What is Sahih al-Bukhari 3434 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions), narrated by Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday. Then an Ansari woman or man said. "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Shall we make a pulpit for you?" He replied, "If you wish." So they made…"

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 3434 in the Book of Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions.

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

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#3433

#3434

Sahih al-Bukhari

#3435

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Sahih al-Bukhari #3434

Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ أَيْمَنَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُومُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلَى شَجَرَةٍ أَوْ نَخْلَةٍ، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ ـ أَوْ رَجُلٌ ـ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ مِنْبَرًا قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَجَعَلُوا لَهُ مِنْبَرًا، فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ دُفِعَ إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، فَصَاحَتِ النَّخْلَةُ صِيَاحَ الصَّبِيِّ، ثُمَّ نَزَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَضَمَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تَئِنُّ أَنِينَ الصَّبِيِّ، الَّذِي يُسَكَّنُ، قَالَ ‏"‏ كَانَتْ تَبْكِي عَلَى مَا كَانَتْ تَسْمَعُ مِنَ الذِّكْرِ عِنْدَهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday. Then an Ansari woman or man said. "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Shall we make a pulpit for you?" He replied, "If you wish." So they made a pulpit for him and when it was Friday, he proceeded towards the pulpit (for delivering the sermon). The datepalm cried like a child! The Prophet (ﷺ) descended (the pulpit) and embraced it while it continued moaning like a child being quietened. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It was crying for (missing) what it used to hear of religious knowledge given near to it."

Narrated by Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:

Context

This hadith recounts an event where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was approached about creating a pulpit for delivering sermons. When he began using the pulpit, a date-palm tree expressed sorrow, which the Prophet interpreted as a longing for the knowledge it used to receive when he preached nearby. This story illustrates the deep connection between the Prophet and his surroundings, as well as the emotional responses to his teachings.

Modern Application

In today's world, this story can inspire communities to create environments that foster learning and connection. It encourages the establishment of spaces where knowledge is shared, and emotional bonds are formed, enhancing the overall spiritual experience.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct and Prophetic Teachings because it highlights the Prophet's approach to teaching and the emotional impact of his presence on the environment around him.

Prophetic Conduct Prophetic Teachings