23/89. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2595 — Contentment Over Asking
Who Is The One Who Is Demanding When Asking?
Hadith About Contentment and Refraining from Asking
Sunan an-Nasai : 2595
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2595
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي الرِّجَالِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ غَزِيَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَرَّحَتْنِي أُمِّي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَقَعَدْتُ فَاسْتَقْبَلَنِي وَقَالَ " مَنِ اسْتَغْنَى أَغْنَاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنِ اسْتَعَفَّ أَعَفَّهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنِ اسْتَكْفَى كَفَاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ سَأَلَ وَلَهُ قِيمَةُ أُوقِيَّةٍ فَقَدْ أَلْحَفَ " . فَقُلْتُ نَاقَتِي الْيَاقُوتَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أُوقِيَّةٍ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَسْأَلْهُ .
'Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
It was narrated from 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that his father said: "My mother sent me to the Messenger of Allah, and I came to him and sat down. He turned to me and said: 'Whoever wants to be independent of means, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will make him independent. Whoever wants to refrain from asking, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will help him to refrain.Whoever wants to be content with his lot, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will suffice him. Whoever asks when he has something worth one Uqiyah, then he is being too demanding. 'I said: 'My she-camel Al-Yaqutah is worth more than and Uqiyah,' so I came back and did not ask him for anything."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2595In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 161English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2596
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2595
This hadith about contentment and refraining from asking gives a personal example. Abu Sa’eed’s mother sent him to the Messenger of Allah, and he sat before him. The Prophet said that whoever wants to be independent, Allah will make him independent; whoever wants to refrain from asking, Allah will help him refrain; and whoever wants to be content, Allah will suffice him. He also said that whoever asks while having the value of one uqiyah has been too demanding. Abu Sa’eed then remembered that his she-camel was worth more than an uqiyah, so he returned without asking. The hadith teaches self-review, contentment, and trust before asking people.
What we learn from this hadith
- Seeking independence and restraint is praised in the hadith.
- A person should consider what he already owns before asking.
- Contentment is shown as a way to avoid needless dependence on people.
