The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ سَحَرَ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَهُودِيٌّ مِنْ يَهُودِ بَنِي زُرَيْقٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ لَبِيدُ بْنُ الأَعْصَمِ حَتَّى كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ يَفْعَلُ الشَّىْءَ وَلاَ يَفْعَلُهُ . قَالَتْ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ أَوْ كَانَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ دَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ثُمَّ دَعَا ثُمَّ دَعَا ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا عَائِشَةُ أَشَعَرْتِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَفْتَانِي فِيمَا اسْتَفْتَيْتُهُ فِيهِ جَاءَنِي رَجُلاَنِ فَجَلَسَ أَحَدُهُمَا عِنْدَ رَأْسِي وَالآخَرُ عِنْدَ رِجْلِي فَقَالَ الَّذِي عِنْدَ رَأْسِي لِلَّذِي عِنْدَ رِجْلِي أَوِ الَّذِي عِنْدَ رِجْلِي لِلَّذِي عِنْدَ رَأْسِي مَا وَجَعُ الرَّجُلِ قَالَ مَطْبُوبٌ . قَالَ مَنْ طَبَّهُ قَالَ لَبِيدُ بْنُ الأَعْصَمِ . قَالَ فِي أَىِّ شَىْءٍ قَالَ فِي مُشْطٍ وَمُشَاطَةٍ وَجُفِّ طَلْعَةِ ذَكَرٍ . قَالَ وَأَيْنَ هُوَ قَالَ فِي بِئْرِ ذِي أَرْوَانَ " . قَالَتْ فَأَتَاهُ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي أُنَاسٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقَالَ " وَاللَّهِ يَا عَائِشَةُ لَكَأَنَّ مَاءَهَا نُقَاعَةُ الْحِنَّاءِ وَلَكَأَنَّ نَخْلَهَا رُءُوسُ الشَّيَاطِينِ " . قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ أَحْرَقْتَهُ قَالَ " لاَ أَمَّا أَنَا فَقَدْ عَافَانِيَ اللَّهُ وَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُثِيرَ عَلَى النَّاسِ مِنْهُ شَرًّا " . فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَدُفِنَتْ .
“A Jew from among the Jews of Bani
Zuraiq, whose name was Labid bin A’sam, cast a spell on the Prophet
(ﷺ), and the Prophet (ﷺ) began to imagine that he had done
something when he had not. One day, or one night, the Messenger of
Allah (ﷺ) supplicated, and then supplicated again. Then he said: ‘O
‘Aishah, do you know that Allah has instructed me concerning the
matter I asked Him about? Two men came to me, and one of them sat at
my head and the other at my feet. The one at my head said to the one at my feet, or the one at my feet said to the one at my head "what is ailing this man ?" He
said: “He has been affected by a spell.” He said: “Who cast the
spell on him?” He said: “Labid bin A’sam.” He said: “With
what?” He said: “With a comb and the hairs stuck to it, and the
spathe of a male date palm.” He said: “Where is that?” He said:
“In the well of Dhu Arwan.”
She said: “So the Prophet (ﷺ) went to it, with a group of his Companions, then he came and said: ‘By Allah. O ‘Aishah. It was as if its water was infused with henna and its date palms were like the heads of devils.’”
She said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, why don’t you burn them?’ He said: ‘As for me, Allah has healed me, and I do not like to let evil spread among the people.’ Then he issued orders that the well be filled up with earth.”
Narrated by It was
narrated that ‘Aishah said:
Context
In this hadith, ‘Aishah narrates how the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was affected by a spell cast by a Jew. After seeking guidance from Allah, he was informed about the source of the spell. This incident highlights the Prophet's ﷺ reliance on divine guidance and the importance of addressing harmful influences.
Modern Application
This story can inspire individuals to seek spiritual support and guidance when facing difficulties or challenges in life, reinforcing the belief in the power of prayer and faith.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct because it demonstrates the Prophet's ﷺ response to adversity and reliance on Allah.
And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah. And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.
And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe."
With their hearts distracted. And those who do wrong conceal their private conversation, [saying], "Is this [Prophet] except a human being like you? So would you approach magic while you are aware [of it]?"