37/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4078 — Nine Clear Signs and Moral Commands
Magic
Nine Clear Signs Hadith and the Prophet's Moral Commands
Sunan an-Nasai : 4078
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4078
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنِ ابْنِ إِدْرِيسَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلِمَةَ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ عَسَّالٍ، قَالَ قَالَ يَهُودِيٌّ لِصَاحِبِهِ اذْهَبْ بِنَا إِلَى هَذَا النَّبِيِّ . قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ لاَ تَقُلْ نَبِيٌّ لَوْ سَمِعَكَ كَانَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةُ أَعْيُنٍ . فَأَتَيَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَسَأَلاَهُ عَنْ تِسْعِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ " لاَ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ تَسْرِقُوا وَلاَ تَزْنُوا وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ تَمْشُوا بِبَرِيءٍ إِلَى ذِي سُلْطَانٍ وَلاَ تَسْحَرُوا وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا وَلاَ تَقْذِفُوا الْمُحْصَنَةَ وَلاَ تَوَلَّوْا يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ وَعَلَيْكُمْ خَاصَّةً يَهُودُ أَنْ لاَ تَعْدُوا فِي السَّبْتِ " . فَقَبَّلُوا يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ وَقَالُوا نَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ نَبِيٌّ . قَالَ " فَمَا يَمْنَعُكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّبِعُونِي " . قَالُوا إِنَّ دَاوُدَ دَعَا بِأَنْ لاَ يَزَالَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ نَبِيٌّ وَإِنَّا نَخَافُ إِنِ اتَّبَعْنَاكَ أَنْ تَقْتُلَنَا يَهُودُ .
Safwan bin 'Assal Narrated from:
A Jew said to his companion: 'Let us go to this Prophet.' His companion said to him: 'Do not say Prophet; if he hears you, he will become big-headed.' So they came to the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and asked him about nine clear signs.He said to them: 'Do not associate anything with Allah, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not kill any soul whom Allah has forbidden you to kill, except by right, do not speak falsely about an innocent man before a ruler, do not engage in magic, do not consume Riba (usury), do not slander chaste women, and do not flee on the day of the march (to battle). And for you Jews especially, do not break the Sabbath.'They kissed his hands and feet and said: 'We bear witness that you are a Prophet.' He said: 'What is keeping you from following me?' They said: 'Dawud prayed that there would always be a Prophet among his descendants, and we are afraid that if we follow you, the Jews will kill us.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4078In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 113English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4083
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4078
This hadith about the nine clear signs describes two Jewish men visiting the Messenger of Allah and asking him about them. He answers with a list of major commands: worship Allah alone, avoid theft and adultery, do not kill a protected soul except by right, do not falsely accuse an innocent person before a ruler, avoid magic and riba, do not slander chaste women, and do not flee from battle. He adds a command specific to the Jewish visitors about the Sabbath. They kiss his hands and feet and testify that he is a Prophet. Yet fear of being killed by their own people keeps them from following him. The report contrasts recognition with hesitant action.
What we learn from this hadith
- The commands begin with worshipping Allah without partners.
- The list protects life, honor, property, and moral conduct.
- The visitors openly testify that Muhammad is a Prophet.
- Fear of social punishment prevents them from following what they recognize.
