Is this Hadith authentic?
Narrated Mutarrif who was from the tribe of Banu Amir ibn Sa’sa’ah that Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Abul ‘As Ath Thaqafi (radiyallahu ‘anhu) invited him to drink some milk. Mutarrif said: “I am fasting.” Uthman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “I heard Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: ‘Fasting is a shield against the Fire just like your shield used when fighting.’”
Answer
Imams Nasai and Ahmad (rahimahumallah) have recorded this Hadith. Imam Ibn Khuzaymah (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic.
(Sunan Nasai; Al Mujtaba, Hadith: 2231, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4 pg. 217, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 2125)
The words ‘Fasting is a shield’ also appear in Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and other Hadith collections.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1894, 7492 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1151)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar