Sahih Muslim , Hadith 1649 ⓘ

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported: I came to Allah's Apostle along with a group of Ash'arites requesting to give us a mount. He (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I cannot provide you with a mount, and there is nothing with me which I should give you as a ride. He (the narrator) said: We stayed there as long as Allah willed. Then there were brought to him (to the Holy Prophet) camels. He (the Holy Prophet) then ordered to give us three white humped camels, We started and said (or some of us said to the others): Allah will not bless us. We came to Allah's Messenger begging him to provide us with riding camels. He swore that he could not provide us with a mount, but later on he provided us with that. They (some of the Prophet's Companions) came and informed him about this (rankling of theirs), whereupon he said: It was not I who provided you with a mount, but Allah has provided you with that. So far as I am concerned, by Allah, if He so wills, I would not swear, but if, later on, I would see better than it, I (would break the vow) and expiate it and do that which is better.

حَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الْحَارِثِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِخَلَفٍ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، الأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قُلْنَا - أَوْ قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ - لاَ يُبَارِكُ اللَّهُ لَنَا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا ‏.‏ فَأَتَوْهُ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَمَلَكُمْ وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ ثُمَّ أَرَى خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Musa reported: My friends sent me to Allah's Messenger asking him to provide them with mounts as they were going along with him in jaish al-'Usrah (the army of destitutes or of meagre means or army setting out during the hard times and that is the occasion of the expedition of Tabuk) I said: Apostle of Allah, my friends have sent me to you so that you may provide them with mounts. He (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I cannot provide you with anything to ride. And it so happened that he was at that time much perturbed. I little knew of it, so I came back with a heavy heart on account of the refusal of Allah's Messenger, and the fear that Allah's Messenger might have some feelings against me. I returned to my friends and informed them about what Allah's Messenger had said. I had hardly stayed for a little that I heard Bilal calling: 'Abdullah b. Qais. I responded to his call. He said: Hasten to Allah's Messenger, he is calling you, When I came to the Prophet he said: Take this pair, this pair, and this pair (i. e. six camels which he had bought from Sa'd), and take them to y, our friends and say: Verily Allah (or he said: Verily Allah's Messenger has provided you with these animals. So ride upon them. Abu Musa said: I went along with them to my friends and said: Verily Allah's messenger has provided you with these animals for riding; but by Allah, I shall not leave you until some of you go along with me to him who had heard the talk of Allah's Messenger then I asked him for you, and his refusal for the first time, and then his granting them to me subsequently; so you should not think that I narrated to you something which he did not say. They said to me: By Allah, in our opinion you are certainly truthful, and we would do as you like. So Abu Musa went along withsome of the menfrom them until they came to those who had heard the words of Allah's Messenger (may, peace be upon him) and his refusal to (provide) them with (animals) ; and subsequently his granting (the animals) to them; and they narrated to them exactly as Abu Masa had narrated to them.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بَرَّادٍ الأَشْعَرِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، - وَتَقَارَبَا فِي اللَّفْظِ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ أَرْسَلَنِي أَصْحَابِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْأَلُهُ لَهُمُ الْحُمْلاَنَ إِذْ هُمْ مَعَهُ فِي جَيْشِ الْعُسْرَةِ - وَهِيَ غَزْوَةُ تَبُوكَ - فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَصْحَابِي أَرْسَلُونِي إِلَيْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَوَافَقْتُهُ وَهُوَ غَضْبَانُ وَلاَ أَشْعُرُ فَرَجَعْتُ حَزِينًا مِنْ مَنْعِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمِنْ مَخَافَةِ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ وَجَدَ فِي نَفْسِهِ عَلَىَّ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُمُ الَّذِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ أَلْبَثْ إِلاَّ سُوَيْعَةً إِذْ سَمِعْتُ بِلاَلاً يُنَادِي أَىْ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ ‏.‏ فَأَجَبْتُهُ فَقَالَ أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدْعُوكَ ‏.‏ فَلَمَّا أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ خُذْ هَذَيْنِ الْقَرِينَيْنِ وَهَذَيْنِ الْقَرِينَيْنِ وَهَذَيْنِ الْقَرِينَيْنِ - لِسِتَّةِ أَبْعِرَةٍ ابْتَاعَهُنَّ حِينَئِذٍ مِنْ سَعْدٍ - فَانْطَلِقْ بِهِنَّ إِلَى أَصْحَابِكَ فَقُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ - أَوْ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم - يَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَى هَؤُلاَءِ فَارْكَبُوهُنَّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِي بِهِنَّ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَى هَؤُلاَءِ وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَدَعُكُمْ حَتَّى يَنْطَلِقَ مَعِي بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَى مَنْ سَمِعَ مَقَالَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ سَأَلْتُهُ لَكُمْ وَمَنْعَهُ فِي أَوَّلِ مَرَّةٍ ثُمَّ إِعْطَاءَهُ إِيَّاىَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ لاَ تَظُنُّوا أَنِّي حَدَّثْتُكُمْ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَقُلْهُ ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا لِي وَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ عِنْدَنَا لَمُصَدَّقٌ وَلَنَفْعَلَنَّ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ ‏.‏ فَانْطَلَقَ أَبُو مُوسَى بِنَفَرٍ مِنْهُمْ حَتَّى أَتَوُا الَّذِينَ سَمِعُوا قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَنْعَهُ إِيَّاهُمْ ثُمَّ إِعْطَاءَهُمْ بَعْدُ فَحَدَّثُوهُمْ بِمَا حَدَّثَهُمْ بِهِ أَبُو مُوسَى سَوَاءً ‏.‏

