37/12. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4049 — Prayer of a Runaway Slave
A Slave Who Runs Away to the Land of Shirk
Runaway Slave Hadith: Salah Is Not Accepted Until Return
Sunan an-Nasai : 4049
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4049
أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا أَبَقَ الْعَبْدُ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ لَهُ صَلاَةٌ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَوَالِيهِ " .
Jarir Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'If a slave runs away, no Salah will be accepted from him until he goes back to his masters.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4049In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 84English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4054
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4049
This hadith gives a direct warning about a slave who runs away from his masters. It says that no Salah will be accepted from him until he returns. The core topic is the religious seriousness of breaking that binding responsibility through escape. The text links the wrongdoing with the acceptance of prayer, while still pointing to a clear way back: returning to the masters. It does not say that the person should stop praying, and it does not discuss every condition or circumstance around slavery. The report simply states the warning and the condition of return. Readers should avoid turning the narration into claims beyond its wording. The main searchable phrase is prayer of a runaway slave, with related terms such as Salah not accepted and returning to one’s master.
What we learn from this hadith
- Running away is described as a serious breach of responsibility.
- The warning continues until the runaway slave returns.
- The text names return as the direct way to end the stated condition.
