39/34. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4205 — Obedience Only in Good
The Punishment Of One Who Is Commanded To Commit Sin And Obeys The Command.
No Obedience in Sin: Obedience Is Only in What Is Good
Sunan an-Nasai : 4205
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4205
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ الإِيَامِيِّ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ جَيْشًا وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَجُلاً فَأَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَقَالَ ادْخُلُوهَا . فَأَرَادَ نَاسٌ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ إِنَّمَا فَرَرْنَا مِنْهَا . فَذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لِلَّذِينَ أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا " لَوْ دَخَلْتُمُوهَا لَمْ تَزَالُوا فِيهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ " . وَقَالَ لِلآخَرِينَ خَيْرًا . وَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَوْلاً حَسَنًا . وَقَالَ " لاَ طَاعَةَ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا الطَّاعَةُ فِي الْمَعْرُوفِ " .
'Ali Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah sent an army and appointed a man in charge of them. He lit a fire and said: "Enter it." Some people wanted to enter it, and other said: "We are trying to keep away from it." They mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah, and he said to those who had wanted to enter if: "If you had entered it you would have stayed there until the Day of Resurrection." And he spoke good words to the others. And he said: "There is no obedience if it involves disobedience toward Allah. Rather obedience is only (required) in that which is good."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4205In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 57English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4210
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4205
This hadith about obedience in Islam sets a clear moral limit. The Messenger of Allah sent an army under a commander. The commander lit a fire and ordered the soldiers to enter it. Some were ready to obey, while others refused because they were trying to escape the Fire. When the event was reported, the Prophet warned those who had wanted to enter and spoke well to those who did not. He then stated the rule plainly: there is no obedience when the command involves disobedience to Allah; obedience is only in what is good. The hadith does not reject orderly leadership. It shows that authority is not absolute. A command must remain within what is right, and a sinful order does not become acceptable simply because it comes from a leader.
What we learn from this hadith
- A leader's command is not obeyed when it requires sin.
- Obedience is required only in what is good.
- Authority does not make a harmful command morally right.
- Refusing a command that involves disobedience can be the correct response.
