41/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4226 — Choice in Fara and Atirah
There Is No Fara ' And No 'Atirah
Fara and Atirah as Optional Acts in This Hadith
Sunan an-Nasai : 4226
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4226
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْمُبَارَكِ - عَنْ يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ كُرَيْمِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الْبَاهِلِيُّ - قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَذْكُرُ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَدَّهُ الْحَارِثَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّهُ لَقِيَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ وَهُوَ عَلَى نَاقَتِهِ الْعَضْبَاءِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ مِنْ أَحَدِ شِقَّيْهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي اسْتَغْفِرْ لِي . فَقَالَ " غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ " . ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ مِنَ الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ أَرْجُو أَنْ يَخُصَّنِي دُونَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِي . فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ " غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ " . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الْعَتَائِرُ وَالْفَرَائِعُ . قَالَ " مَنْ شَاءَ عَتَرَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ لَمْ يَعْتِرْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَرَّعَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ لَمْ يُفَرِّعْ فِي الْغَنَمِ أُضْحِيَتُهَا " . وَقَبَضَ أَصَابِعَهُ إِلاَّ وَاحِدَةً .
Yahya bin Zurarah bin Karim bin Al-Harith bin 'Amr Al-Bahili Narrated from:
I heard my father say, that he heard his grandfather Al-Harith bin 'Amr, that he met the Messenger of Allah during the Farewell Pilgrimage, when he was atop his slit-eared camel. (He said): 'I said: O Messenger of Allah, May my father and mother be ransomed for you; pray for forgiveness for me. He said: May Allah forgive you (plural). Then I came to him from the other side, hoping that he would supplicate just for me alone, and not them. I said: O Messenger of Allah, pray for forgiveness for me. He said: May Allah forgive you (plural).Then a man among the people said: O Messenger of Allah, (what about) the 'Atirah and Fara'? He said: Whoever wishes to offer and 'Atirah may do so, and whoever does not wish to, may not. Whoever wishes to offer a Fara' may do so, and whoever does not wish to, may not. And with regard to sheep, a sacrifice should be offered. And he clasped between his fingers except for one.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4226In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 5English translation : Vol. 5, Book 41, Hadith 4231
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4226
This hadith begins with Al-Harith bin Amr asking the Messenger of Allah to pray for his forgiveness during the Farewell Pilgrimage. The Prophet responded with a prayer of forgiveness in the plural. Al-Harith approached from the other side, hoping for a prayer meant only for him, but the Prophet again used the plural form. A man then asked about Atirah and Fara. The Prophet said that whoever wished could perform them and whoever did not wish could leave them. The report therefore presents personal choice concerning these two acts. It also contains a brief statement about sacrifice among sheep, followed by a hand gesture. Since the gesture is not fully explained in the translation, no added meaning should be claimed.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet prayed for forgiveness for Al-Harith and others together.
- The report gives people a choice regarding Atirah.
- The report also gives people a choice regarding Fara.
- Unexplained gestures in a narration should not be given invented meanings.
