What is Sunan an-Nasa'i 5368 about?

This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i (Book of The Book of Adornment), narrated by It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:, states: ""The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever makes an image will be punished until (he is commanded) to breathe a soul into it, and he will not be able to do so.'""

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade 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 5368 in the Book of The Book of Adornment.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#5367

#5368

Sunan an-Nasa'i

#5369

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Sunan an-Nasa'i #5368

The Book of Adornment

Sahih

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

أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ صَوَّرَ صُورَةً عُذِّبَ حَتَّى يَنْفُخَ فِيهَا الرُّوحَ وَلَيْسَ بِنَافِخٍ فِيهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever makes an image will be punished until (he is commanded) to breathe a soul into it, and he will not be able to do so.'"

Narrated by It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warns against image-making, stating that those who create images will face punishment. This reflects a significant concern regarding the creation of representations that may lead to idolatry or distraction from worship. The takeaway emphasizes the seriousness of adhering to guidelines about image-making.

Modern Application

In modern society, this hadith encourages individuals to reflect on their engagement with art and media. It serves as a reminder to prioritize spiritual values over material representations that may distract from faith.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Image-Making because it directly addresses the act of creating images and the consequences associated with it.

Image-Making