Sunan Abu Dawud #3613
The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah)
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 عَبْدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمَّارُ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْبِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، سَمِعْتُ جَدِّيَ الزُّبَيْبَ، يَقُولُ بَعَثَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَيْشًا إِلَى بَنِي الْعَنْبَرِ فَأَخَذُوهُمْ بِرُكْبَةٍ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ الطَّائِفِ فَاسْتَاقُوهُمْ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرَكِبْتُ فَسَبَقْتُهُمْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ أَتَانَا جُنْدُكَ فَأَخَذُونَا وَقَدْ كُنَّا أَسْلَمْنَا وَخَضْرَمْنَا آذَانَ النَّعَمِ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ بَلْعَنْبَرُ قَالَ لِي نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَلْ لَكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ عَلَى أَنَّكُمْ أَسْلَمْتُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُؤْخَذُوا فِي هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ " . قُلْتُ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " مَنْ بَيِّنَتُكَ " . قُلْتُ سَمُرَةُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي الْعَنْبَرِ وَرَجُلٌ آخَرُ سَمَّاهُ لَهُ فَشَهِدَ الرَّجُلُ وَأَبَى سَمُرَةُ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَدْ أَبَى أَنْ يَشْهَدَ لَكَ فَتَحْلِفُ مَعَ شَاهِدِكَ الآخَرِ " . قُلْتُ نَعَمْ . فَاسْتَحْلَفَنِي فَحَلَفْتُ بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَسْلَمْنَا يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَخَضْرَمْنَا آذَانَ النَّعَمِ . فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اذْهَبُوا فَقَاسِمُوهُمْ أَنْصَافَ الأَمْوَالِ وَلاَ تَمَسُّوا ذَرَارِيَهُمْ لَوْلاَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ ضَلاَلَةَ الْعَمَلِ مَا رَزَيْنَاكُمْ عِقَالاً " . قَالَ الزُّبَيْبُ فَدَعَتْنِي أُمِّي فَقَالَتْ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ أَخَذَ زِرْبِيَّتِي فَانْصَرَفْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - يَعْنِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ - فَقَالَ لِي " احْبِسْهُ " . فَأَخَذْتُ بِتَلْبِيبِهِ وَقُمْتُ مَعَهُ مَكَانَنَا ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَيْنَا نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَائِمَيْنِ فَقَالَ " مَا تُرِيدُ بِأَسِيرِكَ " . فَأَرْسَلْتُهُ مِنْ يَدِي فَقَامَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ " رُدَّ عَلَى هَذَا زِرْبِيَّةَ أُمِّهِ الَّتِي أَخَذْتَ مِنْهَا " . فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّهَا خَرَجَتْ مِنْ يَدِي . قَالَ فَاخْتَلَعَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَيْفَ الرَّجُلِ فَأَعْطَانِيهِ . وَقَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ " اذْهَبْ فَزِدْهُ آصُعًا مِنْ طَعَامٍ " . قَالَ فَزَادَنِي آصُعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent an army to Banu al-Anbar. They captured them at Rukbah in the suburbs of at-Ta'if and drove them to the Holy Prophet (ﷺ).
I rode hurriedly to the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and said: Peace be on you, Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Your contingent came to us and arrested us, but we had already embraced Islam and cut the sides of the ears of our cattle.
When Banu al-Anbar arrived, the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said to me: Have you any evidence that you had embraced Islam before you were captured today?
I said: Yes. He said: Who is your witness? I said: Samurah, a man from Banu al-Anbar, and another man whom he named. The man testified but Samurah refused to testify. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: He (Samurah) has refused to testify for you, so take an oath with your other witness. I said: Yes. He then dictated an oath to me and I swore to the effect that we had embraced Islam on a certain day, and that we had cut the sides of the ears of the cattle.
The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said: Go and divide half of their property, but do not touch their children. Had Allah not disliked the wastage of action, we should not have taxed you even a rope.
Zubayb said: My mother called me and said: This man has taken my mattress. I then went to the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and informed him.
He said to me: Detain him. So I caught him with a garment around his neck, and stood there with him . Then the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) looked at us standing there. He asked: What do you intend (doing) with your captive?
I said: I shall let him go free if he returns to this (man) the mattress of his mother which he has taken from her.
He said: Prophet of Allah (ﷺ), I no longer have it.
He said: The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) took the sword of the man and gave it to me, and said to him: Go and give him some sa's of cereal. So he gave me some sa's of barley.
Narrated by Narrated Zubayb ibn Tha'labah al-Anbari:
Context
In this hadith, Zubayb ibn Tha'labah al-Anbari recounts an incident where a group from Banu al-Anbar was captured by the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ army. Upon their arrival, the Prophet ﷺ sought evidence of their prior conversion to Islam. Zubayb provided a witness, but the witness refused to testify, leading the Prophet ﷺ to allow Zubayb to take an oath instead. This illustrates the importance of justice and fairness in dealings, even in challenging situations.
Modern Application
This principle emphasizes the importance of fairness and justice in our interactions today. For instance, in business or personal disputes, having clear evidence or witnesses can help resolve conflicts amicably. It encourages individuals to act justly and seek resolution through honest means.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Justice and Community because it highlights the necessity of fairness in resolving disputes and the importance of community support in establishing truth.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
3 ayahs
مَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَسْرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يُثْخِنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [upon Allah 's enemies] in the land. Some Muslims desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
۞ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُۥ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءَامَنتُم بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ
And know that anything you obtain of war booty - then indeed, for Allah is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and the orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our Servant on the day of criterion - the day when the two armies met. And Allah, over all things, is competent.
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَنفَالِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلْأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا۟ ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the bounties [of war]. Say, "The [decision concerning] bounties is for Allah and the Messenger." So fear Allah and amend that which is between you and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you should be believers.
سُورَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Muhammad (Muhammad)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍۢ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds.
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
Common Words
134 total111 unique17 repeated
ٱلله5x
حتى3x
وٱلله3x
يوم3x
ما2x
كان2x
لنبى2x
أن2x
فى2x
شىء2x
لله2x
إن2x
كنتم2x
وما2x
على2x
كل2x
ٱلأنفال2x
يكون1x
له1x
أسرى1x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #3613 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah). It is graded Sahih in chain and narrated by Narrated Zubayb ibn Tha'labah al-Anbari:.