Allah Does Not Require Self-Punishment
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 1766, Sahih Muslim 1642
Anas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw an old man walking with the support of his two sons. The Prophet said, “What is the matter with this man?” They said, “He has vowed to walk to the Ka’bah.” The Prophet said, “Allah does not need this man to torture himself,” and he ordered him to ride on a mount.
This narration highlights the Prophet’s ﷺ wisdom in correcting extreme practices. A man thought that making his journey to the Ka’bah harder by walking on foot, despite his old age, would bring him closer to Allah. However, the Prophet ﷺ taught that Allah does not want worshippers to harm themselves or take on unnecessary burdens in acts of worship. Islam values balance, mercy, and ease over hardship.
What Does It Mean?
- Rejecting Self-Torture in Worship: Acts of worship should not be done in ways that harm the body or health. Allah does not need such exaggerated sacrifices.
- Balance Over Extremism: Islam teaches moderation – between laziness and harmful extremism. True devotion is in sincerity, not in self-inflicted suffering.
- Compassion in Religion: This hadith shows that Islam is a religion of mercy and practicality, where the focus is on following Allah’s guidance with ease, not hardship.
What We Learn Today:
- For health and worship: People who are ill, elderly, or weak are not expected to perform acts of worship in the same way as healthy individuals. Islam allows concessions like sitting in prayer, shortening travel prayers, or breaking fast when sick.
- In daily life: This hadith reminds us not to overburden ourselves with unnecessary struggles thinking they make us more righteous. True piety is following Allah’s commands as He intended — with sincerity and balance.
- Modern lesson: Some people take on extreme religious practices or self-punishments to “prove” devotion. This hadith shows such actions are not required; Allah wants obedience and sincerity, not harm.
Quranic Context:
📖Quran 2:185
Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship, and [He wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.
📖Quran 22:78
And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. It is the way of your father Abraham. Allah named you Muslims before, and in this [Qur’an], that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people.
📖Quran 4:28
Allah wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak.