16/22. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1438a — Azl and Divine Decree
The ruling on coitus interrupts ('Azl)
Azl Hadith and Divine Decree Explained
Sahih Muslim : 1438a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1438a
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ أَخْبَرَنِي رَبِيعَةُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَبَّانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ مُحَيْرِيزٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو صِرْمَةَ عَلَى أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ فَسَأَلَهُ أَبُو صِرْمَةَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ هَلْ سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَذْكُرُ الْعَزْلَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ غَزَوْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَزْوَةَ بَلْمُصْطَلِقِ فَسَبَيْنَا كَرَائِمَ الْعَرَبِ فَطَالَتْ عَلَيْنَا الْعُزْبَةُ وَرَغِبْنَا فِي الْفِدَاءِ فَأَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَسْتَمْتِعَ وَنَعْزِلَ فَقُلْنَا نَفْعَلُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِنَا لاَ نَسْأَلُهُ . فَسَأَلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " لاَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ لاَ تَفْعَلُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ خَلْقَ نَسَمَةٍ هِيَ كَائِنَةٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلاَّ سَتَكُونُ " .
Abu Sirma Narrated from:
Abu Sirma said to Abu Sa'id al Khadri (Allah he pleased with him): 0 Abu Sa'id, did you hear Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) mentioning al-'azl? He said: Yes, and added: We went out with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on the expedition to the Bi'l-Mustaliq and took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives, (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them.So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing 'azl (Withdrawing the male sexual organ before emission of semen to avoid-conception). But we said: We are doing an act whereas Allah's Messenger is amongst us; why not ask him? So we asked Allah's Mes- senger (ﷺ), and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1438aIn-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 146USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3371
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1438a
This azl hadith reports that Abu Sirma asked Abu Sa'id al-Khudri whether he heard Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم mention al-azl. Abu Sa'id said yes, then described the expedition to Bi'l-Mustaliq, the captives, their desire, their wish for ransom, and their thought of practicing azl. They decided to ask because Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was among them. He answered that it would not matter if they did not do it, because every soul that Allah had written to be born until the Day of Resurrection would be born. The main teaching is not a broad modern discussion. It is the link between their question and Allah's decree.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم before acting in a sensitive matter.
- The answer points to Allah's decree over every soul to be born.
- Azl is discussed in the exact setting described in the report.
- The narration connects human planning with what Allah has written.
