39/24. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4187 — Hear and Obey as Much as You Can
Pledging To Da As Much As One Can
Hear and Obey as Much as You Can: The Pledge of Obedience
Sunan an-Nasai : 4187
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4187
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، ح وَأَخْبَرَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُبَايِعُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ " فِيمَا اسْتَطَعْتَ " . وَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ " فِيمَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
We used to pledge to the Messenger of Allah to hear and obey, the he said: 'In as much as you can.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4187In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 39English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4192
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4187
This hadith about hearing and obeying reports how Ibn ‘Umar and the companions gave their pledge to the Messenger of Allah. Their pledge was to listen and obey. The Prophet then added the words, “In as much as you can.” That addition is the heart of the narration. It keeps obedience connected to actual ability rather than presenting the pledge as a claim of limitless power. The wording also shows the Prophet teaching the companions how to state the commitment properly. The pledge was serious, but it was not separated from human capacity. Readers searching for the hadith on obedience according to ability can see both sides in one sentence: a real duty to hear and obey, together with an honest recognition of what a person is able to do.
What we learn from this hadith
- The companions pledged to hear and obey the Messenger of Allah.
- The Prophet added that the pledge applied according to their ability.
- A serious commitment should be stated honestly, without claiming unlimited capacity.
- Obedience and human ability are joined in the wording of the pledge.
