39/38. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4210 — A Pledge to Avoid Major Sins
The Reward Of The One Who Fulifills The Pledge He Made
The Pledge to Avoid Shirk, Theft, and Unlawful Relations
Sunan an-Nasai : 4210
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4210
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي إِدْرِيسَ الْخَوْلاَنِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي مَجْلِسٍ فَقَالَ " بَايِعُونِي عَلَى أَنْ لاَ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ تَسْرِقُوا وَلاَ تَزْنُوا " . وَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِمُ الآيَةَ " فَمَنْ وَفَّى مِنْكُمْ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَمَنْ أَصَابَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا فَسَتَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَهُوَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُ " .
'Ubadah bin As-Samit Narrated from:
We were with the Prophet in a gathering and he said: 'Pledge to me that you will not associate anything with Allah, you will not steal, and you will not have unlawful sexual relations.' He recited the Verse to them (and said) Whoever does any of these things, and Allah conceals him then it is up to Allah, the mighty and Sublime: If He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4210In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 62English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4215
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4210
This hadith about avoiding major sins records a pledge requested by the Prophet. Those present were asked not to associate anything with Allah, not to steal, and not to have unlawful sexual relations. These commands place worship of Allah alone and respect for moral boundaries at the heart of the pledge. The hadith then speaks about a person who commits one of these acts and is concealed by Allah. His case is left to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: if Allah wills, He may punish him, and if He wills, He may forgive him. The wording teaches accountability without allowing people to claim certainty about Allah's decision in an individual concealed case. The final judgment belongs to Allah, while the believer's duty is to keep the pledge and avoid the forbidden acts named.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worship must be kept free from associating partners with Allah.
- The pledge includes avoiding theft and unlawful sexual relations.
- A concealed sinner's final case is left to Allah.
- Allah may punish or forgive according to His will.
