Sunan Abu Dawud #3216
Funerals (Kitab Al-Jana'iz)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، أَنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ هِلاَلٍ - عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ جَاءَتِ الأَنْصَارُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ فَقَالُوا أَصَابَنَا قَرْحٌ وَجَهْدٌ فَكَيْفَ تَأْمُرُنَا قَالَ " احْفِرُوا وَأَوْسِعُوا وَاجْعَلُوا الرَّجُلَيْنِ وَالثَّلاَثَةَ فِي الْقَبْرِ " . قِيلَ فَأَيُّهُمْ يُقَدَّمُ قَالَ " أَكْثَرُهُمْ قُرْآنًا " . قَالَ أُصِيبَ أَبِي يَوْمَئِذٍ عَامِرٌ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ أَوْ قَالَ وَاحِدٌ .
The Ansar came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of Uhud and said: We have been afflicted with wound and fatigue. What do you command us?
He said: Dig graves, make them wide, bury two or three in a single grave.
He was asked: Which of them should be put first?
He replied: The one who knew the Qur'an most.
He (Hisham) said: My father Amir died on the day and was buried with two or one.
Narrated by Narrated Hisham ibn Amir:
Context
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructs the Ansar on how to handle the burial of their fallen comrades after the Battle of Uhud. He emphasizes the importance of making graves spacious and prioritizing those who knew the Qur'an best. This guidance reflects the respect and honor given to the deceased.
Modern Application
In modern contexts, this principle can guide communities in their burial practices, promoting respect for the deceased and ensuring that their contributions to the community, such as knowledge, are recognized.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct because it demonstrates the Prophet's guidance on respectful treatment of the deceased and the importance of honoring their contributions.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
3 ayahs
مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌۭ وَلَا نَصَبٌۭ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌۭ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًۭا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّۢ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌۭ صَٰلِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good.
وَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَجَٰهِدُوا۟ مَعَ رَسُولِهِ ٱسْتَـْٔذَنَكَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلطَّوْلِ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالُوا۟ ذَرْنَا نَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْقَٰعِدِينَ
And when a surah was revealed [enjoining them] to believe in Allah and to fight with His Messenger, those of wealth among them asked your permission [to stay back] and said, "Leave us to be with them who sit [at home]."
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًۭا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ
And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muhammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.
سُورَةُ البُرُوجِ
Al-Burooj (The Constellations)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قُتِلَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْأُخْدُودِ
Cursed were the companions of the trench
Common Words
153 total119 unique20 repeated
ولا8x
من4x
ٱلله4x
منهم3x
عن3x
إن3x
أن3x
وإذا2x
لهم2x
طائفة2x
معك2x
وليأخذوا2x
كفروا2x
أسلحتكم2x
عليكم2x
كان2x
لا2x
بٱلله2x
مع2x
على2x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #3216 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Funerals (Kitab Al-Jana'iz). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Hisham ibn Amir:.