Sunan Nasa'i (Set of 2 Volumes)

Central Asia, known in historical sources as Mawara-un-nehr, has given the world many religious scholars whose names are inscribed for ever on the pages of Islamic History. Among them we find such a distinguished person as Abu Abdur Rahman Ahmed bin Shu’aib an outstanding place among six principal Hadith collections (Sihah Sattah) known in the Muslim world. Imam Nasa’i was very careful while selecting materials for his work. This is why many scholars consider that the book Sunan Nasa’i occupies third place in Hadith collections after Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. It contains 5764 tradition, said to have been carefully collected out of 500,000.

The learned translator of Sunan Nasa’i has the full command over the English language and an instinctive feel of the Arabic language. As such, he is very competent to translate this Hadith collection into English rendering of Sunan Nasa’I thus faithful, accurate and very close to the original.

The Sunan Nasa'i compiled by Imam Abu 'Abdur Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu'aib an-Nasa'i has been regarded as an authentic book on Ahadith in the group of Sihah Sittah. It contains 5764 authentic and valuable Ahadith.

It is remarkable that the precious gems which fell from the lips of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for the guidance of mankind were long hidden from the English-speaking world. Now has come the dawn of a new era and as result the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) have been found commendable for the solution of the various world problems. Recently laudable attempts have been made by some enthusiastic Muslim scholars for rendering into English the glorious sayings and doings of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) but the English-speaking Muslims are still in need of a comprehensive and reliable English translation of most authentic books on Ahadith such as Sunan Nasa'i,

Under these circumstances coupled with a great desire to find myself engaged in the way of Allah, I have gladly placed my humble self in the service of Allah and undertook this great monumental task of translating the Sunan Nasii'i into English.

Translation is, in itself, a very difficult and stupendous task, especially from languages as different in grammar, syntax and cultural background as Arabic and English. The Arabic is a rich, vigorous and eloquent language and is best suited to express thoughts and concepts with more conciseness than any other language, because of the extra-ordinary flexibility of its verbs and nouns. English, on the other hand, is the language of understatement. Moreover, every language has a certain framework of symbols expressing its people's peculiar sense of life values and 'the particular way of their, perception of Reality. No good translation can therefore, be successfully attempted unless the translator is able to produce within himself the conceptual symbolism of the language in question. The difficulties are further increased when the task to hand is that of rendering into English a religious book such as the present one. In translating the Ahadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) it is also necessary that the translator must be possessed of such a breadth and depth of knowledge of the Arabic and English languages, together with a full understanding of the Islamic faith in all its aspects, as are most difficult to be found in a single person.

The accurate rendering of Hadith into English therefore, requires full command over both languages, Arabic as well as English, the one translated from and the other translated into. Further the translator must be well versed in the science of Hadith. When this assignment was offered to me, I hesitated to accept it owing to the lack of requisite qualifications and my official engagements. However after much insistence by the Publishers of this book I undertook this gigantic task.

While translating the book, I have tried to render the meaning of traditions into English as literal as possible and sometimes even at the expense of the English language. In this translation my endeavour has been to convey somehow or the other the meanings of the words of Ahadith in such a way so as to enable the average English-knowing readers to understand them easily. Accuracy rather than literary embellishment has been my aim throughout. At the same time, I have made my utmost endeavour to keep closest to the original text.

I admit that I am not competent to undertake such a difficult and gigantic task. There might be some mistakes in the rendering of the translation into English. If the readers happen to find any mistakes, they may kindly point out to the Publishers, so that corrections are carried out in the next edition.

I thought of rendering this book into English in the year 1987 but, as the maxim goes: "man proposes-God disposes", Allah did not will it to be published earlier. However by the Grace of Almighty Allah, I am laying before you the translation of first volume of this auspicious book. I hope Allah will cause me to complete this task conveniently and will also make requisite arrangements for its early printing and publishing.

1 also appeal to the readers of this book that the Ahadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) should not be read merely for the sake of increasing one's knowledge only. The true benefit will accrue only when one reads the Hadith to give new vigour to one's faith, certitude and love in respect of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and to acquire guidance with the intention of putting this knowledge into practice. By acting upon the Ahadith, the path of success will become easy to tread.

My special thanks are due to my younger brother Prof. Muhammad Ikram Siddiqi who first suggested this undertaking to me and who has been a constant source of help and encouragement to me. His encouragement and support were always available to me whenever I was facing any difficulty. At every step he extended his helping hand to me. His guidance has been of so great help to me in this great task that no words can adequately express my feelings of gratitude to him.

I am also obliged to Mr. Ghulam 'Ali for his valuable service in composing the manuscript with great skill and giving this book the look and shape that it bears.

The outcome of my humble effort is before Allah and the readers. If there is any merit discernible in it, it is absolutely due to the Grace and Mercy of Almighty Allah, but for all acts of omission, I alone am responsible.

Central Asia, known in historical sources as Mawara-un-nehr, has given the world many religious scholars whose names are inscribed for ever on the pages of Islamic History. Among them we find such a distinguished person as Abu Abdur Rahman Ahmed bin Shu’aib an outstanding place among six principal Hadith collections (Sihah Sattah) known in the Muslim world. Imam Nasa’i was very careful while selecting materials for his work. This is why many scholars consider that the book Sunan Nasa’i occupies third place in Hadith collections after Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. It contains 5764 tradition, said to have been carefully collected out of 500,000.

The learned translator of Sunan Nasa’i has the full command over the English language and an instinctive feel of the Arabic language. As such, he is very competent to translate this Hadith collection into English rendering of Sunan Nasa’I thus faithful, accurate and very close to the original.