37/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3974 — Protection Through La Ilaha Illallah
The Prohibition of Bloodshed
Hadith on La Ilaha Illallah and Outward Protection
Sunan an-Nasai : 3974
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3974
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ، عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَمَنْ قَالَهَا فَقَدْ عَصَمَ مِنِّي نَفْسَهُ وَمَالَهُ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهِ وَحِسَابُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ " . خَالَفَهُ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha illallah, and whoever says it, his life and his wealth are safe from me, except for a right that is due, and his reckoning will be with Allah."
[1] Meaning, in some details regarding the chain of narration.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3974In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 9English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 3979
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3974
This concise hadith says that the Messenger of Allah was commanded to fight the people until they said "La ilaha illallah." Whoever said it protected his life and wealth from him except for a right that was due, while the person's reckoning was with Allah. Its wording is short, but each clause matters. The declaration is the outward sign named in the report. Protection applies to both life and property. The exception for a due right remains part of the statement and should not be removed. Finally, the inner and final account belongs to Allah. The hadith does not describe how sincerity is tested or list the due rights, so this explanation does not add those details. It stays with the balance found in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- La ilaha illallah is the declaration named for outward protection.
- The hadith protects both life and wealth.
- The final account of a person is with Allah.
