48/54. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5220 — Angels and Small Bells in Travel
Small Bells
Hadith About Bells and Angels: A Reminder for Travel Etiquette
Sunan an-Nasai : 5220
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5220
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَلاَّمٍ الطَّرَسُوسِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا نَافِعُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْجُمَحِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مُوسَى، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَحَدَّثَ سَالِمٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَصْحَبُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ رُفْقَةً فِيهَا جُلْجُلٌ " .
It was narrated that Abu Bakr bin Musa said: "I was with Salim bin 'Abdullah when Salim narrated from his father, that the Prophet [SAW] said: 'The angels do not accompany groups of people who have small bells with them.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5220In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 181English translation : Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5223
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5220
This Hadith about bells and angels gives a short but clear reminder about what a Muslim carries in a group journey. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the angels do not accompany a group that has small bells with them. The text does not give a long list of reasons, so the safe lesson is to respect the warning as it is. It teaches careful travel etiquette and awareness of items linked to sound and adornment. When people search for angels do not accompany bell hadith, this narration points them to a simple practice: avoid carrying small bells in a travelling group when one can do without them.
What we learn from this hadith
- Angels are linked in this text with a clean and respectful travelling environment.
- A Muslim should pay attention to small items carried during travel, not only major actions.
- The Hadith warns specifically about groups with small bells, so the teaching should not be stretched beyond that wording.
