35/40. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3831 — Saying InshaAllah
If A Man Swears An Oath And Someone Says To Him, "If Allah Wills," Does That Count For Him?
Prophet Sulaiman and the Importance of Saying InshaAllah
Sunan an-Nasai : 3831
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3831
أَخْبَرَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، مِمَّا حَدَّثَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجُ، مِمَّا ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ بِهِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى تِسْعِينَ امْرَأَةً كُلُّهُنَّ يَأْتِي بِفَارِسٍ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . فَلَمْ يَقُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَطَافَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جَمِيعًا فَلَمْ تَحْمِلْ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ امْرَأَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ جَاءَتْ بِشِقِّ رَجُلٍ وَايْمُ الَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فُرْسَانًا أَجْمَعِينَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Sulaiman bin Dawud said: 'Tonight I will go around ninety women, each of whom will bear a horseman who will perform Jihad in the cause of Allah.' His companion said to him: 'If Allah wills.' But he did not say: 'If Allah wills.' Then he went around to them all, but none of them got pregnant except a woman who bore half a man. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! If he had said, 'If Allah wills,' they would all have performed Jihad in the cause of Allah as horsemen."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3831In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 71English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3862
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3831
This hadith tells of Sulaiman bin Dawud planning to visit ninety women in one night, hoping that each would bear a horseman who would fight in the cause of Allah. His companion reminded him to say, 'If Allah wills,' but he did not say it. He then went to them, yet only one woman became pregnant, and she bore half a man. The Messenger of Allah stated that if Sulaiman had said, 'If Allah wills,' they would all have fought as horsemen in the cause of Allah. The lesson in the text is about remembering Allah's will when speaking confidently about future plans. The goal Sulaiman mentioned was good, but the planned result did not occur as he stated. This is a clear Prophet Sulaiman InshaAllah hadith about intention, speech, and dependence on Allah's will.
What we learn from this hadith
- Connect future plans with the words 'If Allah wills.'
- A good intended goal does not make a future result independent of Allah's will.
- Sulaiman was reminded to say InshaAllah but did not say it.
- The outcome was far different from the ninety horsemen he had planned.
