What is Sahih al-Bukhari 4505 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh))), narrated by Narrated `Abdullah:, states: "During the Pre-lslamic period of ignorance if any tribe became great in number, we used to say, "Amira the children of so-and-so." Narrated Al-Humaidi: Sufyan narrated to us something and used the wo…"

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 4505 in the Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)).

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

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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Sahih al-Bukhari #4505

Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh))

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا نَقُولُ لِلْحَىِّ إِذَا كَثُرُوا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ أَمِرَ بَنُو فُلاَنٍ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ وَقَالَ أَمِرَ‏.‏

During the Pre-lslamic period of ignorance if any tribe became great in number, we used to say, "Amira the children of so-and-so." Narrated Al-Humaidi: Sufyan narrated to us something and used the word 'Amira'.

Narrated by Narrated `Abdullah:

Context

This hadith reflects on the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, where tribes were often recognized by their numbers. It serves as a reminder of the societal values that existed before the advent of Islam and how the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) brought about a transformative change in these perceptions. The mention of tribal strength indicates the importance of community identity.

Modern Application

In modern society, this hadith can be seen as a reminder to appreciate the strength of community and the importance of unity. It encourages individuals to reflect on how societal values have evolved and to foster a sense of belonging and identity within their communities.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Historical Lessons because it provides insight into the social dynamics of pre-Islamic Arabia and the changes brought by the teachings of Islam.

Historical Lessons