39/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4179 — Umm Atiyyah's Pledge and Earlier Commitment
The Women's Pledge
Umm Atiyyah's Women's Pledge Hadith and a Specific Permission
Sunan an-Nasai : 4179
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4179
أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُبَايِعَ، رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ امْرَأَةً أَسْعَدَتْنِي فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَأَذْهَبُ فَأُسْعِدُهَا ثُمَّ أَجِيئُكَ فَأُبَايِعُكَ . قَالَ " اذْهَبِي فَأَسْعِدِيهَا " . قَالَتْ فَذَهَبْتُ فَسَاعَدْتُهَا ثُمَّ جِئْتُ فَبَايَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Umm 'Atiyyah Narrated from:
When I wanted to give pledge to the Messenger of Allah, I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, women helped me (in wailing for the dead) during the Jahiliyyah; shall I go and help her (in wailing) and then come to you and give you my oath of allegiance?' He said: 'Go and help her.' So I went and helped her, then I came, and gave my pledge to the Messenger of Allah.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4179In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 31English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4184
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4179
Umm Atiyyah wanted to give her pledge to the Messenger of Allah, but first raised a specific matter from the time of Jahiliyyah. A woman had previously helped her in wailing for the dead, and Umm Atiyyah asked whether she should go and help that woman before returning to pledge. The Prophet told her to go and help her. She followed the instruction, then came back and gave her pledge. This women's pledge Hadith records one particular question, answer, and action. It should not be turned into a wider ruling beyond the wording supplied. The clear lessons are her honesty about the earlier commitment, her decision to ask, her obedience to the answer, and her return to complete the pledge.
What we learn from this hadith
- Explain a personal situation honestly before making a pledge.
- Ask for guidance when an earlier commitment affects your next step.
- Umm Atiyyah followed the specific answer she was given.
- After completing that action, she returned and gave her pledge.
