23/90. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2596 — Uqiyah and Asking
If He Does Not Have Any Dirhams But He Has The Equivalent
Hadith About Uqiyah, Need, and Not Asking
Sunan an-Nasai : 2596
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2596
قَالَ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ، مِنْ بَنِي أَسَدٍ قَالَ نَزَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَهْلِي، بِبَقِيعِ الْغَرْقَدِ فَقَالَتْ لِي أَهْلِي اذْهَبْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَلْهُ لَنَا شَيْئًا نَأْكُلْهُ . فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَوَجَدْتُ عِنْدَهُ رَجُلاً يَسْأَلُهُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ أَجِدُ مَا أُعْطِيكَ " . فَوَلَّى الرَّجُلُ عَنْهُ وَهُوَ مُغْضَبٌ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ لَعَمْرِي إِنَّكَ لَتُعْطِي مَنْ شِئْتَ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّهُ لَيَغْضَبُ عَلَىَّ أَنْ لاَ أَجِدَ مَا أُعْطِيهِ مَنْ سَأَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَلَهُ أُوقِيَّةٌ أَوْ عِدْلُهَا فَقَدْ سَأَلَ إِلْحَافًا " . قَالَ الأَسَدِيُّ فَقُلْتُ لَلَقْحَةٌ لَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْ أُوقِيَّةٍ - وَالأُوقِيَّةُ أَرْبَعُونَ دِرْهَمًا - فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَسْأَلْهُ فَقَدِمَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَعِيرٌ وَزَبِيبٌ فَقَسَّمَ لَنَا مِنْهُ حَتَّى أَغْنَانَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ .
It was narrated from 'Ata'bin Yasar that a man from Banu Asad said: "My wife and I stopped at Baqi Al-Gharqad, and my wife said to me: 'Go to the Messenger of Allah and ask him to give us something to eat. ' So I went to the Messenger of Allah and found a man with him asking him (for something), and the Messenger of Allah was saying: 'I do not have anything to give to you.' The man turned away angrily, saying: 'You only give to those you want. 'The Messenger of Allah said: 'He is angry with me because I did not have anything to give him. Whoever asks of you and he has an Uqiyah or its equivalent, then he has been too demanding in asking."' Al-Asadi said: I said: 'Our milch-camel is worth more than an Uqiyah, 'and an Uqiyah is forty Dirhams. "So I went back and did not ask him for anything. Then the Messenger of Allah got some barley and raisins after that, and he gave us a share of them, until Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, made us independent of means."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2596In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 162English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2597
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2596
This hadith about uqiyah and asking tells a clear story. A man from Banu Asad went to the Messenger of Allah because his wife asked him to seek food. He found another man asking, while the Prophet was saying he had nothing to give. That man left angry. The Prophet then said that whoever asks while he has an uqiyah or its equivalent has asked too demandingly. The Asadi man remembered that his milch-camel was worth more than an uqiyah, which is explained in the narration as forty dirhams. He went back without asking. Later, the Prophet received barley and raisins and gave them a share until Allah made them independent of means.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should not ask if he already has the value mentioned in the hadith.
- The Asadi man changed his action after hearing the Prophet’s teaching.
- The Prophet gave later when provisions came, showing generosity within proper limits.
