37/26. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4101 — Warning About Extremism and Empty Recitation
The One Who Unsheathes His Sword and Starts to Strike the People With it
Khawarij Hadith: Qur'an Recitation Without True Faith
Sunan an-Nasai : 4101
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4101
أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الثَّوْرِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نُعْمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ بَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ بِالْيَمَنِ بِذُهَيْبَةٍ فِي تُرْبَتِهَا فَقَسَمَهَا بَيْنَ الأَقْرَعِ بْنِ حَابِسٍ الْحَنْظَلِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي مُجَاشِعٍ وَبَيْنَ عُيَيْنَةَ بْنِ بَدْرٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ وَبَيْنَ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ عُلاَثَةَ الْعَامِرِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي كِلاَبٍ وَبَيْنَ زَيْدِ الْخَيْلِ الطَّائِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدَ بَنِي نَبْهَانَ - قَالَ - فَغَضِبَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَالأَنْصَارُ وَقَالُوا يُعْطِي صَنَادِيدَ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ وَيَدَعُنَا فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ " . فَأَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ غَائِرَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ نَاتِئَ الْوَجْنَتَيْنِ كَثَّ اللِّحْيَةِ مَحْلُوقَ الرَّأْسِ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ قَالَ " مَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ إِذَا عَصَيْتُهُ أَيَأْمَنُنِي عَلَى أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ تَأْمَنُونِي " . فَسَأَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ قَتْلَهُ فَمَنَعَهُ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى قَالَ " إِنَّ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا قَوْمًا يَخْرُجُونَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ يَقْتُلُونَ أَهْلَ الإِسْلاَمِ وَيَدَعُونَ أَهْلَ الأَوْثَانِ لَئِنْ أَنَا أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ عَادٍ " .
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
When 'Ali was in Yemen, he sent some gold that was still enclosed in rock to the Prophet [SAW], who distributed it among Al-Aqra' bin Habis Al-Hanzali, who belonged to Banu Mujashi', 'Uyaynah bin Badr Al-Fazari, 'Alqamah bin 'Ulathah Al-'Amiri, who belonged to Banu Kilab and Zaid Al-Khail At-Ta'I, who belonged to Banu Nabhan. The Quraish and the Ansar became angry and said: 'He gives to the chiefs of Najd and ignores us!' He said: 'I am seeking to win them over (firmly to Islam).'Then a man with sunken eyes, a bulging forehead, a thick beard and a shaven head came and said: 'O Muhammad, fear Allah!' He said: 'Who will obey Allah if I do not? He trusts me with the people of this Earth but you do not trust me.' A man among the people asked for permission to kill him, but he did not let him do that.When (the man) went away, he (the Prophet [SAW]) said: 'Among the offspring of this man there will be people who will recite the Qur'an but it will not go beyond their throats, and they will go out of Islam as an arrow goes through the target. They will kill the Muslims and leave the idol-worshippers alone. If I live to see them, I will kill them as the killing of 'Ad.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4101In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 136English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4106
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4101
This narration begins with the Prophet distributing gold among several leaders in order to win their hearts firmly to Islam. Some people disliked the distribution, and one man openly accused the Prophet of failing to fear Allah. The Prophet rejected that charge and did not allow the man to be killed at that moment. He then warned that people would come from this man's offspring who would recite the Qur'an, but its effect would not go beyond their throats. The hadith about the Khawarij describes a sharp gap between outward recitation and true faith. It also says they would attack Muslims while leaving idol-worshippers alone, showing how badly their violence would be directed.
What we learn from this hadith
- A religious appearance does not by itself prove sound faith.
- Qur'an recitation should affect belief and conduct, not remain only on the tongue.
- Accusing the Prophet of injustice was a serious false charge.
- The group described would wrongly direct violence toward Muslims.
