What is Sunan Abu Dawud 3474 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Wages (Kitab Al-Ijarah)), narrated by Narrated Abu Hurairah:, states: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Excess water should not be withheld so as to prevent (cattle) by it from grass."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade 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 3474 in the Book of Wages (Kitab Al-Ijarah).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#3473

#3474

Sunan Abu Dawud

#3475

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Sunan Abu Dawud #3474

Wages (Kitab Al-Ijarah)

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ يُمْنَعُ فَضْلُ الْمَاءِ لِيُمْنَعَ بِهِ الْكَلأُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Excess water should not be withheld so as to prevent (cattle) by it from grass.

Narrated by Narrated Abu Hurairah:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasizes the importance of not withholding excess water to prevent livestock from accessing grass. This reflects a broader principle of sharing resources and ensuring that all creatures have access to what they need for survival. The takeaway is that one should not hoard resources that can benefit others, particularly in times of need.

Modern Application

Today, this principle can be seen in practices such as water conservation and sharing resources within communities. It encourages individuals to be mindful of how they use and distribute resources, ensuring that everyone has access to essential needs like water and food.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Divine Provision because it highlights the importance of sharing resources that are essential for life.

Divine Provision