Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan. Hasan hadiths are considered good and acceptable in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan an-Nasa'i, which contains 5,768 hadiths across 52 books. It is hadith number 159 in the Book of The Book of Purification.

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#158

#159

Sunan an-Nasa'i

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Sunan an-Nasa'i #159

Q: What is Sunan an-Nasa'i 159 about?

This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i (Book of The Book of Purification), narrated by Zirr bin Hubaish narrated:, states: ""I came to a man called Safwan bin 'Assal and sat at his door. He came out and said: 'What do you want?' I said: 'I am seeking knowledge.' He said: 'The angels lower their wings for the seeker of know…"

The Book of Purification

Hasan

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ زِرَّ بْنَ حُبَيْشٍ، يُحَدِّثُ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ رَجُلاً يُدْعَى صَفْوَانَ بْنَ عَسَّالٍ فَقَعَدْتُ عَلَى بَابِهِ فَخَرَجَ فَقَالَ مَا شَأْنُكَ قُلْتُ أَطْلُبُ الْعِلْمَ ‏.‏ قَالَ إِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ تَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ رِضًا بِمَا يَطْلُبُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ عَنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ تَسْأَلُ قُلْتُ عَنِ الْخُفَّيْنِ ‏.‏ قَالَ كُنَّا إِذَا كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَفَرٍ أَمَرَنَا أَنْ لاَ نَنْزِعَهُ ثَلاَثًا إِلاَّ مِنْ جَنَابَةٍ وَلَكِنْ مِنْ غَائِطٍ وَبَوْلٍ وَنَوْمٍ ‏.‏

"I came to a man called Safwan bin 'Assal and sat at his door. He came out and said: 'What do you want?' I said: 'I am seeking knowledge.' He said: 'The angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge out of pleasure at what he is seeking.' He said: 'What do you want to know about?' I said: 'About the Khuffs.' He said: 'When we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey, he told us not to take them off for three days except in the case of Janabah, but not in the case of defecation, urinating or sleep.'"

Narrated by Zirr bin Hubaish narrated:

Context

This hadith recounts a conversation between Zirr bin Hubaish and Safwan bin 'Assal regarding the importance of seeking knowledge. Safwan mentions that the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, indicating the high status of this pursuit in Islam. He also shares a specific teaching from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) about wearing khuffs (leather socks) during travel.

Modern Application

In contemporary life, this hadith encourages individuals to prioritize learning and education, whether through formal studies or informal discussions. It highlights the value of seeking knowledge and the respect it garners in the community.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Teachings and Seeking Knowledge because it illustrates the significance of knowledge in Islam and the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) regarding practical matters.

Prophetic Teachings Seeking Knowledge

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ

Al-Maaida (The Table)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.

سُورَةُ عَبَسَ

Abasa (He frowned)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ

But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge]

سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ

Yusuf (Joseph)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

فَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَ ٱلْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَىٰهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ فَٱرْتَدَّ بَصِيرًۭا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it over his face, and he returned [once again] seeing. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know from Allah that which you do not know?"

قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّظَٰلِمُونَ

He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah [to prevent] that we take except him with whom we found our possession. Indeed, we would then be unjust."

سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ

Al-Kahf (The Cave)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًۭا

Moses said to him, "May I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgement?"

Common Words

109 total85 unique15 repeated

من5x

إلى3x

أو3x

على3x

ٱلله3x

أن3x

قال3x

إذا2x

وأيديكم2x

وإن2x

كنتم2x

جاء2x

ما2x

يريد2x

عليكم2x

يأيها1x

ٱلذين1x

ءامنوا1x

قمتم1x

ٱلصلوة1x

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About Sunan an-Nasa'i

This hadith is #159 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Purification. It is graded Hasan and narrated by Zirr bin Hubaish narrated:.

Browse all Sunan an-Nasa'i All Hadith Collections

Sunan an-Nasa'i #159

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

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About Sunan an-Nasa'i

About This Hadith