Sahih Muslim #4139
The Book of Oaths
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ ضُرَيْبِ بْنِ، نُقَيْرٍ الْقَيْسِيِّ عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ " مَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ " . ثُمَّ بَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَلاَثَةِ ذَوْدٍ بُقْعِ الذُّرَى فَقُلْنَا إِنَّا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَأَخْبَرْنَاهُ فَقَالَ " إِنِّي لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ أَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ " .
We came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) requesting him to provide us with riding camels. He (the Holy Prophet) said: There is nothing with me with which I should equip you. By Allah, I would not provide you with (riding camels). Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent to us three camels with spotted bumps. We said: We came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asking him to equip us with riding animals. He took an oath that he could not equip us. We came to him and informed him. He said: By Allah, I do not take an oath, but when I find the other thing better than that, I do that which is better.
Narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported:
Context
In this narration, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) demonstrates his integrity by refusing to provide camels to those who requested them, despite later sending them camels. This highlights the importance of honesty in promises and the willingness to act in the best interest of others.
Modern Application
This principle can be applied in everyday life by encouraging individuals to be truthful in their commitments. It serves as a reminder that integrity builds trust and fosters positive relationships.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Authenticity in Hadith and Oaths and Vows because it emphasizes the significance of honesty in promises and the authenticity of the Prophet's words.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
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].
سُورَةُ الأَنۡعَامِ
Al-An'aam (The Cattle)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمِنَ ٱلْإِبِلِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ ٱلْبَقَرِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۗ قُلْ ءَآلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ أَمَّا ٱشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۖ أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَآءَ إِذْ وَصَّىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا ۚ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا لِّيُضِلَّ ٱلنَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
And of the camels, two and of the cattle, two. Say, "Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Or were you witnesses when Allah charged you with this? Then who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah to mislead the people by [something] other than knowledge? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."
سُورَةُ الشَّمۡسِ
Ash-Shams (The Sun)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا
And the messenger of Allah [Salih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] her drink."
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ
Yusuf (Joseph)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّظَٰلِمُونَ
He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah [to prevent] that we take except him with whom we found our possession. Indeed, we would then be unjust."
سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ
Al-A'raaf (The Heights)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَعَقَرُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰصَٰلِحُ ٱئْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, "O Salih, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers."
Common Words
98 total80 unique12 repeated
ٱلله6x
ما3x
من3x
على2x
إذا2x
لا2x
عليه2x
ومن2x
ٱثنين2x
أم2x
ٱلأنثيين2x
إن2x
ولا1x
ٱلذين1x
أتوك1x
لتحملهم1x
قلت1x
أجد1x
أحملكم1x
تولوا1x
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About Sahih Muslim
This hadith is #4139 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Oaths. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported:.