Question

I heard in a lecture that a man came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying he wanted to commit zina with so and so lady. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) listened to him quietly and calmly and then asked him how he would feel if so and so man committed zina with his mother, sister or daughter and the man understood his mistake.

What is the source and authenticity of this?

Answer

Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration.

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported: “A youngster once came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said, ‘Permit me to commit zina.’ The people turned to him and rebuke him, saying, ‘Stop, stop.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Come close.’ He came close and took a seat. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘Would you like that for your mother?’ He replied, ‘No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Nor do people like it for their mothers.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘Would you like it for your daughter?’ He replied, ‘No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.’ Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Nor do people like it for their daughters.’ He then asked, ‘Would you like it for your sister?’ The youngster replied, ‘No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Nor do people like it for their sisters.’ He (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘Would you like it for your paternal aunt?’ He replied, ‘No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you’, to which Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied, ‘Nor do people like it for their paternal aunts.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, ‘Would you like it for your maternal aunt?’ He replied, ‘No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.’ Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then said, ‘Nor do people like it for their maternal aunts.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) placed his hand on him and said:

اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ذَنْبَهُ وَطَهِّرْ قَلْبَهُ، وَحَصِّنْ فَرْجَهُ

Allahummagh fir dhambahu wa tahhir qalbahu wa hassin farjahu 

O Allah! forgive his sin, purify his heart, and safeguard his chastity.

The narrator says, ‘After that, this youngster did not pay attention to anything [forbidden].'”

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, pg. 256/257)

‘Allamah ‘Iraqi (rahimahullah) has declared the narrators reliable and the chain authentic. (رواه أحمد بإسناد جيد رجاله رجال الصحيح)

(Al Mughni ‘An Hamlil Asfar, Hadith: 2266)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar