The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone does not abandon falsehood and action is accordance with it, Allah has no need that he should abandon his food and drink.
The narrator Ahmad (b. Yunus) said: I learnt the chain of narrators from Ibn Abi Dhi'b, and a man by his side made me understand the tradition. I think he was his cousin.
Hadith Text & Chain of Narration
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "If anyone does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, Allah has no need that he should abandon his food and drink."
Narrated by Sunan Abi Dawud 2362 in the Book of Fasting (Kitab Al-Siyam). The narrator Ahmad ibn Yunus reported: I learnt the chain of narrators from Ibn Abi Dhi'b, and a man by his side made me understand the tradition. I think he was his cousin.
Meaning & Essence
This profound hadith establishes that the physical act of fasting from food and drink is incomplete without the spiritual dimension of abstaining from false speech, deceitful actions, and all forms of moral corruption.
Allah emphasizes through His Prophet that mere physical deprivation holds no value if one's tongue, limbs, and heart remain engaged in falsehood. The essence of fasting transcends physical hunger to encompass complete spiritual purification.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam Al-Ghazali explains in Ihya Ulum al-Din that fasting has three levels: the common fast of abstaining from food and drink, the special fast of restraining all senses from sin, and the elite fast of the heart from worldly concerns.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes in Jami al-Ulum wal-Hikam that this hadith demonstrates fasting is not merely physical worship but requires moral transformation. The one who fasts while persisting in falsehood resembles one who builds a magnificent structure while demolishing its foundation.
Scholars emphasize that the phrase "Allah has no need" indicates such fasting may be accepted in form but rejected in essence, as it lacks the intended spiritual benefit and moral reformation.
Practical Implications
The fasting Muslim must guard their tongue from lying, backbiting, and foul speech while fasting.
One must refrain from all deceptive business practices, cheating, and unethical conduct during Ramadan and beyond.
The eyes should fast from looking at unlawful things, ears from listening to gossip, and hands from harming others.
This teaching reminds us that Islamic worship integrates physical devotion with moral excellence, creating comprehensive spiritual development.