Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:

➊ Just as excessive eating and luxury are not good, likewise excessive hunger and poverty, which one cannot bear with patience, are also not better.

➋ Seeking lawful (halal) sustenance and striving to obtain it is not contrary to asceticism (zuhd) and reliance upon Allah (tawakkul).

➌ The literal meaning of "dajeer" is "one who lies down alongside." In a state of hunger, neither can worship be performed with attention, nor can one sleep peacefully. It is better to seek Allah’s protection from such hunger.

➍ "Bitanah" refers to that garment which is worn in direct contact with the body and is covered by other clothes. For this reason, a very close friend who is aware of a person’s private matters is also called "bitanah." Betrayal is a hidden flaw. When secrets are exposed, a person becomes disgraced; therefore, it is necessary to supplicate for protection from this.

➎ A righteous person should also continue to supplicate to Allah for help and divine enablement (tawfiq) to remain steadfast upon righteousness.

1547. Commentary: From this hadith and supplication, it is deduced that mere hunger and deprivation do not carry any reward—may Allah protect us from it. Only that hunger is beneficial in the sight of Allah which is undertaken with the intention of seeking closeness to Him, i.e., "fasting" (sawm). And "betrayal" (khiyanat), which is the opposite of "trustworthiness" (amanah), encompasses all religious, worldly, material, and spiritual matters. May Allah protect us from it.

This hadith does not explicitly correspond to the chapter heading; rather, the following hadith is in accordance with the chapter. It appears that this hadith was written here due to a scribe's error.