a Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah with unkempt hair and said: "O Allah has enjoined upon me of Salah." He said: "The five daily prayers, unless you do any more voluntarily." He said: "Tell me what Allah has enjoined upon me voluntarily." He said: "Tell me what Allah has enjoined upon me of fasting." He said: "Fasting the month of Ramadan, unless you do any more voluntarily." He said: "Tell me what Allah has enjoined upon me of Zakah." The Messenger of Allah told him of the laws of Islam, He said: "By the One Who has honored you, I will not do anything voluntarily, and I will not do anything voluntarily, and I will not do less than that which Allah has enjoined upon, me: The Messenger of Allah said: "He will succeed if he is sincere," or "He will enter Paradise if he is sincere."
Hadith Context & Significance
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i 2090 in The Book of Fasting presents a profound encounter between a Bedouin and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, illustrating the distinction between obligatory (fard) and voluntary (nafl) worship in Islam.
Scholarly Commentary on the Dialogue
The Bedouin's approach with "unkempt hair" indicates his straightforward, desert nature - coming directly to seek religious knowledge without worldly pretense.
His questioning method - "what Allah has enjoined upon me" - demonstrates proper intention to learn divine obligations rather than human opinions.
The Prophet's ﷺ responses systematically distinguish between compulsory acts (five prayers, Ramadan fasting, Zakah) and supererogatory deeds, establishing the hierarchy of Islamic worship.
Legal Rulings Derived
The five daily prayers constitute the fundamental pillar of Islamic worship, with voluntary prayers being meritorious but not obligatory.
Fasting Ramadan is obligatory (fard) while additional fasting throughout the year remains recommended (mustahabb).
Zakah amounts and conditions are divinely prescribed, not subject to personal discretion.
Spiritual Implications
The Bedouin's declaration to perform only obligations reflects a literalist approach - valid but missing the spiritual excellence (ihsan) of voluntary worship.
The Prophet's ﷺ final statement - "He will succeed if he is sincere" - confirms theological validity while subtly encouraging higher spiritual stations.
This narration balances between affirming minimum requirements and inspiring towards spiritual excellence through voluntary devotion.