Sunan an-Nasa'i #1971
The Book of Funerals
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 اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حُجَيْنُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ لَمَّا مَاتَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىِّ ابْنِ سَلُولَ دُعِي لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَثَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تُصَلِّي عَلَى ابْنِ أُبَىٍّ وَقَدْ قَالَ يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا كَذَا وَكَذَا أُعَدِّدُ عَلَيْهِ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " أَخِّرْ عَنِّي يَا عُمَرُ " . فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ " إِنِّي قَدْ خُيِّرْتُ فَاخْتَرْتُ فَلَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنِّي لَوْ زِدْتُ عَلَى السَّبْعِينَ غُفِرَ لَهُ لَزِدْتُ عَلَيْهَا " . فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَلَمْ يَمْكُثْ إِلاَّ يَسِيرًا حَتَّى نَزَلَتِ الآيَتَانِ مِنْ بَرَاءَةَ { وَلاَ تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ مَاتَ أَبَدًا وَلاَ تَقُمْ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ } فَعَجِبْتُ بَعْدُ مِنْ جُرْأَتِي عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ .
"When 'Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Soul died, the Messenger of Allah was called upon to offer the funeral prayer for him. When the Messenger of Allah stood up (to offer the prayer), I got up quickly and said: 'O Messenger of Allah Are you going to pray for Ibn Ubayy when he said such-and-such an occasion?' And I stated to list all the things that he had said. The Messenger of Allah smiled and said: 'Leave me alone, O 'Umar.' When I spoke too much he said: 'I have been given the choice and I have chosen (to offer the prayer for him). If I knew that he could be forgiven by asking Allah's forgiveness more than seventy times, I would have done so.' The Messenger of Allah offered the funeral prayer for him, and then left. A short while later, the two Verses form surah Bara were revealed: 'And never pray (funeral prayer) for any of them (hypocrites) who dies, nor stand at his grave. Certainly they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and died while they were rebellious.' Later I was astonished by my audacity toward the Messenger of Allah on that day. And Allah and His Messenger know best."
Narrated by It was narrated that 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident involving 'Umar bin Al-Khattab and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding the funeral prayer for a hypocrite, Abdullah bin Ubayy. Despite 'Umar's objections based on the man's past actions, the Prophet (ﷺ) chose to pray for him, demonstrating mercy and the importance of forgiveness.
Modern Application
In our interactions, we often face individuals whose actions may not align with our values. This hadith encourages us to practice compassion and understanding, recognizing that everyone is on their own journey and may deserve a chance at redemption.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Funeral Rites because it discusses the Prophet's (ﷺ) decision to perform a funeral prayer for someone with a controversial past.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
3 ayahs
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًۭا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ
And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muhammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةًۭ فَلَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ
Ask forgiveness for them, [O Muhammad], or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allah forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ
May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
سُورَةُ المُلۡكِ
Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍۢ
Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?"
سُورَةُ الجِنِّ
Al-Jinn (The Jinn)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًۭا
And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."
Common Words
81 total65 unique11 repeated
لهم5x
ٱلله4x
ولا2x
على2x
كفروا2x
بٱلله2x
ورسوله2x
أو2x
لا2x
تستغفر2x
إن2x
تصل1x
أحد1x
منهم1x
مات1x
أبدا1x
تقم1x
قبره1x
إنهم1x
وماتوا1x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #1971 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Funerals. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said:.