8/26. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1527 — Do Not Call Upon One Deaf or Absent
About Seeking Forgiveness
Quiet Dhikr Hadith: You Are Not Calling One Deaf or Absent
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1527
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1527
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ التَّيْمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُمْ يَتَصَعَّدُونَ فِي ثَنِيَّةٍ فَجَعَلَ رَجُلٌ كُلَّمَا عَلاَ الثَّنِيَّةَ نَادَى لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ . فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّكُمْ لاَ تُنَادُونَ أَصَمَّ وَلاَ غَائِبًا " . ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ " . فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَاهُ .
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari Narrated from:
They (the Companions) accompanied the Prophet (ﷺ) while they were climbing the turning of a hill. A man uttered loudly: "There is no god but Allah, and Allah is most great" when he ascended the hill. The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) said: You are not supplicating one who is deaf or absent. He then said: 'Abd Allah b. Qais. The narrator then transmitted the tradition to the same effect.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1527In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 112English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1522
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1527
This hadith about quiet dhikr comes through Abu Musa al-Ash'ari. The Companions were with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while climbing the turn of a hill. A man raised his voice each time he ascended, saying, "There is no god but Allah, and Allah is most great." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said that they were not calling one who is deaf or absent. The report then continues in the same meaning as the related narration. The main lesson is not against remembering Allah, because the words of dhikr are good. The correction is about the manner: a person should remember that Allah hears and is near, so shouting is not needed.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith teaches that Allah is not deaf or absent when a believer calls on Him.
- Dhikr is good, but the manner of saying it should reflect awareness of Allah's nearness.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected the Companions with a clear reminder about supplication.
