Sunan Abu Dawud #3603

The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah)
Sahih

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 سَعِيدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَنَافِعُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْهَادِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ بَدَوِيٍّ عَلَى صَاحِبِ قَرْيَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The testimony of a nomad Arab against a townsman is not allowable.
Narrated by Narrated AbuHurayrah:

Context

This hadith highlights the limitations of testimony in legal matters, specifically stating that a nomadic Arab's testimony is not acceptable against a townsman. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the importance of context and understanding in legal proceedings, ensuring that justice is served based on reliable evidence.

Modern Application

In contemporary legal systems, the credibility of witnesses is crucial for fair trials. This hadith serves as a reminder to consider the context and background of individuals involved in disputes, ensuring that justice is based on reliable and relevant testimony.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Justice and Community Responsibility because it underscores the importance of credible testimony in legal matters to uphold justice.

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يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ شَهَٰدَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ حِينَ ٱلْوَصِيَّةِ ٱثْنَانِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ أَوْ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصَٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ لَا نَشْتَرِى بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۙ وَلَا نَكْتُمُ شَهَٰدَةَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّمِنَ ٱلْءَاثِمِينَ
O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you or two others from outside if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allah if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange our oath for a price, even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of Allah. Indeed, we would then be of the sinful."
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
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عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
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فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا
And the messenger of Allah [Salih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] her drink."
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وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
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قُلْ هَلُمَّ شُهَدَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَرَّمَ هَٰذَا ۖ فَإِن شَهِدُوا۟ فَلَا تَشْهَدْ مَعَهُمْ ۚ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَهُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
Say, [O Muhammad], "Bring forward your witnesses who will testify that Allah has prohibited this." And if they testify, do not testify with them. And do not follow the desires of those who deny Our verses and those who do not believe in the Hereafter, while they equate [others] with their Lord.

Common Words

112 total95 unique12 repeated
ٱلله5x
ٱلذين3x
لا3x
شهدة2x
إذا2x
ٱلموت2x
من2x
إن2x
كان2x
ولا2x
أن2x
وهم2x
يأيها1x
ءامنوا1x
بينكم1x
حضر1x
أحدكم1x
حين1x
ٱلوصية1x
ٱثنان1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #3603 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated AbuHurayrah:.

About This Hadith