35/30. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3810 — Removing a Harmful Form of Vow
Vows Which Are Not Meant For The Face Of Allah
Improper Vows in Islam: The Prophet Cut the Leading Rope
Sunan an-Nasai : 3810
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3810
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ الأَحْوَلُ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِرَجُلٍ يَقُودُ رَجُلاً فِي قَرَنٍ فَتَنَاوَلَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَطَعَهُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ نَذْرٌ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah passed by a man who was leading another man by a rope. The Prophet took it, and cut it, and he said: 'It is a vow.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3810In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 50English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3841
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3810
This hadith describes a brief but striking event. The Messenger of Allah passed by a man who was leading another man with a rope. The Prophet took the rope and cut it. The narration then states that it was a vow. The text does not give a long explanation, so its lesson should be kept close to what happened. A physical practice connected to the vow was stopped by the Prophet himself. For anyone searching for a hadith about improper vows, this report shows that calling an action a vow does not place it beyond correction. The narration also keeps attention on the actual form of the act, not only on the person's intention. A vow may still involve a practice that should be removed rather than continued.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet stopped the practice of leading a man by a rope.
- The act was connected to a vow.
- Calling something a vow does not prevent it from being corrected.
- The form of an action matters, not only the claim behind it.
