Sahih al-Bukhari #2268
Distribution of Water
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَخْلَدٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ خَاصَمَ الزُّبَيْرَ فِي شِرَاجٍ مِنَ الْحَرَّةِ يَسْقِي بِهَا النَّخْلَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ ـ فَأَمَرَهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ـ ثُمَّ أَرْسِلْ إِلَى جَارِكَ ". فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ أَنْ كَانَ ابْنَ عَمَّتِكَ. فَتَلَوَّنَ وَجْهُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " اسْقِ ثُمَّ احْبِسْ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ الْمَاءُ إِلَى الْجَدْرِ ". وَاسْتَوْعَى لَهُ حَقَّهُ. فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ وَاللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ أُنْزِلَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ {َلاَ وَرَبِّكِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ}. قَالَ لِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَقَدَّرَتِ الأَنْصَارُ وَالنَّاسُ قَوْلَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْقِ ثُمَّ احْبِسْ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْجَدْرِ ". وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ.
An Ansari man quarreled with Az-Zubair about a canal in the Harra which was used for irrigating
date-palms. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), ordering Zubair to be moderate, said, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) first
and then leave the water for your neighbor." The Ansari said, "Is it because he is your aunt's son?" On
that the color of the face of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) changed and he said, "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) and
withhold the water till it reaches the walls that are between the pits around the trees." So, Allah's
Apostle gave Zubair his full right. Zubair said, "By Allah, the following verse was revealed in that
connection": "But no, by your Lord They can have No faith Until they make you judge In all disputes
between them." (4.65)
(The sub-narrator,) Ibn Shihab said to Juraij (another sub-narrator), "The Ansar and the other people
interpreted the saying of the Prophet, 'Irrigate (your land) and withhold the water till it reaches the
walls between the pits around the trees,' as meaning up to the ankles."
Narrated by Narrated `Urwa bin Az-Zubair:
Context
In this narration, a dispute arises between an Ansari and Az-Zubair regarding water rights for irrigation. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) intervenes to ensure fairness, instructing Zubair to irrigate his land first and then allow the water to flow to his neighbor. This incident illustrates the Prophet's commitment to justice and equitable treatment in community matters.
Modern Application
This hadith highlights the importance of fairness and justice in our interactions, especially in shared resources. In contemporary settings, it encourages us to resolve disputes amicably and to consider the rights of others in our decisions.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Water Rights and Property Rights because it addresses the equitable distribution of resources and the importance of upholding the rights of individuals in communal matters.
Related Ayahs
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.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَٰنَٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًۭا
Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَٱبْعَثُوا۟ حَكَمًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِۦ وَحَكَمًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن يُرِيدَآ إِصْلَٰحًۭا يُوَفِّقِ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًۭا
And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted [with all things].
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ وَإِذِ ٱسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ فَقُلْنَا ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ ۖ فَٱنفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ ٱثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًۭا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍۢ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said, "Strike with your staff the stone." And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and every people knew its watering place. "Eat and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."
سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَنفَالِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلْأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا۟ ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the bounties [of war]. Say, "The [decision concerning] bounties is for Allah and the Messenger." So fear Allah and amend that which is between you and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you should be believers.
Common Words
127 total96 unique13 repeated
ٱلله11x
إن7x
من4x
بينهما4x
وإن2x
فأصلحوا2x
فإن2x
إلى2x
بٱلعدل2x
أن2x
أهلها2x
كان2x
ٱلأنفال2x
طائفتان1x
ٱلمؤمنين1x
ٱقتتلوا1x
بغت1x
إحدىهما1x
على1x
ٱلأخرى1x
Related Hadiths
About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #2268 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Distribution of Water. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated `Urwa bin Az-Zubair:.