Ayyub said: We were sitting in the company of Abu Musa that he called for food and it consisted of flesh of fowl. It was then that a person from Banu Tamim visited him. His complexion was red having the resemblance of a slave. He said to him: Come and (join me in food). He showed reluctance. He (Abu Masa) said: Come on, for I saw Allah's Messenger eating it (fowl's meat), whereupon that person said: I saw it eating something (of filth and rubbish) and I found it repugnant and took an oath that I would never eat that. He (Abu Muds) said: Come, so that I would narrate to you about that (the incident pertaining to vow). (And he narrated thus): I came to Allah's Messenger along with a group of people belonging to the tribe of Ash'ari, asking him to provide us with riding camels. He (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I cannot provide you with riding animals. And there is nothing with me with which I can provide you a mount. We stayed (for some time) there as Allah willed, and there was brought to Allah's Messenger booty of camels. He called us and commanded that we should be given five white humped camels. As we were about to go back, some of us said to the other: As we made Allah's Messenger forget oath, there would be no blessing for us (in his gift). We went back to him and said: Allah's Messenger, we came to you to provide us with riding animals and you took an oath that you would never equip us with mounts and then you have provided us with the riding beasts Allah's Messenger, have you forgotten? Thereupon he said: I swear by Allah that if Allah so wills, I shall not swear an oath, and then consider something else to be better than it without making atonement for my oath and doing the thing that is better. So you go; Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has given you riding animals.

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الْعَتَكِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زَيْدٍ - عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي، قِلاَبَةَ وَعَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ الْجَرْمِيِّ، - قَالَ أَيُّوبُ وَأَنَا لِحَدِيثِ الْقَاسِمِ، أَحْفَظُ مِنِّي لِحَدِيثِ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ - قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى فَدَعَا بِمَائِدَتِهِ وَعَلَيْهَا لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللَّهِ أَحْمَرُ شَبِيهٌ بِالْمَوَالِي فَقَالَ لَهُ هَلُمَّ ‏.‏ فَتَلَكَّأَ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ فَإِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ أَنْ لاَ أَطْعَمَهُ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ أُحَدِّثْكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَأُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِنَهْبِ إِبِلٍ فَدَعَا بِنَا فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى قَالَ فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ أَغْفَلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمِينَهُ لاَ يُبَارَكُ لَنَا ‏.‏ فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَتَيْنَاكَ نَسْتَحْمِلُكَ وَإِنَّكَ حَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلْتَنَا أَفَنَسِيتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَتَحَلَّلْتُهَا فَانْطَلِقُوا فَإِنَّمَا حَمَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari with a slight variation of words.

وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، وَالْقَاسِمِ، التَّمِيمِيِّ عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ الْجَرْمِيِّ، قَالَ كَانَ بَيْنَ هَذَا الْحَىِّ مِنْ جَرْمٍ وَبَيْنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ وُدٌّ وَإِخَاءٌ فَكُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ فَقُرِّبَ إِلَيْهِ طَعَامٌ فِيهِ لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ ‏.‏ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏

Zahdam al-Jarmi reported: We were in the company of Abu Musa. The rest of the hadith is the same.

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ التَّمِيمِيِّ، عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ الْجَرْمِيِّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ الْجَرْمِيِّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، وَالْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ الْجَرْمِيِّ، قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى ‏.‏ وَاقْتَصُّوا جَمِيعًا الْحَدِيثَ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ حَمَّادِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ ‏.‏

Zahdam al-Jarmi reported: I visited Abu Musa and lie was eating fowl's meat. The rest of the hadith is the same with this addition that he (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I did not forget it.

وَحَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا الصَّعْقُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ حَزْنٍ - حَدَّثَنَا مَطَرٌ الْوَرَّاقُ، حَدَّثَنَا زَهْدَمٌ الْجَرْمِيُّ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي مُوسَى وَهُوَ يَأْكُلُ لَحْمَ دَجَاجٍ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِهِمْ وَزَادَ فِيهِ قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا نَسِيتُهَا ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported: We came to Allah's Messenger requesting him to provide us with riding camels. He (the Holy Prophet) said: There is nothing with me with which I should equip you. By Allah, I would not provide you with (riding camels). Then Allah's Messenger sent to us three camels with spotted bumps. We said: We came to Allah's Messenger asking him to equip us with riding animals. He took an oath that he could not equip us. We came to him and informed him. He said: By Allah, I do not take an oath, but when I find the other thing better than that, I do that which is better.

وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ ضُرَيْبِ بْنِ، نُقَيْرٍ الْقَيْسِيِّ عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ بَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَلاَثَةِ ذَوْدٍ بُقْعِ الذُّرَى فَقُلْنَا إِنَّا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَأَخْبَرْنَاهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنِّي لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ أَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Musa reported: We walked on foot and came to Allah's Apostle (may peace he upon him) asking him to provide us with mounts. The rest of the hadith is the same.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى التَّيْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو السَّلِيلِ، عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ، يُحَدِّثُهُ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ كُنَّا مُشَاةً فَأَتَيْنَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ ‏.‏ بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِ جَرِيرٍ ‏.‏