Sahih al-Bukhari #4018
Military Expeditions led by the Prophet (pbuh) (Al-Maghaazi)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمٌ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَلَمَةَ بْنَ الأَكْوَعِ، يَقُولُ خَرَجْتُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُؤَذَّنَ، بِالأُولَى، وَكَانَتْ لِقَاحُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَرْعَى بِذِي قَرَدٍ ـ قَالَ ـ فَلَقِيَنِي غُلاَمٌ لِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ فَقَالَ أُخِذَتْ لِقَاحُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ مَنْ أَخَذَهَا قَالَ غَطَفَانُ. قَالَ فَصَرَخْتُ ثَلاَثَ صَرَخَاتٍ ـ يَا صَبَاحَاهْ ـ قَالَ فَأَسْمَعْتُ مَا بَيْنَ لاَبَتَىِ الْمَدِينَةِ، ثُمَّ انْدَفَعْتُ عَلَى وَجْهِي حَتَّى أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذُوا يَسْتَقُونَ مِنَ الْمَاءِ، فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْمِيهِمْ بِنَبْلِي، وَكُنْتُ رَامِيًا، وَأَقُولُ أَنَا ابْنُ الأَكْوَعْ، الْيَوْمُ يَوْمُ الرُّضَّعْ. وَأَرْتَجِزُ حَتَّى اسْتَنْقَذْتُ اللِّقَاحَ مِنْهُمْ، وَاسْتَلَبْتُ مِنْهُمْ ثَلاَثِينَ بُرْدَةً، قَالَ وَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالنَّاسُ فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَدْ حَمَيْتُ الْقَوْمَ الْمَاءَ وَهُمْ عِطَاشٌ، فَابْعَثْ إِلَيْهِمُ السَّاعَةَ. فَقَالَ
" يَا ابْنَ الأَكْوَعِ، مَلَكْتَ فَأَسْجِحْ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ رَجَعْنَا وَيُرْدِفُنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى نَاقَتِهِ حَتَّى دَخَلْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ.
Once I went (from Medina) towards (Al-Ghaba) before the first Adhan of the Fajr Prayer. The shecamels
of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to graze at a place called Dhi-Qarad. A slave of `Abdur-Rahman bin
`Auf met me (on the way) and said, "The she-camels of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had been taken away by
force." I asked, "Who had taken them?" He replied "(The people of) Ghatafan." I made three loud
cries (to the people of Medina) saying, "O Sabahah!" I made the people between the two mountains of
Medina hear me. Then I rushed onward and caught up with the robbers while they were watering the
camels. I started throwing arrows at them as I was a good archer and I was saying, "I am the son of
Al-Akwa`, and today will perish the wicked people." I kept on saying like that till I restored the shecamels
(of the Prophet), I also snatched thirty Burda (i.e. garments) from them. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) and
the other people came there, and I said, "O Allah's Prophet! I have stopped the people (of Ghatafan)
from taking water and they are thirsty now. So send (some people) after them now." On that the
Prophet said, "O the son of Al-Akwa`! You have over-powered them, so forgive them." Then we all
came back and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) seated me behind him on his she-camel till we entered Medina.
Narrated by Narrated Salama bin Al-Akwa`:
Context
In this hadith, Salama bin Al-Akwa` recounts a heroic act of defending the Prophet's camels from thieves. His bravery and quick response reflect the values of courage and protection within the community. The Prophet's advice to forgive the attackers highlights the importance of mercy and compassion even in the face of conflict.
Modern Application
This hadith inspires individuals to act courageously in defending what is right while also promoting forgiveness. In today's context, it encourages a balance between standing up for justice and showing compassion towards others.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Military Might and Warfare and Prophetic Conduct because it illustrates the values of bravery in defense of the community and the Prophet's guidance on mercy.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ إِذْ تُصْعِدُونَ وَلَا تَلْوُۥنَ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ وَٱلرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ فِىٓ أُخْرَىٰكُمْ فَأَثَٰبَكُمْ غَمًّۢا بِغَمٍّۢ لِّكَيْلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا مَآ أَصَٰبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
[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.
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
3 ayahs
مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌۭ وَلَا نَصَبٌۭ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌۭ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًۭا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّۢ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌۭ صَٰلِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good.
وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا مَآ أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَآ أَجِدُ مَآ أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوا۟ وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا۟ مَا يُنفِقُونَ
Nor [is there blame] upon those who, when they came to you that you might give them mounts, you said, "I can find nothing for you to ride upon." They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the cause of Allah].
لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajireen and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful.
سُورَةُ القَصَصِ
Al-Qasas (The Stories)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَجَآءَتْهُ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا تَمْشِى عَلَى ٱسْتِحْيَآءٍۢ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
Then one of the two women came to him walking with shyness. She said, "Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us." So when he came to him and related to him the story, he said, "Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people."
Common Words
153 total117 unique13 repeated
ولا8x
ما8x
على5x
من5x
ٱلله4x
لا4x
فى3x
عن2x
إن2x
أجر2x
عليه2x
ٱلذين2x
تاب2x
إذ1x
تصعدون1x
تلون1x
أحد1x
وٱلرسول1x
يدعوكم1x
أخرىكم1x
Related Hadiths
About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #4018 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 Salama bin Al-Akwa`:.