Sunan an-Nasa'i
Sunan an-Nasa'i 2599
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدُبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الْمَسَائِلَ كُدُوحٌ يَكْدَحُ بِهَا الرَّجُلُ وَجْهَهُ فَمَنْ شَاءَ كَدَحَ وَجْهَهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ الرَّجُلُ ذَا سُلْطَانٍ أَوْ شَيْئًا لاَ يَجِدُ مِنْهُ بُدًّا " .
Ahmad ibn Sulayman reported: Muhammad ibn Bishr narrated to us: Shuubah informed us, from Abd al-Malik, from Zayd ibn Uqbah, from Samurah ibn Jundub, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Asking leaves scratches with which a man scratches his face. Whoever wishes may scratch his face, and whoever wishes may leave it—except for asking a person in authority or asking for something one cannot do without.
Translation notes
The source image of scratches is retained. The final exception is rendered with both alternatives preserved and flagged for review.
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الْمَسَائِلَ كُدُوحٌ يَكْدَحُ بِهَا الرَّجُلُ وَجْهَهُ فَمَنْ شَاءَ كَدَحَ وَجْهَهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ الرَّجُلُ ذَا سُلْطَانٍ أَوْ شَيْئًا لاَ يَجِدُ مِنْهُ بُدًّا " .
The report uses scratch imagery for asking and its exception may refer to asking an authority or to unavoidable necessities.
Should the final exception be read as asking a person in authority, asking for something unavoidable, or both alternatives?