Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi)
Sahih
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَسِيرُ فِي بَعْضِ أَسْفَارِهِ، وَعُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ يَسِيرُ مَعَهُ لَيْلاً، فَسَأَلَهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ شَىْءٍ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ، ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ وَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا عُمَرُ، نَزَرْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ، كُلُّ ذَلِكَ لاَ يُجِيبُكَ. قَالَ عُمَرُ فَحَرَّكْتُ بَعِيرِي ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمْتُ أَمَامَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَخَشِيتُ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِيَّ قُرْآنٌ، فَمَا نَشِبْتُ أَنْ سَمِعْتُ صَارِخًا يَصْرُخُ بِي ـ قَالَ ـ فَقُلْتُ لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ نَزَلَ فِيَّ قُرْآنٌ. وَجِئْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ " لَقَدْ أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَىَّ اللَّيْلَةَ سُورَةٌ لَهِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ {إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا}."
My father said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was proceeding at night on one of his journeys and `Umar bin Al-
Khattab was going along with him. `Umar bin Al-Khattab asked him (about something) but Allah's
Apostle did not answer him. `Umar asked him again, but he did not answer him. He asked him again
(for the third time) but he did not answer him. On that `Umar bin Al-Khattab addressed himself
saying, "May your mother be bereaved of you, O `Umar, for you have asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) thrice,
yet he has not answered you." `Umar said, "Then I made my camel run fast and took it in front of the
other Muslims, and I was afraid that something might be revealed in my connection. I had hardly
waited for a moment when I heard somebody calling me. I said, 'I was afraid that something might
have been revealed about me.' Then I came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and greeted him. He (i.e. the Prophet)
said, 'Tonight there has been revealed to me, a Sura which is dearer to me than (all the world) on
which the sun rises,' and then he recited: 'Verily! We have granted you (O Muhammad) A manifest
victory." (48.1)
Narrated by Narrated Zaid bin Aslam:
Context
In this narration, Umar ibn Al-Khattab recounts an experience during a journey with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, where he repeatedly sought answers to his questions but received no response. After expressing concern that a revelation might pertain to him, the Prophet ﷺ informed him that a significant Surah had been revealed that night, which he cherished deeply. This illustrates the profound connection between the Prophet ﷺ and divine guidance.
Modern Application
This hadith highlights the importance of patience and humility when seeking knowledge or guidance. In our daily lives, we may not always receive immediate answers to our questions, but it encourages us to remain steadfast and trust in the process of learning.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Experience and Divine Revelation because it reflects the personal experiences of the Prophet ﷺ in receiving divine messages and the significance of those revelations.
[Remember] when you [fled and] climbed [the mountain] without looking aside at anyone while the Messenger was calling you from behind. So Allah repaid you with distress upon distress so you would not grieve for that which had escaped you [of victory and spoils of war] or [for] that which had befallen you [of injury and death]. And Allah is [fully] Acquainted with what you do.
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, "Who told you this?" He said, "I was informed by the Knowing, the Acquainted."
Say, [O Muhammad], "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people."
Certainly has Allah showed to His Messenger the vision in truth. You will surely enter al-Masjid al-Haram, if Allah wills, in safety, with your heads shaved and [hair] shortened, not fearing [anyone]. He knew what you did not know and has arranged before that a conquest near [at hand].
This hadith is #4003 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Zaid bin Aslam:.