23/84. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2587 — Ask Only If Needed
Asking From The Righteous
Hadith About Asking Only When Necessary
Sunan an-Nasai : 2587
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2587
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ سَوَادَةَ، عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ مَخْشِيٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْفِرَاسِيِّ، أَنَّ الْفِرَاسِيَّ، قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْأَلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " لاَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ سَائِلاً لاَ بُدَّ فَاسْأَلِ الصَّالِحِينَ " .
Ibn al-Firasi Narrated from:
Al-Firasi said to the Messenger of Allah: "Shall I ask people (for help), O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "No, but if you have no alternative but to ask, then ask the righteous."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2587In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 153English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2588
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2587
This hadith about asking only when necessary gives a measured answer. Al-Firasi asked the Messenger of Allah whether he should ask people for help. The Prophet answered, “No.” Then he added that if there is no alternative but to ask, then one should ask the righteous. The hadith does not encourage begging. It first closes the door to asking as a normal habit. But it also recognizes that a person may reach a point where there is no other way. In that case, the Prophet guided him to ask righteous people. This makes the teaching balanced: avoid asking when possible, and if real need forces it, choose people of goodness and trust.
What we learn from this hadith
- Asking people should not be the first choice.
- If there is no alternative, the hadith allows asking the righteous.
- A person should seek help in a way that protects faith and dignity.
