Sunan Abu Dawud #2720
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 الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي صَفْوَانُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَوْفِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ، قَالَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ زَيْدِ بْنِ حَارِثَةَ فِي غَزْوَةِ مُؤْتَةَ فَرَافَقَنِي مَدَدِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ غَيْرُ سَيْفِهِ فَنَحَرَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ جَزُورًا فَسَأَلَهُ الْمَدَدِيُّ طَائِفَةً مِنْ جِلْدِهِ فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ فَاتَّخَذَهُ كَهَيْئَةِ الدَّرَقِ وَمَضَيْنَا فَلَقِينَا جُمُوعَ الرُّومِ وَفِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ عَلَى فَرَسٍ لَهُ أَشْقَرَ عَلَيْهِ سَرْجٌ مُذْهَبٌ وَسِلاَحٌ مُذْهَبٌ فَجَعَلَ الرُّومِيُّ يُغْرِي بِالْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَعَدَ لَهُ الْمَدَدِيُّ خَلْفَ صَخْرَةٍ فَمَرَّ بِهِ الرُّومِيُّ فَعَرْقَبَ فَرَسَهُ فَخَرَّ وَعَلاَهُ فَقَتَلَهُ وَحَازَ فَرَسَهُ وَسِلاَحَهُ فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ فَأَخَذَ مِنَ السَّلَبِ قَالَ عَوْفٌ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا خَالِدُ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَضَى بِالسَّلَبِ لِلْقَاتِلِ قَالَ بَلَى وَلَكِنِّي اسْتَكْثَرْتُهُ . قُلْتُ لَتَرُدَّنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ لأُعَرِّفَنَّكَهَا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَبَى أَنْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ عَوْفٌ فَاجْتَمَعْنَا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَصَصْتُ عَلَيْهِ قِصَّةَ الْمَدَدِيِّ وَمَا فَعَلَ خَالِدٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا خَالِدُ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ " قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اسْتَكْثَرْتُهُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا خَالِدُ رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ مَا أَخَذْتَ مِنْهُ " . قَالَ عَوْفٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ دُونَكَ يَا خَالِدُ أَلَمْ أَفِ لَكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَمَا ذَلِكَ " فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " يَا خَالِدُ لاَ تَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ هَلْ أَنْتُمْ تَارِكُونَ لِي أُمَرَائِي لَكُمْ صِفْوَةُ أَمْرِهِمْ وَعَلَيْهِمْ كَدَرُهُ " .
‘Awf bin malik Al Ashja’I said “I went out with Zaid bin Harith in the battle of Mutah. For the reinforcement of the Muslim army a man from the people of Yemen accompanied me. He had only his sword with him. A man from the Muslims slaughtered a Camel. The man for the reinforcement asked him for a part of its skin which he gave him. He made it like the shape of a shield. We went on and met the Byzantine armies. There was a man among them on a reddish horse with a golden saddle and golden weapons. This Byzantinian soldiers began to attack the Muslims desperately. The man for reinforcement sat behind a rock for (attacking) him. He hamstrung his horse and overpowered him and then killed him. He took his horse and weapons. When Allah, Most High, bestowed victory on the Muslims. Khalid bin Al Walid sent for him and took his spoils. ‘Awf said “I came to him and said “Khalid, do you know that the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) had decided to give spoils to the killer? He said “Yes, I thought it abundant. I said “You should return it to him, or I shall tell you about it before the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ). But he refused to return it. ‘Awf said “We then assembled with the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ). I told him the story of the man of reinforcement and what Khalid had done. The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) said “Khalid, what made you do the work you have done?” He said “Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ), I considered it to be abundant. The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) said “Khalid, return it to him what you have taken from him.” ‘Awf said “I said to him “here you are, Khalid. Did I not keep my word? The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) said “What is that? I then informed him.” He said “The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) became angry and said “Khalid, do not return it to him. Are you going to leave my commanders? You may take from them what is best for you and eave to them what is worst.
Context
‘Awf bin Malik recounts a story from the battle of Mutah, where a man from Yemen received spoils after defeating an enemy. Khalid bin Al Walid, however, took the spoils from him, believing it to be excessive. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) intervened, emphasizing the rightful distribution of spoils and the importance of fairness in military conduct.
Modern Application
This hadith serves as a reminder of the importance of fairness and justice in all dealings, including in situations of conflict or competition. It encourages us to uphold integrity and ensure that rights are respected.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Military Might and Warfare and Prophetic Conduct because it illustrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) guidance on ethical behavior in the context of warfare.
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سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
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.
وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥٓ إِذْ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَرَىٰكُم مَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ مِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۚ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And Allah had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing the enemy by His permission until [the time] when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order [given by the Prophet] and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love. Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then he turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and Allah is the possessor of bounty for the believers.
سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
3 ayahs
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَنفَالِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلْأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا۟ ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the bounties [of war]. Say, "The [decision concerning] bounties is for Allah and the Messenger." So fear Allah and amend that which is between you and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you should be believers.
۞ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُۥ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءَامَنتُم بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ
And know that anything you obtain of war booty - then indeed, for Allah is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and the orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our Servant on the day of criterion - the day when the two armies met. And Allah, over all things, is competent.
فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا غَنِمْتُمْ حَلَٰلًۭا طَيِّبًۭا ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
So consume what you have taken of war booty [as being] lawful and good, and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Common Words
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #2720 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad). It is graded Sahih.