23/85. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2588 — Patience and Self-Restraint
To Refrain From Asking
Hadith About Patience and Refraining from Asking
Sunan an-Nasai : 2588
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2588
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَعْطَاهُمْ ثُمَّ سَأَلُوهُ فَأَعْطَاهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا نَفِدَ مَا عِنْدَهُ قَالَ " مَا يَكُونُ عِنْدِي مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَنْ أَدَّخِرَهُ عَنْكُمْ وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ يَصْبِرْ يُصَبِّرْهُ اللَّهُ وَمَا أُعْطِيَ أَحَدٌ عَطَاءً هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَأَوْسَعُ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ " .
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
Some of the Ansar asked the Messenger of Allah (for help) and he gave them (something). Then they asked him and he gave them, then when he had ran out he said: "Whatever I have of good, I will never keep it from you, but whoever wants to refrain from asking, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will help him to do so, and whoever wants to be patient, Allah will help him to be patient. None is ever given anything better and more far-reaching than patience."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2588In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 154English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2589
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2588
This hadith about patience and refraining from asking shows the Prophet’s generosity and his teaching style. Some people from the Ansar asked him for help, and he gave them. They asked again, and he gave again, until what he had ran out. Then he said that whatever good he had, he would not keep from them. After that, he taught that whoever wants to refrain from asking, Allah will help him, and whoever wants to be patient, Allah will help him to be patient. The hadith ends by saying that no one is given anything better and more far-reaching than patience. The message is clear: help is good, but patience and self-restraint are greater gifts.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet did not hold back good when he had something to give.
- A person who seeks restraint from asking is promised help from Allah.
- Patience is described as a better and broader gift than material help.
