What does this hadith mean?

[Shezena]

Assalaam alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatahu,

Hope you guys are all doing well. =)

Maybe it was at the Ramadan Workshop, I'm not sure, but one of our instructors mentioned this hadith and explained what it meant, but I can't find it in my notes. Does anyone know? Here it is:

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet of Allah salallahu alayhi wasallam said, "Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness." (Darimi)

Jazakum Allah khair!

[Massoud]

Assalamu alaikum.

The text of the Hadith is as follows:

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night."

[Sunan Ibn Majah (Darussalam Publishers 2007, translated by Nasiruddin Al-Khattab and edited by Abu Khaliyl), vol. 2, p. 498-499, Hadith #1690. Classed as Hasan by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair Ali Za'i.]

It was also classed as Sahih by Sheikh Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami' As-Saghir, vol. 1, p. 656, Hadith #3488, as stated in The Friday Prayer Part 2: Khutbahs (1), p. 139 by Jamal Az-Zarabozo.

However, Usamah Ibn Zayd Al-Adawi is in the chain of this Hadith and he is weak. It was classed as weak by Sheikh Abdul Muhsin Ibn Ali in his Riyadh Al-Jannan Fi Ramadan p. 31-36.

Even if for argument's sake, the narration is weak, there are supporting narrations (Shawahid) to make it reach an acceptable level as stated by Sheikh Zubair in his comments in the Darussalam edition of Sunan Ibn Majah (p. 499).

The meaning of the Hadith is authentic, regardless: Some people may be fasting yet they receive no benefit from it at all. They see it as a habit, a cultural practice and the like. In fact, there are many people who fast but do not even pray! They do not see that the purpose of fasting is to acheive Taqwa . . .

In addition, many people may pray during Ramadhan yet they receive no benefits. Prayer is like a mechanical thing to them: they perform the movements but do not comprehend of the words that they utter. There is no sincerity in the heart.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalamu Alaikum.

[Shezena]

Walaikum assalaam.

Jazakallah khair brother! Thank you.

[Massoud]

Assalamu Alaikum.

No problem, and may Allah guide us all to the truth.

Wassalamu Alaikum.

[mraza1]

jak for being our special guest Br. Massoud .... thanks for the 'ilm! Now, QMajd's looking up here in O-Town!

[Massoud]

Assalamu Alaikum.

It's all thanks to Majd! We get the credit!

Wassalamu Alaikum.

[Massoud]

My first post has been edited due to errors that I had commited. They have been fixed and polished up well, Alhamdulillah. I apologise for these mistakes, and I admit that to err is human.

It would be important to revise it because the first "draft" had incorrect gradings that were attributed to Sheikhs Zubair and Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy upon them. So please refer to it.

And from Allah I seek forgiveness, for only He can forgive us of our wrongdoings.