The Prophet fears making Islam more difficult
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 1076, Sahih Muslim 717
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would abstain from doing a deed he liked to perform, fearing that people would do it until it became an obligation upon them.
Description
This hadith shows the Prophet’s ﷺ mercy and wisdom. Even though he loved certain acts of worship, he sometimes refrained from doing them in public. He feared that if people saw him always performing those deeds, they would assume they were compulsory. This protected the ummah from unnecessary hardship.
Meaning Today
It means that Muslims are not required to perform every extra act of worship. Only the obligations (fard) must always be done. Extra deeds (nafl or sunnah) are highly rewarded but not mandatory. Skipping them does not make a person sinful.
Examples of Extra Deeds Not Required
- Tahajjud (night prayer) – beloved by the Prophet ﷺ, but not obligatory.
- Duha prayer (forenoon prayer) – recommended, but optional.
- Sunnah prayers before/after fard – except for witr, none are compulsory.
- Fasting on Mondays/Thursdays – rewarded, but not required.
- Fasting on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the month – recommended, not fard.
- Using miswak regularly – loved by the Prophet ﷺ, but not an obligation.
- Extra charity (sadaqah) – beyond zakat, it is voluntary.
Quranic Context
📖Quran 2:286
Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.”
📖Quran 22:78
“He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any hardship.”
📖Quran 5:6
“Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
📖Quran 7:157
They are˺ the ones who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whose description they find in their Torah and the Gospel.1 He commands them to do good and forbids them from evil, permits for them what is lawful and forbids to them what is impure, and relieves them from their burdens and the shackles that bound them. ˹Only˺ those who believe in him, honour and support him, and follow the light sent down to him will be successful.”