Sunan Abu Dawud #2691
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 أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُوحٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سِمَاكٌ الْحَنَفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ لَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ بَدْرٍ فَأَخَذَ - يَعْنِي النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - الْفِدَاءَ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { مَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ أَسْرَى حَتَّى يُثْخِنَ فِي الأَرْضِ } إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَا أَخَذْتُمْ } مِنَ الْفِدَاءِ ثُمَّ أَحَلَّ لَهُمُ اللَّهُ الْغَنَائِمَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ حَنْبَلٍ يُسْأَلُ عَنِ اسْمِ أَبِي نُوحٍ فَقَالَ أَيْشٍ تَصْنَعُ بِاسْمِهِ اسْمُهُ اسْمٌ شَنِيعٌ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ اسْمُ أَبِي نُوحٍ قُرَادٌ وَالصَّحِيحُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ غَزْوَانَ .
‘Umar bin Al Khattab said “During the battle of Badr, the Prophet (ﷺ) took ransom”. Thereupon Allaah Most High sent down “It is not fitting for an Apostle that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. You look on the temporal goods of this world, but Allaah looketh to the Hereafter”. And Allaah is exalted in might and Wise. Had it not been for a previous ordainment from Allaah, a severe penalty would have reached you for the (ransom) that you took. Allaah then made the spoils of war lawful.
Abu Dawud said “I heard that Ahmad bin Hanbal was asked about the name of Abu Nuh”. He said “What will you do with his name? His name is a bad one.
Abu Dawud said “the name of Abu Nuh is Qurad. What is correct is that his name is ‘Abd Al Rahman bin Ghazwan.
Context
During the Battle of Badr, 'Umar bin Al Khattab recalls how the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) took ransom for prisoners of war, which led to a revelation from Allah regarding the proper conduct in such situations. This incident highlights the complexities of warfare and the ethical considerations involved.
Modern Application
This hadith serves as a reminder of the ethical dimensions of conflict and the importance of adhering to divine guidance in difficult situations. It encourages individuals to reflect on moral responsibilities during times of strife.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Command and Military Might and Warfare because it addresses the ethical implications of warfare and the guidance provided by divine revelation.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
مَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَسْرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يُثْخِنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [upon Allah 's enemies] in the land. Some Muslims desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّمَن فِىٓ أَيْدِيكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَسْرَىٰٓ إِن يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًۭا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًۭا مِّمَّآ أُخِذَ مِنكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
O Prophet, say to whoever is in your hands of the captives, "If Allah knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
سُورَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Muhammad (Muhammad)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍۢ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ
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.
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 الفَتۡحِ
Al-Fath (The Victory)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَغَانِمَ كَثِيرَةًۭ يَأْخُذُونَهَا ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًۭا
And much war booty which they will take. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.
Common Words
110 total95 unique9 repeated
فى4x
ٱلله4x
حتى3x
وٱلله3x
ما2x
كان2x
لنبى2x
أن2x
خيرا2x
يكون1x
له1x
أسرى1x
يثخن1x
ٱلأرض1x
تريدون1x
عرض1x
ٱلدنيا1x
يريد1x
ٱلءاخرة1x
عزيز1x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #2691 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad). It is graded Munkar.