Hadith 142 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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].

Hadith 143 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to inquire about the worship of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). When they were informed, they considered their worship insignificant and said: "Where are we in comparison with the Prophet (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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].

Anas (RA) rapporte que trois personnes vinrent chez les femmes du Prophète (saws) pour les interroger sur la façon dont le Prophète (saws) adorait Dieu. Quand elles les en informèrent, cela leur sembla peu. Ils dirent : « Que sommes-nous par rapport au Prophète (saws) alors que Dieu lui a déjà pardonné tous ses péchés passés et futur ? » L’un d’eux dit : « Pour ma part, je m’engage toujours de passer toutes mes nuits en prières » L’autre dit : « Et moi je m’engage à jeûner sans interruption toute ma vie. » L’autre enfin dit : « Moi je mengage à ne jamais me marier » Le messager de Dieu (saws) vint alors à eux et leur dit : « Est-ce bien vous qui avez dit ceci et cela ? En vérité, par Dieu, je crains Dieu bien plus que vous mais je jeune un temps et je mange un autre. Je pris une partie de la nuit et j’en dort une autre et j’épouse les femmes. Celui qui se détourne de ma voie n’est pas de ma communauté. »

Hadith 144 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

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

[Muslim]

Selon Ibn Mas’ud (RA), le Prophète (saws) a dit : « Malheur aux rigoristes ! » Et il le répéta trois fois de suite. (rapporté par Moslem)

Hadith 145 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) 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].

Selon Abou Hourayra (RA), le Prophète (saws) a dit : « La religion est aisance et facilité. Jamais quelqu’un ne cherchera à rivaliser de force avec la religion sans que la religion ne l’écrase. Suivez plutôt la voie sage du juste milieu, rapprochez-vous en douceur de la perfection et soyez optimistes. Aidez-vous en cela par vos allées et venues à la mosquée le matin, le soir et aux dernières heures de la nuit. » (Al Boukhari)

Hadith 146 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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].

Anas (RA) rapporte que le Prophète (saws) est entré une fois à la maison. Il y trouva une corde attachée entre deux colonnes. Il dit : « Qu’est-ce donc que ces cordes ? » On lui dit : « Cette corde est pour Zeynab ; quand le sommeil la vainc (dans la prière) elle s’y accroche. » le Prophète (saws) dit alors : « Détachez-moi cette corde ! Que l’un de vous prie tant qu’il en a la force et, dès qu’il est gagné par le sommeil, qu’il aille dormir ! » (URA)

Hadith 147 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) 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].

Hadith 148 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

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

[Muslim].

Jaber Ibn Samoura (RA) a dit : « Je faisais mes prières en compagnie du Prophète (saws). Sa prière (aussi bien qu son sermon) n’était ni trop court, ni trop long. »

Hadith 149 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

Abu Juhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) and reported the whole story. Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Salman is right".

[Al- Bukhari].

Wahb Ibn ‘Abdullah (RA) a dit : « Le Prophète (saws) a fraternisé entre Salman et Abouddarda. Un jour Salman se rendit chez Abouddarda et trouva sa femme dans une tenue des plus modestes. Il lui dit : « Pourquoi donc te négliges-tu ainsi ? » Elle lui dit : « Ton frère Abouddarda ne ressent aucun désir pour ce bas monde. » Juste à ce moment arriva Abouddarda qui lui prépara quelque chose à manger et lui dit : « Mange seul car je jeûne. » Il dit : « Je ne mangerais pas tant que tu ne mangera pas avec moi. » Il mangea donc avec lui. Quand la nuit tomba, Abouddarda se plonga dans la prière. Salman lui dit alors : « Dors ! » Il s’endormit puis se remit à prier. Il lui dit encore une fois : « Dors ! » et il se recoucha. Quand vinrent les dernières heures de la nuit Salman dit : « Maintenant remets-toi à prier ! » Ils prièrent ensemble puis Salman lui dit : « Ton Seigneur a sur toi un droit, ta personne a sur toi un droit et ta famille a sur toi un droit. Donne donc à tout ayant droit. Abouddarda alla conter la chose au Prophète (saws) qui lui dit : « Salman a dit vrai. » (Al Boukhari)

Hadith 150 - Bab 14 (Moderation in)
Chapter 1 (The Book of Miscellany)

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) said, "Observe fast every other day, and that is the fasting of Dawud (Peace be upon him) and that is the most moderate fasting".

According to another narration: Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, "That is the best fasting." I said, "But I am capable of doing more than this". Thereupon, Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) said, "Observe fast like the fasting of Prophet Dawud (Peace be upon him); and do not fast more than that." I said: "How was the fasting of Prophet Dawud?" He (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) said, "Then observe fasts like the fasting of Prophet Dawud (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) said, "The best fasting with Allah is that of (Prophet) Dawud, and the best prayer with Allah is that of Dawud (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him).