Sunan Abu Dawud #2654
Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عُمَيْسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَيْنٌ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - وَهُوَ فِي سَفَرٍ - فَجَلَسَ عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِهِ ثُمَّ انْسَلَّ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" اطْلُبُوهُ فَاقْتُلُوهُ " . قَالَ فَسَبَقْتُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَقَتَلْتُهُ وَأَخَذْتُ سَلَبَهُ فَنَفَّلَنِي إِيَّاهُ .
Ibn Salamah bin Al Akwa’ repoted on the authority of his father. A spy of the polytheists came to the Prophet(ﷺ) when he was on a journey. He sat near his Companions and then slipped away. The Prophet(ﷺ) said “look for him and kill him”. He said “I raced to him and killed him. I took his belongings which he (the Prophet) gave me.
Context
This hadith recounts an incident where a spy from the polytheists approached the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) during a journey. Upon noticing the spy's presence, the Prophet (ﷺ) commanded his companions to seek him out and kill him. This reflects the urgency and seriousness of protecting the Muslim community from threats.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this principle can be seen in the importance of vigilance and security within communities. It serves as a reminder to be aware of potential dangers and to take necessary actions to safeguard the well-being of those we care about.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Command and Prophetic Conduct because it illustrates the decisive actions taken by the Prophet (ﷺ) in response to threats against the community.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
2 ayahs
فَإِذَا ٱنسَلَخَ ٱلْأَشْهُرُ ٱلْحُرُمُ فَٱقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ وَٱقْعُدُوا۟ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍۢ ۚ فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَخَلُّوا۟ سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
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.
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
سُورَةُ طه
Taa-Haa (Taa-Haa)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالَ بَصُرْتُ بِمَا لَمْ يَبْصُرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةًۭ مِّنْ أَثَرِ ٱلرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ سَوَّلَتْ لِى نَفْسِى
He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger and threw it, and thus did my soul entice me."
سُورَةُ التَّحۡرِيمِ
At-Tahrim (The Prohibition)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِلَىٰ بَعْضِ أَزْوَٰجِهِۦ حَدِيثًۭا فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَتْ بِهِۦ وَأَظْهَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَرَّفَ بَعْضَهُۥ وَأَعْرَضَ عَنۢ بَعْضٍۢ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَهَا بِهِۦ قَالَتْ مَنْ أَنۢبَأَكَ هَٰذَا ۖ قَالَ نَبَّأَنِىَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, "Who told you this?" He said, "I was informed by the Knowing, the Acquainted."
Common Words
135 total114 unique15 repeated
ٱلله6x
به3x
إذ3x
كل2x
إن2x
بما2x
لا2x
قال2x
لم2x
من2x
ٱلذين2x
كفروا2x
عليه2x
بعض2x
فلما2x
فإذا1x
ٱنسلخ1x
ٱلأشهر1x
ٱلحرم1x
فٱقتلوا1x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #2654 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad). It is graded Hasan.