Sunan an-Nasa'i #1220
The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي مَيْمُونَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ السُّلَمِيِّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ بِجَاهِلِيَّةٍ فَجَاءَ اللَّهُ بِالإِسْلاَمِ وَإِنَّ رِجَالاً مِنَّا يَتَطَيَّرُونَ . قَالَ " ذَاكَ شَىْءٌ يَجِدُونَهُ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ فَلاَ يَصُدَّنَّهُمْ " . وَرِجَالٌ مِنَّا يَأْتُونَ الْكُهَّانَ . قَالَ " فَلاَ تَأْتُوهُمْ " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَرِجَالٌ مِنَّا يَخُطُّونَ . قَالَ " كَانَ نَبِيٌّ مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ يَخُطُّ فَمَنْ وَافَقَ خَطُّهُ فَذَاكَ " . قَالَ وَبَيْنَا أَنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الصَّلاَةِ إِذْ عَطَسَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَقُلْتُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ فَحَدَّقَنِي الْقَوْمُ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ فَقُلْتُ وَاثُكْلَ أُمِّيَاهُ مَا لَكُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ إِلَىَّ قَالَ فَضَرَبَ الْقَوْمُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ عَلَى أَفْخَاذِهِمْ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُمْ يُسَكِّتُونِي لَكِنِّي سَكَتُّ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَعَانِي بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي هُوَ مَا ضَرَبَنِي وَلاَ كَهَرَنِي وَلاَ سَبَّنِي مَا رَأَيْتُ مُعَلِّمًا قَبْلَهُ وَلاَ بَعْدَهُ أَحْسَنَ تَعْلِيمًا مِنْهُ قَالَ " إِنَّ صَلاَتَنَا هَذِهِ لاَ يَصْلُحُ فِيهَا شَىْءٌ مِنْ كَلاَمِ النَّاسِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ التَّسْبِيحُ وَالتَّكْبِيرُ وَتِلاَوَةُ الْقُرْآنِ " . قَالَ ثُمَّ اطَّلَعْتُ إِلَى غُنَيْمَةٍ لِي تَرْعَاهَا جَارِيَةٌ لِي فِي قِبَلِ أُحُدٍ وَالْجَوَّانِيَّةِ وَإِنِّي اطَّلَعْتُ فَوَجَدْتُ الذِّئْبَ قَدْ ذَهَبَ مِنْهَا بِشَاةٍ وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ آسَفُ كَمَا يَأْسَفُونَ فَصَكَكْتُهَا صَكَّةً ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَعَظَّمَ ذَلِكَ عَلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ أَعْتِقُهَا قَالَ " ادْعُهَا " . فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَيْنَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " . قَالَتْ فِي السَّمَاءِ . قَالَ " فَمَنْ أَنَا " . قَالَتْ أَنْتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ " إِنَّهَا مُؤْمِنَةٌ فَاعْتِقْهَا " .
"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we were recently in a state of ignorance, then Allah (SWT) brought Islam. Some men among us follow omens.' He said: 'That is something that they find in their own hearts; it should not deter them from going ahead.' I said: 'And some men among us go to fortune tellers.' He said: 'Do not go to them.' He said: 'Some men among us draw lines.' He said: 'One of the Prophets used to draw lines. So whoever is in accord with his drawing of lines, then so it is.'" He said: "While I was praying with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), a man sneezed and I said: 'Yarhamuk-Allah (May Allah have mercy on you).' The people glared at me and I said: 'May my mother be bereft of me, why are you looking at me?' The people struck their hands against their thighs, and when I saw that they were telling me to be quiet, I fell silent. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished, he called me. May my father and mother be ransomed for him, he neither did hit me nor rebuke me nor revile me. I have never seen a better teacher than him, before or after. He said: 'This prayer of ours is not the place for ordinary human speech, rather it is glorification and magnification of Allah (SWT), and reciting Qur'an.' Then I went out to a flock of sheep of mine that was tended by a slave woman of mine beside Uhud and Al-Jawwaniyyah, and I found that the wolf had taken one of the sheep. I am a man from the sons of Adam and I get upset as they get upset. So I slapped her. Then I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and told him what happened. He regarded that as a serious action on my part. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), should I set her free?' He said: 'Call her.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to her: 'Where is Allah (SWT), the Mighty and Sublime?' She said: 'Above the heavens.' He said: 'And who am I?' She said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' He said: 'She is a believer, set her free.'"
Narrated by It was narrated that Mu'awiyah bin Al-Hakam As-Sulami said:
Context
In this hadith, Mu'awiyah bin Al-Hakam As-Sulami recounts his interactions with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding various superstitions and practices from the time of ignorance before Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) addresses the concerns about omens, fortune-tellers, and drawing lines, emphasizing that these should not distract believers from their faith. He also teaches about the proper conduct during prayer, highlighting the importance of focusing on worship without engaging in idle talk.
Modern Application
In today's daily salah, this hadith reminds us to maintain focus and avoid distractions during prayer. It encourages believers to engage sincerely in their worship, ensuring that their thoughts are directed towards Allah (SWT) rather than being sidetracked by worldly concerns or superstitions.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it illustrates the proper behavior during prayer and the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) regarding distractions and superstitions.
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سُورَةُ صٓ
Saad (The letter Saad)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ
[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ
Al-A'raaf (The Heights)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
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قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعًۭا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ لَٱسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ ۚ إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌۭ وَبَشِيرٌۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."
سُورَةُ الشَّمۡسِ
Ash-Shams (The Sun)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا
And the messenger of Allah [Salih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] her drink."
سُورَةُ المُمۡتَحنَةِ
Al-Mumtahana (She that is to be examined)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ وَلَا يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلَٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأْتِينَ بِبُهْتَٰنٍۢ يَفْتَرِينَهُۥ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعْصِينَكَ فِى مَعْرُوفٍۢ ۙ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Common Words
93 total79 unique5 repeated
ولا7x
ٱلله6x
لا2x
إلا2x
إن2x
وخذ1x
بيدك1x
ضغثا1x
فٱضرب1x
به1x
تحنث1x
إنا1x
وجدنه1x
صابرا1x
نعم1x
ٱلعبد1x
إنه1x
أواب1x
بسم1x
ٱلرحمن1x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #1220 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer). It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Mu'awiyah bin Al-Hakam As-Sulami said:.