48/122. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5377 — Teaching a Stranger During Khutbah
Sitting on Chairs
Hadith About Teaching a Stranger Who Asked About Religion
Sunan an-Nasai : 5377
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5377
أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو رِفَاعَةَ انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ يَخْطُبُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ غَرِيبٌ جَاءَ يَسْأَلُ عَنْ دِينِهِ لاَ يَدْرِي مَا دِينُهُ فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَتَرَكَ خُطْبَتَهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَىَّ فَأُتِيَ بِكُرْسِيٍّ خِلْتُ قَوَائِمَهُ حَدِيدًا فَقَعَدَ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَعَلَ يُعَلِّمُنِي مِمَّا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أَتَى خُطْبَتَهُ فَأَتَمَّهَا .
Humaid bin Hilal Narrated from:
Abu Rifa'ah said: 'I came to the Messenger of Allah [SAW] while he was delivering a Khutbah, and said: O Messenger of Allah, a stranger has come to ask about his religion, for he does not know what his religion is." The Messenger of Allah [SAW] stopped delivering his Khutbah and turned to me. A chair was brought, and I think its legs were of iron. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] sat down on it and started to teach me what Allah has taught him, then he went and completed his Khutbah.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5377In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 338English translation : Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5379
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5377
This hadith about seeking knowledge shows the Prophet’s care for a person who came with a real need. Abu Rifa'ah said he came while the Messenger of Allah was delivering a khutbah. He said that a stranger had come to ask about his religion because he did not know what his religion was. The Prophet stopped his khutbah, turned to him, sat on a chair, and taught him what Allah had taught him. Then he returned and completed the khutbah. The core topic is knowledge, but it is also about mercy in teaching. The hadith shows that a sincere question about religion was treated with attention, even during a public sermon.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person who did not know his religion came and asked for help.
- The Prophet paused the khutbah and taught him directly.
- After teaching him, the Prophet returned and completed the khutbah.
- The hadith shows care for sincere seekers of religious knowledge.
