Jami` at-Tirmidhi #1593
The Book on Military Expeditions
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الأَزْدِيُّ الْبَصْرِيُّ، وَأَبُو عَمَّارٍ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" خَيْرُ الصَّحَابَةِ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَخَيْرُ السَّرَايَا أَرْبَعُمِائَةٍ وَخَيْرُ الْجُيُوشِ أَرْبَعَةُ آلاَفٍ وَلاَ يُغْلَبُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا مِنْ قِلَّةٍ " . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ يُسْنِدُهُ كَبِيرُ أَحَدٍ غَيْرُ جَرِيرِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ وَإِنَّمَا رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُرْسَلاً . وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ حِبَّانُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْعَنَزِيُّ عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . وَرَوَاهُ اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُرْسَلاً .
That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The best companions are four, the best Saraya (military unit) is four hundred, the best army is four thousand, and twelve thousand will not be beaten due to being too few."
This Hadith is Hasan Gharib, it was not narrated with a chain by anyone important besides Jarir bin Hazim, and this Hadith was only reported from Az-Zuhri, from the Prophet (ﷺ) in Mursal form. Hibban bin 'Ali Al-'Anazi reported it from 'Uqail, from Az-Zuhri, from 'Ubaidullah, from 'Ibn Abbas, from the Prophet (ﷺ), and Al-Laith bin Sa'd reported it from Sa'd, from 'Uqail, from Az-Zuhri, from the Prophet (ﷺ) in the Mursal form.
Narrated by Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
Context
In this narration, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) outlines the ranks of companions, military units, and armies, emphasizing that a small number can overcome a larger force through unity and strength. This highlights the significance of community and collective effort in achieving goals.
Modern Application
This principle is applicable today as communities come together to address challenges, demonstrating that collective action can lead to significant change. It encourages individuals to work together for common objectives.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Community because it emphasizes the strength and importance of unity among individuals.
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سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَٰثَةٌۭ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌۭ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌۭ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌۭ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءًۭ ظَٰهِرًۭا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًۭا
They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone."
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
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يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقِتَالِ ۚ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَٰبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌۭ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.
ٱلْـَٰٔنَ خَفَّفَ ٱللَّهُ عَنكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ ضَعْفًۭا ۚ فَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌۭ صَابِرَةٌۭ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ أَلْفٌۭ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفَيْنِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
Now, Allah has lightened [the hardship] for you, and He knows that among you is weakness. So if there are from you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you a thousand, they will overcome two thousand by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the steadfast.
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1 ayah
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًۭا
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.
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وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
Common Words
108 total83 unique16 repeated
يكن4x
منكم4x
يغلبوا4x
ٱلله4x
كلبهم3x
ويقولون2x
ما2x
إلا2x
فيهم2x
مائتين2x
وإن2x
مائة2x
من2x
ٱلذين2x
مع2x
ٱليمين2x
سيقولون1x
ثلثة1x
رابعهم1x
خمسة1x
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About Jami` at-Tirmidhi
This hadith is #1593 from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, in the Book of The Book on Military Expeditions. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:.