food for My sake…

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ الْحَسَنَةُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَطَعَامَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

See all 31 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Jami' at-Tirmidhi 764

The Messenger of Allah said: "Indeed your Lord said: 'Every good deed is rewarded with ten of the same up to seven hundred times over. Fasting is for Me, and I shall reward for it.' Fasting is a shield from the Fire. The smell coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant to Allah than…

كُلُّ حَسَنَةٍ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ وَالصَّوْمُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ وَإِنْ جَهِلَ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Good (hasan) Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2214

"(Allah says) fasting is for me and I shall reward for it. The fasting person rejoices twice: when he breaks his fast and the day when he meets his Lord. And the smell that come from the mouth of the fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk." '

"‏ الصِّيَامُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ وَالصَّائِمُ يَفْرَحُ مَرَّتَيْنِ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ وَيَوْمَ يَلْقَى اللَّهَ وَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Hadith qudsi Sunan an-Nasa'i 2215

"There is no good deed that the son of Adam does, but between ten and seven hundred Hasanahs will be recorded for him. Allah, the mighty and sublime, said: 'Except fasing, for it is for me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desires and his food for my sake. Fasting is a shield, and the…

"‏ مَا مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ عَمِلَهَا ابْنُ آدَمَ إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَطَعَامَهُ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2216

"The Messenger of Allah said: '(Allah says) Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for me and I shall reward for it. Fasting is a shield. If any one of you is fasting, let him no utter obscene talk or raise his voice in anger, and if anyone insults him or wants to fight…

"‏ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ هُوَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صِيَامِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَصْخَبْ فَإِنْ شَاتَمَهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Differing grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2217

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah, the Mighty and sublime, said: Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for me and I shall reward for it. Fasting is a shield. If any one of you is observing a fast, let him not utte obscene a fast, let him not utter obscene talk or raise…

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ هُوَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَصْخَبْ فَإِنْ شَاتَمَهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2218

"I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Allah, the mighty and sublime, said: Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for me and I shall reward for it. By the one in whose hand is the soul of Muhmmad, the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better before Allah…

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ هُوَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخِلْفَةُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Ibn Majah 1638

“Every good deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied manifold. A good deed will be multiplied ten times up to as many as seven hundred times, or as much as Allah wills. Allah says: ‘Except for fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desire and his food for My sake.’…

"‏ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ الْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ إِلَى مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ. يَقُولُ اللَّهُ: إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ. يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 6877