Sunan Abu Dawud #2931

Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai' Wal-Imarah)
Da'if Jiddan Maqtu'

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَخِيهِ، عَنْ بِشْرِ بْنِ قُرَّةَ الْكَلْبِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ انْطَلَقْتُ مَعَ رَجُلَيْنِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَشَهَّدَ أَحَدُهُمَا ثُمَّ قَالَ جِئْنَا لِتَسْتَعِينَ بِنَا عَلَى عَمَلِكَ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ مِثْلَ قَوْلِ صَاحِبِهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ أَخْوَنَكُمْ عِنْدَنَا مَنْ طَلَبَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَاعْتَذَرَ أَبُو مُوسَى إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ لَمْ أَعْلَمْ لِمَا جَاءَا لَهُ ‏.‏ فَلَمْ يَسْتَعِنْ بِهِمَا عَلَى شَىْءٍ حَتَّى مَاتَ ‏.‏
I went along with two men to see the Prophet (ﷺ). One of them recited tashahhud and said: We have come to you so that you may employ us for your work. The other also said the same thing. He (the Prophet) replied: The most faithless of you in our eyes is the one who asked for it (responsible post). Abu Musa then apologized to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: I did not know why they came to you. He did not employ them for anything until he died.
Narrated by Narrated Abu Musa:

Context

Abu Musa recounts an experience where two men approached the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ seeking employment. The Prophet ﷺ remarked on the nature of those who seek positions of responsibility, indicating that the most faithless are those who ask for such roles. This highlights the value of humility and the importance of serving without seeking recognition.

Modern Application

In today's context, this hadith encourages individuals to approach service and community work with humility, focusing on the act of helping rather than seeking personal gain or recognition. It promotes a selfless attitude in community involvement.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Community and Prophetic Conduct because it reflects the values of humility and service within the community.

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And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
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And when a faction of them said, "O people of Yathrib, there is no stability for you [here], so return [home]." And a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying, "Indeed, our houses are unprotected," while they were not exposed. They did not intend except to flee.
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عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
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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].
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And O my people, I ask not of you for it any wealth. My reward is not but from Allah. And I am not one to drive away those who have believed. Indeed, they will meet their Lord, but I see that you are a people behaving ignorantly.

Common Words

99 total80 unique11 repeated
ٱلله5x
وما3x
إلا3x
لا3x
إن3x
ما3x
من2x
منهم2x
على2x
ٱلذين2x
عليه2x
أرسلنا1x
رسول1x
ليطاع1x
بإذن1x
ولو1x
أنهم1x
إذ1x
ظلموا1x
أنفسهم1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #2931 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai' Wal-Imarah). It is graded Da'if Jiddan Maqtu' and narrated by Narrated Abu Musa:.

About This Hadith