1/129. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 337 — Inquiry Cures Ignorance
The Wounded Person Performing Tayammum
Is Not Inquiry the Cure of Ignorance?
Sunan Abi Dawud : 337
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 337
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَاصِمٍ الأَنْطَاكِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ شُعَيْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، أَنَّهُ بَلَغَهُ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ أَصَابَ رَجُلاً جُرْحٌ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ احْتَلَمَ فَأُمِرَ بِالاِغْتِسَالِ فَاغْتَسَلَ فَمَاتَ فَبَلَغَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " قَتَلُوهُ قَتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَلَمْ يَكُنْ شِفَاءُ الْعِيِّ السُّؤَالَ " .
Abdullah ibn Abbas Narrated from:
A man was injured during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ); he then had a sexual dream, and he was advised to wash and he washed himself. Consequently he died. When this was reported to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) he said: They killed him; may Allah kill them! Is not inquiry the cure of ignorance?
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 337In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 337English translation : Book 1, Hadith 337
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 337
This Hadith gives a shorter version of the story about an injured man during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. The man had a wound and then had a sexual dream. He was advised to wash, so he washed himself and died. When the news reached the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, he said, “They killed him; may Allah kill them!” Then he asked, “Is not inquiry the cure of ignorance?” The wording is direct and serious. It teaches that religious advice should not be given carelessly, especially when someone may be harmed. The Hadith points readers to a simple rule: when knowledge is missing, the right step is to ask.
What we learn from this hadith
- The injured man was harmed after being advised to wash.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم strongly condemned the harmful advice.
- The Hadith states that inquiry is the cure for ignorance.
- People should not answer religious questions without knowledge.
