The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، - وَنَسَبَهُ غَيْرُ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ - أَنَّ سَلَمَةَ، بْنَ الأَكْوَعِ قَالَ لَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ خَيْبَرَ قَاتَلَ أَخِي قِتَالاً شَدِيدًا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَارْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ سَيْفُهُ فَقَتَلَهُ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي ذَلِكَ وَشَكُّوا فِيهِ رَجُلٌ مَاتَ فِي سِلاَحِهِ . وَشَكُّوا فِي بَعْضِ أَمْرِهِ . قَالَ سَلَمَةُ فَقَفَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ خَيْبَرَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي أَنْ أَرْجُزَ لَكَ . فَأَذِنَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ أَعْلَمُ مَا تَقُولُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لَوْلاَ اللَّهُ مَا اهْتَدَيْنَا وَلاَ تَصَدَّقْنَا وَلاَ صَلَّيْنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " صَدَقْتَ " . وَأَنْزِلَنَّ سَكِينَةً عَلَيْنَا وَثَبِّتِ الأَقْدَامَ إِنْ لاَقَيْنَا وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ قَدْ بَغَوْا عَلَيْنَا قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ رَجَزِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ قَالَ هَذَا " . قُلْتُ قَالَهُ أَخِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ " . قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ نَاسًا لَيَهَابُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَلَيْهِ يَقُولُونَ رَجُلٌ مَاتَ بِسِلاَحِهِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَاتَ جَاهِدًا مُجَاهِدًا " . قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ ثُمَّ سَأَلْتُ ابْنًا لِسَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ فَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ أَبِيهِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ - حِينَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ نَاسًا يَهَابُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَلَيْهِ - فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " كَذَبُوا مَاتَ جَاهِدًا مُجَاهِدًا فَلَهُ أَجْرُهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ " . وَأَشَارَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ .
On the day of the Battle of Khaibar my brother fought a fierce fight by the side of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). His sword rebounded and killed him. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon hill) talked about his death and doubted (whether it was martyrdom). (They said): (He is) a man killed by his own weapon, and expressed doubt about his affair. Salama said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) returned from Khaibar, I said: Messenger of Allah, permit me that I may recite to you some rajaz verses. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) permitted him. 'Umar b. Khattab said: I know what you will recite. I recited:
By God, if God had guided us not,
We would hive neither been guided aright nor practised charity,
Nor offered prayers.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: What you have said is true, 'I (continued):
And descend on us peace and tranquillity
And keep us steadfast if we encounter (with our enemies)
And the polytheists have rebelled against us.
When I finished my rajaz, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Who composed these verses? I said: They were composed by my brother. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: May God show mercy to him! I said: By God, some people are reluctant to invoke God's mercy on him (because) they say he is a man who died by his own sword. (Hearing this) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He died as God's devotee and warrior. Ibn Shihab has said: I asked one of the sons of Salama (b. Akwa') about (the death of 'Amir). He related to me a similar tradition except that he said: When I said some people were reluctant invoke God's blessings on him, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be, upon him said: They lied. ('Amir) died as God's devotee and warrior (in the cause of Allah). For him there is a double reward, and he pointed out this by putting his two fingers together.
Narrated by It has been reported on the authority of Salama b. Akwa' who said:
Context
This hadith narrates an event during the Battle of Khaibar, where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ addressed concerns about a companion's death. It emphasizes the recognition of sacrifice and valor in the face of adversity, reinforcing the idea of martyrdom.
Modern Application
In modern contexts, this principle can inspire individuals to honor and remember those who have made sacrifices for their communities or causes, fostering a culture of respect and recognition for bravery and commitment.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Historical Prophetic Events and Prophetic Conduct because it highlights the significance of recognizing sacrifice and valor in the early Islamic community.
O you who have believed, do not be like those who disbelieved and said about their brothers when they traveled through the land or went out to fight, "If they had been with us, they would not have died or have been killed," so Allah makes that [misconception] a regret within their hearts. And it is Allah who gives life and causes death, and Allah is Seeing of what you do.
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.
So let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And he who fights in the cause of Allah and is killed or achieves victory - We will bestow upon him a great reward.
But the Messenger and those who believed with him fought with their wealth and their lives. Those will have [all that is] good, and it is those who are the successful.
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.
This hadith is #4538 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Jihad and Expeditions. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It has been reported on the authority of Salama b. Akwa' who said:.