The fast that yields only hunger and no reward

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

رب صائم ليس له من صيامه إلا الجوع، ورب قائم ليس له من قيامه إلا السهر

“There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are people who pray (at night) and get nothing from their prayers except a sleepless night.” (Al-Nasā’ī in Al-Kubrā 2/239,256, Ibn Mājah 1690. Authenticated by Al-Albānī in Sahīh al-Jāmi’ 3488)

Imām al-San’ānī said (in explanation):

“There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger” refers to those who did not have sincere intentions or who do not avoid false speech, and lying, and slander, and backbiting, and similar prohibited acts. Such a person experiences hunger and thirst without earning any reward.

Al-Ghazālī said: This is the one who breaks their fast with harām (what’s forbidden) or breaks it by consuming people’s flesh through backbiting, or one who does not guard their limbs against sins.

“And there are people who pray (at night)” meaning one who performs tahajjud (night prayer) “and get nothing from their prayers except a sleepless night” due to bad/corrupt intentions, or praying in a place acquired through unlawful means, and the like.

(al-Tanwīr Sharh Jāmi al-Saghīr of Al-Sanānī 6/224-225)

---

Al-Manāwī said:

…īmān (belief), which is affirmation, and ihtisāb (seeking reward), which is willingness/compliance, are conditions for obtaining reward and forgiveness in fasting Ramadān.

Therefore, one should perform it with a sincere intention and pure heart, in compliance with Allāh’s command and relying on His promise, without disliking or being weary of the hunger and thirst one experiences, and the difficulty of restraining from fulfilling (ones) desires.

Rather, one should seek reward for the fatigue and hardship throughout its long days, and not wish for its swift passing, but should instead savor its bitterness (i.e. its difficulty). If one does not do this, then as mentioned in a hadīth: “There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger.”

(Fayd al-Qadīr 2/1396)