Question

What is the translation of عزائم in the following Hadith?

عن ابن عباس، قال: رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يسجد في ص، قال ابن عباس: وليست من عزائم السجود

 

Answer

Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded these words. Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has recorded the narration with variation in the wording. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1069)

‘عزائم’ in this instance means obligatory/compulsory.

 

The translation of the complete Hadith is as follows:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reported: “I saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) prostrating [i.e Sajdah Tilawah] when reciting Surah Sad [i.e. Verse: 24-25]. Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) then said: “And this sajdah is not from the binding/compulsory sajdahs.”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 577)

 

Note: I have merely answered your query regarding the translation of the word in question. This should therefore not be viewed as a Fiqh ruling. There exists legitimate difference of opinion on this issue as Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) himself has explained. Kindly refer to a Mufti/Darul Ifta for a fatwa on this issue.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar