"while we were with the Messenger of Allah, sitting in the Masjid, a man entered on a camel. He made it kneel in the Masjid, then he hobbled it. Then he said; 'Which of you is Muhammad?' He was reclining among them, and we said to him: 'This white man who is reclining.' The man said to him: 'O son of 'Abdul-Muttalib.' The Messenger of Allah said to him: 'I have answered you.' The man said: 'O Muhammad, I am going to ask you questions and I will be harsh in asking.' He said; 'Ask whatever you like.' The man said; 'I adjure you by your Lord, and the Lord of those who came begfore you, has Allah sent you to all the people?' The messenger of Allah said: 'by Allah, yes,' He said: 'Iadjure you by Allah, has Allah commanded you to fast this month each year?' The Messenger of Allah said: 'I adjure you by Allah, has Allah commanded you to take this charity from our rich and divide it among our poor?' The Messenger of Allah said: 'By Allah, Yes.' The ma said; 'I believe in that which you have brought, and I am the envoy of my people who are coming after me. I am Dimam bin Thalabah, the brother of Banu sad bin Bakr."' (Sahih) 'Ubaidullah bin 'Umar contradicted him.
The Book of Fasting - Sunan an-Nasa'i 2093
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i presents a remarkable encounter between the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Dimam bin Thalabah, demonstrating the straightforward nature of early Islamic dialogue and the clarity of divine commandments.
Contextual Analysis
The scene unfolds in the Masjid, where the Prophet was sitting among his companions in a state of reclining - indicating the informal and accessible nature of his gatherings. The arrival of a Bedouin on a camel, who boldly hobbled it within the sacred space, shows the simplicity of early Islamic society.
The man's direct questioning style, while seemingly harsh, reflects the Bedouin tradition of frank discourse. His repeated adjurations by Allah demonstrate his seriousness in seeking truth rather than disrespect.
Scholarly Commentary on the Three Questions
First Question: "Has Allah sent you to all people?" - The Prophet's affirmative answer establishes the universality of his mission, confirming that Islam is not limited to Arabs but encompasses all humanity.
Second Question: "Has Allah commanded you to fast this month each year?" - This refers to the obligatory fasting of Ramadan, confirming its annual observance as a divine commandment rather than a temporary practice.
Third Question: Regarding Zakat - The confirmation that wealth redistribution from rich to poor is divinely mandated establishes one of Islam's fundamental social justice principles.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This hadith serves as foundational evidence for the obligatory nature of Ramadan fasting and Zakat. The Prophet's unwavering responses "By Allah, Yes" demonstrate the certainty of these divine commandments.
Dimam's immediate acceptance of Islam and his role as envoy to his tribe shows how direct, truthful answers can lead to conviction and mass conversion.
The narrator's note about 'Ubaidullah bin 'Umar's contradiction refers to minor variations in transmission chains, common in hadith literature, without affecting the core meaning.