39/34. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4206 — Limits of Obedience
The Punishment Of One Who Is Commanded To Commit Sin And Obeys The Command.
Limits of Obedience in Islam: No Obedience in Disobedience
Sunan an-Nasai : 4206
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4206
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " عَلَى الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ فِيمَا أَحَبَّ وَكَرِهَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُؤْمَرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَإِذَا أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَلاَ سَمْعَ وَلاَ طَاعَةَ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'The Muslim must hear and obey whether he likes it or not, unless he is commanded to commit an act of disobedience. If he is commanded to commit an act of disobedience, then he is not required to hear and obey.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4206In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 58English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4211
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4206
This hadith about obeying leaders explains both the duty and the limit of obedience. A Muslim is told to hear and obey in matters he likes and in matters he dislikes. Personal preference is therefore not the test. A command does not become optional simply because it is difficult or unwanted. However, the hadith gives one clear exception: if a Muslim is commanded to commit an act of disobedience, then he is not required to hear and obey that command. The message is balanced. It does not turn every dislike into a reason for refusal, and it does not allow authority to make sin lawful. Obedience remains connected to what is right. When the order itself is disobedience, the duty to obey does not apply to it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Muslims should obey lawful commands whether they like them or not.
- Personal dislike alone does not cancel the duty of obedience.
- A command to commit sin must not be obeyed.
- Obedience has a clear moral boundary.
