The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
قَالَ وَقَالَ ابْنُ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نُعْمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ بَعَثَ عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِذُهَيْبَةٍ فَقَسَمَهَا بَيْنَ الأَرْبَعَةِ الأَقْرَعِ بْنِ حَابِسٍ الْحَنْظَلِيِّ ثُمَّ الْمُجَاشِعِيِّ، وَعُيَيْنَةَ بْنِ بَدْرٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ، وَزَيْدٍ الطَّائِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي نَبْهَانَ، وَعَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ عُلاَثَةَ الْعَامِرِيِّ ثُمَّ أَحَدِ بَنِي كِلاَبٍ، فَغَضِبَتْ قُرَيْشٌ وَالأَنْصَارُ، قَالُوا يُعْطِي صَنَادِيدَ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ وَيَدَعُنَا. قَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ ". فَأَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ غَائِرُ الْعَيْنَيْنِ مُشْرِفُ الْوَجْنَتَيْنِ، نَاتِئُ الْجَبِينِ، كَثُّ اللِّحْيَةِ، مَحْلُوقٌ فَقَالَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ. فَقَالَ " مَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ إِذَا عَصَيْتُ، أَيَأْمَنُنِي اللَّهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ فَلاَ تَأْمَنُونِي ". فَسَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ قَتْلَهُ ـ أَحْسِبُهُ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ ـ فَمَنَعَهُ، فَلَمَّا وَلَّى قَالَ " إِنَّ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا ـ أَوْ فِي عَقِبِ هَذَا ـ قَوْمٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ، لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ، يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ، يَقْتُلُونَ أَهْلَ الإِسْلاَمِ، وَيَدَعُونَ أَهْلَ الأَوْثَانِ، لَئِنْ أَنَا أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ عَادٍ ".
`Ali sent a piece of gold to the Prophet (ﷺ) who distributed it among four persons: Al-Aqra' bin H`Abis Al-Hanzali from the tribe of Mujashi, 'Uyaina bin Badr Al-Fazari, Zaid at-Ta'i who belonged to (the tribe of) Bani Nahban, and 'Alqama bin Ulatha Al-`Amir who belonged to (the tribe of) Bani Kilab. So the Quraish and the Ansar became angry and said, "He (i.e. the Prophet, ) gives the chief of Najd and does not give us." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I give them) so as to attract their hearts (to Islam)." Then a man with sunken eyes, prominent checks, a raised forehead, a thick beard and a shaven head, came (in front of the Prophet (ﷺ) ) and said, "Be afraid of Allah, O Muhammad!" The Prophet (ﷺ) ' said "Who would obey Allah if I disobeyed Him? (Is it fair that) Allah has trusted all the people of the earth to me while, you do not trust me?" Somebody who, I think was Khalid bin Al-Walid, requested the Prophet (ﷺ) to let him chop that man's head off, but he prevented him. When the man left, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Among the off-spring of this man will be some who will recite the Qur'an but the Qur'an will not reach beyond their throats (i.e. they will recite like parrots and will not understand it nor act on it), and they will renegade from the religion as an arrow goes through the game's body. They will kill the Muslims but will not disturb the idolaters. If I should live up to their time' I will kill them as the people of 'Ad were killed (i.e. I will kill all of them)."
Narrated by Narrated Abu Sa`id:
Context
This hadith describes an incident where Ali sent a piece of gold to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), who distributed it among several notable individuals. The decision to give to certain tribes caused dissatisfaction among the Quraish and the Ansar, who felt overlooked. The Prophet (ﷺ) explained that he aimed to win their hearts for Islam. A man then confronted the Prophet (ﷺ) about his actions, leading to a prophetic warning about future followers who would misinterpret the faith.
Modern Application
This hadith illustrates the importance of strategic outreach and inclusivity in community building. Today, it serves as a reminder to engage with diverse groups and foster understanding, especially in efforts to promote harmony and acceptance within communities.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Community and Prophetic Teachings because it reflects the Prophet's (ﷺ) approach to building relationships and trust within the community while imparting essential lessons about faith and unity.
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allah and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allah - for them is a painful punishment.
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.
Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice from among the people - give them tidings of a painful punishment.