Would you like to eat the Flesh of your brother?

Story of the two women fasting during the lifetime 

of Allaah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)

 

It has been reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad that this breaks the fast:

“Two women were once fasting during the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger & they almost died of thirst. This was mentioned to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) but he turned away from (allowing) them (to break the fast). Then they were mentioned to him again, so he called for them & ordered them to vomit, i.e. throw up, what was in their stomachs. So they both vomited & filled up a bowl with puss, blood & pieces of flesh. Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 

Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

‘These two fasted by refraining from what Allaah made lawful for them, but they broke their fast by doing what Allaah made unlawful for them. One of them sat with the other & they began to eat from the flesh of people.’”

What transpired with these two women in the presence of the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) from their vomiting vile & disgusting things – this was from the miracles that Allaah allowed to occur at the hand of His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) so that he could show the evil effects of backbiting to the people. Allaah says: 

“And do not backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother?” [Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:12]

This hadeeth shows that backbiting breaks the fast. This is in the figurative sense, meaning it nullifies the reward of fasting  !!!