39/14. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4167 — Hold Firmly to Hijrah
Encouragement to Emigrate
A Hadith About Hijrah and Staying Firm on an Action
Sunan an-Nasai : 4167
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4167
أَخْبَرَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَكَّارِ بْنِ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عِيسَى بْنِ سُمَيْعٍ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ وَاقِدٍ، عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، أَنَّ أَبَا فَاطِمَةَ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَدِّثْنِي بِعَمَلٍ، أَسْتَقِيمُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَعْمَلُهُ . قَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " عَلَيْكَ بِالْهِجْرَةِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مِثْلَ لَهَا " .
Abu Fatimah Narrated from:
It was narrated from Kathir bin Murrah that Abu Fatimah told him that he said: "O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action that I may do and persist in it." The Messenger of Allah said to him: "You should emigrate, for there is nothing like it."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4167In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 19English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4172
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4167
Abu Fatimah asked the Messenger of Allah to tell him about an action that he could do and remain steady upon. The Prophet directed him to Hijrah and said that there was nothing like it. The focus of this Hijrah Hadith is both the deed and persistence. Abu Fatimah was not asking for a passing act. He wanted a course he could continue. The answer points him to Hijrah and gives it a special place in that situation. The narration does not add conditions, dates, or a detailed description of the type of Hijrah intended, so the safest explanation is to keep to its direct wording: he was told to take up Hijrah and hold firmly to it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ask for an action that you can practice with steadiness.
- The Prophet directed Abu Fatimah to Hijrah.
- Hijrah is given exceptional value in this specific reply.
- Do not add details to the report that its wording does not provide.
