Umm ‘Umara, daughter of Ka‘b, said that once when the Prophet visited her and she called for food for him, he told her that she must eat also; but when she replied that she was fasting he said, “When people eat beside one who is fasting the angels invoke blessings on him till they finish eating.”
Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.
Narrated Zuhri reported on ‘Urwa’s authority that ‘A'isha said:
When Hafsa and I were fasting we were offered food which we liked very much and ate some of it. Hafsa told God’s messenger of this, and he said, “Make up for it by fasting on another day.”
Tirmidhi transmitted it, but he mentioned a number of huffaz* who transmitted on the authority of Zuhri on the authority of ‘A'isha in mursal form, omitting to mention ‘Urwa’s authority, and this is sounder. Abu Dawud transmitted it from Zumail the client of ‘Urwa from ‘Urwa from ‘A'isha.
*Traditionists who have a reputation for their accurate memory.
Buraida said that once when Bilal went in to visit God’s messenger while he was having his morning meal he invited him to join him, and when Bilal replied that he was fasting, he said, “We are eating our provision and Bilal’s superior provision is in paradise. Did you know, Bilal, that the bones of one who fasts extol God and that the angels ask forgiveness for him as long as people eat beside him?”
Umm Hani’ said that on the day of the conquest of Mecca Fatima came and sat on God’s messenger’s left and Umm Hani on his right, and when the maidservant brought a vessel containing; drinking water and handed it to him, he drank some of it and handed it to Umm Hani’ who drank some of it. She then said, “Messenger of God, I was fasting and I have broken my fast.” He asked if she was making up for anything, and when she replied that she was not, he said, “It will not harm you if it was a voluntary fast.”
Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it. A version by Ahmad and Tirmidhi has something similar. In it she said, “Messenger of God, I was fasting,” and he replied, “The one who observes a voluntary fast is his own master; if he wishes he may fast, and if he wishes he may break it.”
