27/7. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1656c — Umar's I'tikaf Vow and Freeing a Slave Girl
The vow of a disbeliever, and what he should do about it if he becomes a muslim
Umar I'tikaf Vow Hadith and a Lesson in Freeing
Sahih Muslim : 1656c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1656c
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، أَنَّ أَيُّوبَ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ نَافِعًا حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ بِالْجِعْرَانَةِ بَعْدَ أَنْ رَجَعَ مِنَ الطَّائِفِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ أَنْ أَعْتَكِفَ يَوْمًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ فَكَيْفَ تَرَى قَالَ " اذْهَبْ فَاعْتَكِفْ يَوْمًا " . قَالَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ أَعْطَاهُ جَارِيَةً مِنَ الْخُمْسِ فَلَمَّا أَعْتَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَبَايَا النَّاسِ سَمِعَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ أَعْتَقَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا فَقَالُوا أَعْتَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَبَايَا النَّاسِ . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ اذْهَبْ إِلَى تِلْكَ الْجَارِيَةِ فَخَلِّ سَبِيلَهَا .
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
'Umar b. Khattab asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as he was at ji'rana (a town near Mecca) on his way back from Ta'if: Messenger of Allah, I had taken a vow during the days of Ignorance that I would observe I'tikaf for one day in the Sacred Mosque. So what is your opinion?He said: Go and observe I'tikaf for a day. And Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave him a slave girl out of the one-fifth (of the spoils of war meant for the Holy Prophet). And when Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) set the war prisoners free. 'Umar b. Khattab heard their voice as they were saying: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has set as free. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: What is this? They said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has set free the prisoners of war (which had fallen to the lot of people). Thereupon he (Hadrat 'Umar) said: Abdullah, go to that slave-girl and set her free.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1656cIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 41USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4074
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1656c
This Hadith gives a fuller report. Umar asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم at Ji'rana, after returning from Ta'if, about a vow he had made in Jahiliyya to observe I'tikaf for one day in the Sacred Mosque. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to go and observe I'tikaf for a day. The narration also mentions that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had given Umar a slave girl from the one-fifth share. Later, when Umar heard that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had freed prisoners of war, he told Abdullah to go to that slave girl and set her free. The main lesson remains vow fulfilment, with an added example of Umar responding to the Prophet's action of freeing people.
What we learn from this hadith
- Umar sought the Prophet's guidance about his old vow.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to observe I'tikaf for a day.
- Umar reacted to the freeing of prisoners by freeing the slave girl given to him.
- The narration shows careful action after asking and learning.
