What is Sunan Abu Dawud 2934 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai' Wal-Imarah)), narrated by Narrated Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib:, states: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) struck him on his shoulders and then said: You will attain success, Qudaym, if you die without having been a ruler, a secretary, or a chief."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan in chain. Hasan hadiths are considered good and acceptable in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 2934 in the Book of Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai' Wal-Imarah).

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#2933

#2934

Sunan Abu Dawud

#2935

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Sunan Abu Dawud #2934

Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai' Wal-Imarah)

Hasan in chain

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

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ جَابِرٍ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمِقْدَامِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ الْمِقْدَامِ بْنِ مَعْدِيكَرِبَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ضَرَبَ عَلَى مَنْكِبِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ ‏ "‏ أَفْلَحْتَ يَا قُدَيْمُ إِنْ مُتَّ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَمِيرًا وَلاَ كَاتِبًا وَلاَ عَرِيفًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) struck him on his shoulders and then said: You will attain success, Qudaym, if you die without having been a ruler, a secretary, or a chief.

Narrated by Narrated Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib:

Context

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ tells Qudaym that he will attain success if he dies without holding positions of power. This statement reflects the value placed on humility and the avoidance of leadership roles that may lead to corruption or misguidance.

Modern Application

In today's context, this hadith encourages individuals to find fulfillment in their personal lives rather than seeking power or status. It promotes the idea that true success lies in integrity and personal virtue.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Spiritual Success and Prophetic Conduct because it highlights the importance of humility and personal integrity over societal status.

Spiritual Success Prophetic Conduct

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الرَّعۡدِ

Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ

"Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home."

سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ

Al-Hujuraat (The Inner Apartments)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِى كَثِيرٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْإِيمَٰنَ وَزَيَّنَهُۥ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْكُفْرَ وَٱلْفُسُوقَ وَٱلْعِصْيَانَ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلرَّٰشِدُونَ

And know that among you is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would be in difficulty, but Allah has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided.

سُورَةُ عَبَسَ

Abasa (He frowned)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

The Prophet frowned and turned away

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

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 النُّورِ

An-Noor (The Light)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيْكُم مَّا حُمِّلْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ

Say, "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [responsibility for] clear notification."

Common Words

107 total89 unique10 repeated

ٱلله8x

فى3x

إذ3x

إليكم2x

إلا2x

ٱلذين2x

كفروا2x

عليه2x

ٱلرسول2x

ما2x

سلم1x

عليكم1x

بما1x

صبرتم1x

فنعم1x

عقبى1x

ٱلدار1x

وٱعلموا1x

أن1x

فيكم1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #2934 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership (Kitab Al-Kharaj, Wal-Fai' Wal-Imarah). It is graded Hasan in chain and narrated by Narrated Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #2934

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith