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الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتابBook of Grooming Others
بَابُ ضَرْبِ الرَّجُلِ يَدَهُ عَلَى فَخِذِهِ عِنْدَ التَّعَجُّبِ أَوِ الشَّيْءِChapter: Striking thigh in amazement or at something
Hadith 955
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حُسَيْنٍ، أَنَّ حُسَيْنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَهُ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ طَرَقَهُ وَفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: ”أَلاَ تُصَلُّونَ؟“ فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، إِنَّمَا أَنْفُسُنَا عِنْدَ اللهِ، فَإِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَنَا بَعَثَنَا، فَانْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ إِلَيَّ شَيْئًا، ثُمَّ سَمِعْتُ وَهُوَ مُدْبِرٌ يَضْرِبُ فَخِذَهُ يَقُولُ: ”﴿وَكَانَ الإِنْسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلاً﴾“ [الکھف: 54].
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to me and Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) at night and said: "Do you not pray (the Tahajjud) prayer?" I said: O Messenger of Allah! Our souls are only in Allah's control; when He wills, He wakes us up. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went back and did not say anything to me. Then I heard him, as he was leaving, striking his thigh and reciting (this verse): «وَكَانَ الْإِنْسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا» [الکھف: 54] "And man is most of all given to dispute."
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ From this hadith, it is understood that striking one’s hand on one’s thigh or on something else at a moment of astonishment is permissible. However, to infer the permissibility of mourning (matam) from this is absolutely invalid, because its prohibition and impermissibility are established by explicit texts.
➋ Tahajjud is a prayer of great virtue. One should encourage one’s family, dependents, and children to perform it. Furthermore, one should also keep informed about the religious condition of married children.
➌ Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) did not refuse to perform tahajjud, but rather presented his excuse in the best manner. The astonishment was at his presence of mind and his immediate, reasonable response—that a person is able to deduce arguments for himself from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
➊ From this hadith, it is understood that striking one’s hand on one’s thigh or on something else at a moment of astonishment is permissible. However, to infer the permissibility of mourning (matam) from this is absolutely invalid, because its prohibition and impermissibility are established by explicit texts.
➋ Tahajjud is a prayer of great virtue. One should encourage one’s family, dependents, and children to perform it. Furthermore, one should also keep informed about the religious condition of married children.
➌ Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) did not refuse to perform tahajjud, but rather presented his excuse in the best manner. The astonishment was at his presence of mind and his immediate, reasonable response—that a person is able to deduce arguments for himself from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 955
