Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari, which contains 7,277 hadiths across 97 books. It is hadith number 2177 in the Book of Hiring.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#2176

#2177

Sahih al-Bukhari

#2178

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Sahih al-Bukhari #2177

Q: What is Sahih al-Bukhari 2177 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Hiring), narrated by Narrated Abu Musa:, states: "I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) with two men from Ash`ari tribe. I said (to the Prophet), "I do not know that they want employment." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No, we do not appoint for our jobs anybody who de…"

Hiring

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ قُرَّةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعِي رَجُلاَنِ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ، فَقُلْتُ مَا عَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُمَا يَطْلُبَانِ الْعَمَلَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ لَنْ أَوْ لاَ نَسْتَعْمِلُ عَلَى عَمَلِنَا مَنْ أَرَادَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) with two men from Ash`ari tribe. I said (to the Prophet), "I do not know that they want employment." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No, we do not appoint for our jobs anybody who demands it earnestly."

Narrated by Narrated Abu Musa:

Context

In this narration, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) indicates that those who earnestly seek employment should not be appointed to positions of responsibility. This reflects a principle of humility and the idea that leadership should not be sought after but rather given to those who are capable and deserving.

Modern Application

In the workplace today, this principle can be seen in the way organizations often value candidates who demonstrate their capabilities and commitment rather than those who aggressively pursue positions. It encourages a culture of meritocracy.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Wages and Labor because it discusses the principles surrounding employment and the qualities that should be considered when appointing individuals to positions of responsibility.

Wages and Labor