24/13. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2643 — Performing Hajj for Mother
Hajj of A Man On Behalf Of A Woman
Hadith About Performing Hajj for an Elderly Mother
Sunan an-Nasai : 2643
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2643
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ هَارُونَ - قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ رَدِيفَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي عَجُوزٌ كَبِيرَةٌ وَإِنْ حَمَلْتُهَا لَمْ تَسْتَمْسِكْ وَإِنْ رَبَطْتُهَا خَشِيتُ أَنْ أَقْتُلَهَا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ كَانَ عَلَى أُمِّكَ دَيْنٌ أَكُنْتَ قَاضِيَهُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " فَحُجَّ عَنْ أُمِّكَ " .
Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas Narrated from:
It was narrated from Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas that: he was riding behind the Messenger of Allah and a man came and said: "O Messenger of Allah! My mother is an old woman and she cannot sit firmly in the saddle. If I tie her I fear that I may kill her." The Messenger of Allah said: "Don't you think that if your mother owed a debt you would pay it off?" He said: "Yes." Her said: "Then perform Hajj on behalf of your mother."(Shih)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2643In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 25English translation : Vol. 3, Book 24, Hadith 2644
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2643
This hadith about performing Hajj for mother gives a simple answer to a difficult family situation. A man explained that his mother was very old. She could not hold herself steady on the saddle, and if he tied her, he feared harming her. The Messenger of Allah asked him whether he would pay a debt if his mother owed one. When the man said yes, the Prophet told him to perform Hajj on behalf of his mother. The comparison to debt helps the listener understand that a serious duty can be fulfilled on behalf of someone who cannot do it herself.
What we learn from this hadith
- A child may perform Hajj for a mother who is too weak to travel safely.
- The Prophet used the example of debt to make the ruling easy to understand.
- Concern for the mother's safety was respected in the answer.
- Family care can include helping a parent with an act of worship they cannot perform.
