Sahih al-Bukhari #2181
Hiring
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَعْلَى، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ فَكَانَ مِنْ أَوْثَقِ أَعْمَالِي فِي نَفْسِي، فَكَانَ لِي أَجِيرٌ، فَقَاتَلَ إِنْسَانًا، فَعَضَّ أَحَدُهُمَا إِصْبَعَ صَاحِبِهِ، فَانْتَزَعَ إِصْبَعَهُ، فَأَنْدَرَ ثَنِيَّتَهُ فَسَقَطَتْ، فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَهْدَرَ ثَنِيَّتَهُ وَقَالَ
" أَفَيَدَعُ إِصْبَعَهُ فِي فِيكَ تَقْضَمُهَا ـ قَالَ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ ـ كَمَا يَقْضَمُ الْفَحْلُ ". قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، بِمِثْلِ هَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، عَضَّ يَدَ رَجُلٍ، فَأَنْدَرَ ثَنِيَّتَهُ، فَأَهْدَرَهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ رضى الله عنه.
I fought in Jaish-al-Usra (Ghazwa of Tabuk) along with the Prophet (ﷺ) and in my opinion that was the
best of my deeds. Then I had an employee, who quarrel led with someone and one of the them bit and
cut the other's finger and caused his own tooth to fall out. He then went to the Prophet (with a
complaint) but the Prophet (ﷺ) canceled the suit and said to the complainant, "Did you expect him to let
his finger in your mouth so that you might snap and cut it (as does a stallion camel)?"
Narrated Ibn Juraij from `Abdullah bin Abu Mulaika from his grandfather a similar story: A man bit
the hand of another man and caused his own tooth to fall out, but Abu Bakr judged that he had no
right for compensation (for the broken tooth).
Narrated by Narrated Ya`la bin Umaiya:
Context
During the expedition of Jaish-al-Usra, a soldier's employee got into a fight, resulting in one man biting the other's finger and losing a tooth. The injured man sought the Prophet's (ﷺ) judgment, but the Prophet (ﷺ) dismissed the case, highlighting the absurdity of expecting someone to allow such harm to occur. This incident underscores the importance of context and intent in matters of justice.
Modern Application
In today's workplace, conflicts can arise among colleagues, sometimes leading to misunderstandings or even physical altercations. This hadith reminds us to consider the circumstances and intentions behind actions before seeking retribution or compensation, promoting a more understanding and compassionate approach to conflict resolution.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Justice and Wages and Labor because it illustrates the importance of context in judging actions and the relationships between employees.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَآ أَنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ بِٱلنَّفْسِ وَٱلْعَيْنَ بِٱلْعَيْنِ وَٱلْأَنفَ بِٱلْأَنفِ وَٱلْأُذُنَ بِٱلْأُذُنِ وَٱلسِّنَّ بِٱلسِّنِّ وَٱلْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌۭ ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives [up his right as] charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
ٱلشَّهْرُ ٱلْحَرَامُ بِٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَٱلْحُرُمَٰتُ قِصَاصٌۭ ۚ فَمَنِ ٱعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱعْتَدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا ٱعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
[Fighting in] the sacred month is for [aggression committed in] the sacred month, and for [all] violations is legal retribution. So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
سُورَةُ صٓ
Saad (The letter Saad)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ
[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].
سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ
Al-Hujuraat (The Inner Apartments)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ فَإِنۢ بَغَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ فَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى تَبْغِى حَتَّىٰ تَفِىٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن فَآءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ
And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.
Common Words
118 total100 unique14 repeated
ٱلله5x
أن3x
قصاص2x
فمن2x
به2x
ومن2x
بما2x
ٱلحرام2x
ٱعتدى2x
عليكم2x
ما2x
فأصلحوا2x
بينهما2x
فإن2x
وكتبنا1x
عليهم1x
فيها1x
ٱلنفس1x
بٱلنفس1x
وٱلعين1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #2181 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Hiring. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Ya`la bin Umaiya:.