49/11. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5399 — Umar's Method for Passing Judgment
Ruling According to the Consensus of the Scholars
Hadith About Umar's Advice to Judge by Quran and Sunnah
Sunan an-Nasai : 5399
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5399
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ شُرَيْحٍ، أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى عُمَرَ يَسْأَلُهُ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اقْضِ بِمَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَبِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاقْضِ بِمَا قَضَى بِهِ الصَّالِحُونَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَقْضِ بِهِ الصَّالِحُونَ فَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَتَقَدَّمْ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَتَأَخَّرْ وَلاَ أَرَى التَّأَخُّرَ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا لَكَ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ.
Shuraih Narrated from:
It was narrated from Shuraih that: He wrote to 'Umar, to ask him (a question), and 'Umar wrote back to him telling him: "Judge according to what is in the Book of Allah. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah, then (judge) according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAW]. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAW], then pass judgment according to the way the righteous passed judgment.If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah, or the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAW], and the righteous did not pass judgment concerning it, then if you wish, go ahead (and try to work it out by yourself) or if you wish, leave it. And I think that leaving it is better for you. And peace be upon you."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5399In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5401
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5399
This hadith about Umar's advice to a judge records a letter to Shuraih. Shuraih wrote to Umar asking a question, and Umar replied with an ordered method. Judge by what is in the Book of Allah. If the matter is not there, judge by the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAW]. If it is not in either, then judge by how the righteous judged. If none of these sources contain a judgment, Umar said Shuraih could go ahead or hold back, and he thought holding back was better. The hadith teaches caution in judgment. It also shows that a judge should not rush when the path is not clear.
What we learn from this hadith
- Umar told Shuraih to judge first by the Book of Allah.
- If not found there, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAW] comes next.
- When no clear precedent is found, holding back is described as better.
