Jami` at-Tirmidhi #1226
The Book on Business
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ دَبَّرَ غُلاَمًا لَهُ فَمَاتَ وَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ مَالاً غَيْرَهُ فَبَاعَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاشْتَرَاهُ نُعَيْمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ النَّحَّامِ . قَالَ جَابِرٌ عَبْدًا قِبْطِيًّا مَاتَ عَامَ الأَوَّلِ فِي إِمَارَةِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ لَمْ يَرَوْا بِبَيْعِ الْمُدَبَّرِ بَأْسًا . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ . وَكَرِهَ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ بَيْعَ الْمُدَبَّرِ . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ وَمَالِكٍ وَالأَوْزَاعِيِّ .
"A man among the Ansar decided to free a slave of his after his death. He died but he left no wealth behind beside the slave. So the Prophet (ﷺ) sold him and Nu'aim bin An-Nah-ham bought him." Jabir said: "He was Coptic slave who died during the first year of the leadership of Ibn Az-Zubair."
This Hadith is Hasan Sahih and it has been reported through more than one route from Jabir bin 'Abdullah.
This Hadith is acted upon according to some of the people of knowledge among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and others. They did not see any harm in the sale of Mudabbar. This is the view of Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad and Ishaq. There are those among people of knowledge, among the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and others, who disliked selling the Mudabbar. This is the view of Sufyan Ath-Thawri, Malik and Al-Awza'i.
Narrated by Narrated Jabir:
Context
This hadith narrates an incident where a man from the Ansar intended to free his slave upon his death but left no wealth behind except for the slave. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) intervened by selling the slave to ensure that the man's intention of freeing him could still be honored. This situation illustrates the balance between personal intentions and practical realities in matters of charity and ownership.
Modern Application
In today's context, this hadith encourages individuals to engage in honest trade and charitable acts. It reminds us that even in difficult situations, there are ways to fulfill our intentions to help others, such as through community support and ethical business practices.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Charity and Prophetic Conduct because it demonstrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) commitment to ensuring that charitable intentions are honored while also adhering to practical solutions.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍۢ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍۢ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ
And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ
And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allah. And Allah is kind to [His] servants.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ أَن يَقْتُلَ مُؤْمِنًا إِلَّا خَطَـًۭٔا ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خَطَـًۭٔا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَةٍۢ وَدِيَةٌۭ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَصَّدَّقُوا۟ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّۢ لَّكُمْ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَةٍۢ ۖ وَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَٰقٌۭ فَدِيَةٌۭ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ وَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَةٍۢ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ تَوْبَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا
And never is it for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake - then the freeing of a believing slave and a compensation payment presented to the deceased's family [is required] unless they give [up their right as] charity. But if the deceased was from a people at war with you and he was a believer - then [only] the freeing of a believing slave; and if he was from a people with whom you have a treaty - then a compensation payment presented to his family and the freeing of a believing slave. And whoever does not find [one or cannot afford to buy one] - then [instead], a fast for two months consecutively, [seeking] acceptance of repentance from Allah. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.
سُورَةُ البَلَدِ
Al-Balad (The City)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ
It is the freeing of a slave
سُورَةُ المُجَادلَةِ
Al-Mujaadila (The Pleading Woman)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] Allah. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
Common Words
108 total74 unique21 repeated
من6x
ٱلله4x
رقبة4x
كان3x
أن3x
مؤمنة3x
فمن3x
لم3x
ومن2x
مؤمنا2x
إلا2x
خطـا2x
فتحرير2x
مسلمة2x
إلى2x
أهله2x
قوم2x
يجد2x
فصيام2x
شهرين2x
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About Jami` at-Tirmidhi
This hadith is #1226 from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, in the Book of The Book on Business. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Jabir:.