Sahih al-Bukhari #4135
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 عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ كَثِيرِ بْنِ أَفْلَحَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَامَ حُنَيْنٍ، فَلَمَّا الْتَقَيْنَا كَانَتْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ جَوْلَةٌ، فَرَأَيْتُ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، قَدْ عَلاَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَضَرَبْتُهُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ عَلَى حَبْلِ عَاتِقِهِ بِالسَّيْفِ، فَقَطَعْتُ الدِّرْعَ، وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَىَّ فَضَمَّنِي ضَمَّةً وَجَدْتُ مِنْهَا رِيحَ الْمَوْتِ، ثُمَّ أَدْرَكَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَأَرْسَلَنِي، فَلَحِقْتُ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ مَا بَالُ النَّاسِ قَالَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. ثُمَّ رَجَعُوا وَجَلَسَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَنْ قَتَلَ قَتِيلاً لَهُ عَلَيْهِ بَيِّنَةٌ فَلَهُ سَلَبُهُ ". فَقُلْتُ مَنْ يَشْهَدُ لِي ثُمَّ جَلَسْتُ ـ قَالَ ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ فَقُمْتُ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ يَشْهَدُ لِي ثُمَّ جَلَسْتُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ، فَقُمْتُ فَقَالَ " مَالَكَ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ ". فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ. فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ صَدَقَ وَسَلَبُهُ عِنْدِي، فَأَرْضِهِ مِنِّي. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لاَهَا اللَّهِ، إِذًا لاَ يَعْمِدُ إِلَى أَسَدٍ مِنْ أُسْدِ اللَّهِ يُقَاتِلُ عَنِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيُعْطِيَكَ سَلَبَهُ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " صَدَقَ فَأَعْطِهِ ". فَأَعْطَانِيهِ فَابْتَعْتُ بِهِ مَخْرَفًا فِي بَنِي سَلِمَةَ، فَإِنَّهُ لأَوَّلُ مَالٍ تَأَثَّلْتُهُ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ.
We set out along with the Prophet (ﷺ) during the year of (the battle of) Hunain, and when we faced the
enemy, the Muslims (with the exception of the Prophet (ﷺ) and some of his companions) retreated (before
the enemy). I saw one of the pagans over-powering one of the Muslims, so I struck the pagan from
behind his neck causing his armor to be cut off. The pagan headed towards me and pressed me so
forcibly that I felt as if I was dying. Then death took him over and he released me. Afterwards I
followed `Umar and said to him, "What is wrong with the people?" He said, "It is the Order of Allah."
Then the Muslims returned (to the battle after the flight) and (after overcoming the enemy) the
Prophet sat and said, "Whoever had killed an Infidel and has an evidence to this issue, will have the
Salb (i.e. the belonging of the deceased e.g. clothes, arms, horse, etc)." I (stood up) and said, "Who
will be my witness?" and then sat down. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) repeated his question. Then the Prophet (ﷺ)
said the same (for the third time). I got up and said, "Who will be my witness?" and then sat down.
The Prophet (ﷺ) asked his former question again. So I got up. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, What is the matter, O
Abu Qatada?" So I narrated the whole story; A man said, "Abu Qatada has spoken the truth, and the
Salb of the deceased is with me, so please compensate Abu Qatada on my behalf." Abu Bakr said,
"No! By Allah, it will never happen that the Prophet (ﷺ) will leave a Lion of Allah who fights for the Sake
of Allah and His Apostle and give his spoils to you." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Abu Bakr has spoken the
truth. Give it (the spoils) back to him (O man)!" So he gave it to me and I bought a garden in (the land
of) Banu Salama with it (i.e. the spoils) and that was the first property I got after embracing Islam.
Narrated by Narrated Abu Qatada:
Context
In this hadith, Abu Qatada narrates an event from the battle of Hunain where he kills an enemy combatant. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ later addresses the issue of spoils of war, emphasizing the importance of justice and rightful ownership.
Modern Application
This principle of justice and rightful ownership can be applied in various aspects of life today, encouraging individuals to act fairly and to ensure that rewards and benefits are justly distributed.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Jihad and Prophetic Conduct because it discusses the ethical considerations surrounding warfare and the Prophet's guidance on justice.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Muhammad (Muhammad)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍۢ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds.
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
۞ 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.
أَوَلَمَّآ أَصَٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَدْ أَصَبْتُم مِّثْلَيْهَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَّىٰ هَٰذَا ۖ قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
Why [is it that] when a [single] disaster struck you [on the day of Uhud], although you had struck [the enemy in the battle of Badr] with one twice as great, you said, "From where is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves." Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
2 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.
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Common Words
178 total137 unique17 repeated
ٱلله10x
ولا7x
فى4x
إذ4x
ٱلذين3x
كفروا3x
على3x
ما3x
من3x
لا3x
إن3x
حتى2x
ذلك2x
سبيل2x
وٱلله2x
عن2x
إلا2x
فإذا1x
لقيتم1x
فضرب1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #4135 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 Abu Qatada:.