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 6938 in the Book of Judgments (Ahkaam).

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#6937

#6938

Sahih al-Bukhari

#6939

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Sahih al-Bukhari #6938

Q: What is Sahih al-Bukhari 6938 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Judgments (Ahkaam)), narrated by Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:, states: "A bedouin gave the Pledge of allegiance to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for Islam. Then the bedouin got fever at Medina, came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge,"…"

Judgments (Ahkaam)

Sahih

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 مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ،‏.‏ أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا، بَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ فَأَصَابَ الأَعْرَابِيَّ وَعْكٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَأَتَى الأَعْرَابِيُّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي، فَأَبَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى، ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى فَخَرَجَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا الْمَدِينَةُ كَالْكِيرِ تَنْفِي خَبَثَهَا وَيَنْصَعُ طِيبُهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

A bedouin gave the Pledge of allegiance to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for Islam. Then the bedouin got fever at Medina, came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge," But Allah's Apostle refused. Then he came to him (again) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge." But the Prophet (ﷺ) refused Then he came to him (again) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge." But the Prophet (ﷺ) refused. The bedouin finally went out (of Medina) whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Medina is like a pair of bellows (furnace): It expels its impurities and brightens and clears its good.

Narrated by Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:

Context

In this hadith, a bedouin who had pledged allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) sought to retract his pledge due to illness. The Prophet (ﷺ) refused to accept his request, emphasizing the enduring nature of the commitment made. He metaphorically described Medina as a furnace that purifies its inhabitants, reinforcing the idea of resilience and the importance of remaining steadfast in faith.

Modern Application

This principle can be applied today by encouraging individuals to honor their commitments, especially in times of difficulty. It serves as a reminder that challenges can lead to personal growth and purification, much like the bedouin's experience in Medina.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Authority and Oaths and Vows because it highlights the significance of upholding one's pledges and the authority of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in guiding his followers.

Prophetic Authority Oaths and Vows

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ

Al-Hujuraat (The Inner Apartments)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

۞ قَالَتِ ٱلْأَعْرَابُ ءَامَنَّا ۖ قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَلَٰكِن قُولُوٓا۟ أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ ٱلْإِيمَٰنُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَٰلِكُمْ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ

The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

سُورَةُ الفَتۡحِ

Al-Fath (The Victory)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَٰهَدَ عَلَيْهُ ٱللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا

Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad] - they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfills that which he has promised Allah - He will give him a great reward.

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

وَجَآءَ ٱلْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

And those with excuses among the bedouins came to be permitted [to remain], and they who had lied to Allah and His Messenger sat [at home]. There will strike those who disbelieved among them a painful punishment.

سُورَةُ عَبَسَ

Abasa (He frowned)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

The Prophet frowned and turned away

سُورَةُ المُمۡتَحنَةِ

Al-Mumtahana (She that is to be examined)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ وَلَا يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلَٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأْتِينَ بِبُهْتَٰنٍۢ يَفْتَرِينَهُۥ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعْصِينَكَ فِى مَعْرُوفٍۢ ۙ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Common Words

113 total88 unique13 repeated

ٱلله9x

ولا5x

إن3x

ٱلذين3x

ٱلأعراب2x

فى2x

ورسوله2x

لا2x

من2x

شيـا2x

غفور2x

رحيم2x

على2x

قالت1x

ءامنا1x

قل1x

لم1x

تؤمنوا1x

ولكن1x

قولوا1x

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About Sahih al-Bukhari

This hadith is #6938 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Judgments (Ahkaam). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:.

Browse all Sahih al-Bukhari All Hadith Collections

Sahih al-Bukhari #6938

Context

Modern Application

Topics

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Common Words

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About This Hadith