Hadith on Lifting of the Pen from Three Individuals
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:"The pen has been lifted from three individuals: from a child until he reaches puberty, from a sleeping person until he wakes up, and from an insane person until he regains sanity."
(Authentication & References:
- Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal: 6/100, 144
- Sunan Abu Dawood: 4398
- Sunan An-Nasa’i: 6/156
- Sunan Ibn Majah: 2041
- Sahih Ibn Hibban: 1494
- Al-Mustadrak of Al-Hakim: 2/59
- Al-Hakim classified it as Sahih according to the conditions of Muslim, and Imam Dhahabi concurred with this assessment.
Key Lessons from This Hadith:
➊ Three individuals in Islam are free from legal responsibility, meaning that the Divine Pen does not record their deeds in accountability:① A minor (child) until they reach puberty.
② A sleeping person until they wake up.
③ An insane person until they regain sanity.
➋ Every child is born pure and innocent. Until they reach puberty, their actions are not held accountable under Islamic law. However, for the purpose of training, they should be guided with discipline regarding essential Islamic teachings, such as ablution (wudu), prayer, fasting, ethics, and respect.
Nevertheless, if a child does not perform an act of worship, they are not considered sinful.
➌ A person in deep sleep is like a dead body. Sleep is often referred to as the "sister of death." The only difference between a deceased person and a sleeping individual is that the latter is still breathing. A person is not held accountable for any actions committed while asleep.
For instance, if someone utters offensive words, hits someone, or even dreams of committing murder, they cannot be punished for these acts.
Precautionary Measures:- Dangerous objects should be kept away before sleeping.
- Women engaged in sewing or embroidery should not leave needles or tools exposed while sleeping, as they may cause injury.
Regarding Missed Prayers Due to Sleep:- A person who misses a prayer due to sleep is not sinful.
- Upon waking up, they must immediately perform the missed prayer.
- Sane, mature (baligh), and physically capable.
- A believer (Muslim) who understands and can fulfill the obligations of Shariah.
Who is exempt?- A person who is mentally unstable or has lost their senses due to illness, epilepsy, or a medical procedure.
- Someone who remains in an unconscious state for a long period.
What happens when they recover?- If a permanently insane person regains sanity, past missed prayers or fasts are not obligatory to make up.
- For temporary unconsciousness (e.g., a medical operation lasting less than three days), missed prayers must be made up.
- Only obligatory (fard) prayers are required to be made up, not voluntary (sunnah or nafl) prayers.
