36/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3959 — Forbidding What Allah Allowed
Jealousy
Why Do You Forbid What Allah Allowed? The Report of Anas
Sunan an-Nasai : 3959
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3959
أَخْبَرَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يُونُسَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَرَمِيٌّ - هُوَ لَقَبُهُ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَتْ لَهُ أَمَةٌ يَطَؤُهَا فَلَمْ تَزَلْ بِهِ عَائِشَةُ وَحَفْصَةُ حَتَّى حَرَّمَهَا عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ } إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah had a female slave with whom he had intercourse, but 'Aishah and Hafsah would not leave him alone until he said that she was forbidden for him. Then Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed: "O Prophet! Why do you forbid (for yourself) that which Allah has allowed to you.' until the end of the Verse.
[1] At-Tahrim 66:1.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3959In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 4, Book 36, Hadith 3411
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3959
This hadith about forbidding what Allah allowed gives a different reported incident connected with the opening of Surah At-Tahrim. Anas said that the Messenger of Allah had a female slave with whom he had intercourse. Aishah and Hafsah continued pressing him until he declared her forbidden for himself. The narration then states that Allah revealed the verse, “O Prophet! Why do you forbid for yourself that which Allah has allowed to you,” through the end of the verse. The text is brief and does not give extra details about the woman, the conversations, or what happened afterward. A careful explanation should therefore stop where the report stops. Its direct point is that the Prophet made something lawful forbidden for himself under pressure, and the cited revelation addressed that act. The narration should not be mixed with the honey account as though both texts describe the same event.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report says Aishah and Hafsah continued pressing the Prophet about the matter.
- The Prophet then declared the female slave forbidden for himself.
- The narration links the event to the opening verse of Surah At-Tahrim.
- This report should be read as its own account and not merged with the separate honey narration.
