2/27. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 487 — Coming to Ask the Messenger
An Idolater Entering The Masajid
Hadith About Dimam ibn Tha‘labah Asking in the Mosque
Sunan Abi Dawud : 487
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 487
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، حَدَّثَنَا سَلَمَةُ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي سَلَمَةُ بْنُ كُهَيْلٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ نُوَيْفِعٍ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ بَعَثَ بَنُو سَعْدِ بْنِ بَكْرٍ ضِمَامَ بْنَ ثَعْلَبَةَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَنَاخَ بَعِيرَهُ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ عَقَلَهُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمُ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَنَا ابْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ " . قَالَ يَا ابْنَ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Banu Sa’d b. Bakr sent Qamam b. Tha’labah to the apostle of Allah (May peace be upon him). He came to him and made his camel kneel down near the gate of the mosque. He then tied its leg and entered the mosque. The narrator then reported in a similar way. He then said: Who among you is the son of Abd al-Muttalib? The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) replied: I am the son of Ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib. He said: O son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib. The narrator then reported the rest of the tradition.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 487In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 97English translation : Book 2, Hadith 487
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 487
This hadith about seeking knowledge mentions that Banu Sa’d ibn Bakr sent Dimam ibn Tha‘labah to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He arrived, made his camel kneel near the gate of the mosque, tied its leg, and entered the mosque. He then asked which of them was the son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, “I am the son of Ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib.” The narration then says the rest of the tradition was reported. Since the provided text stops there, the explanation should not add the later details. What we can see clearly is that a person was sent to ask the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the meeting happened in connection with the mosque. This makes it useful for readers searching for a hadith about asking the Prophet or seeking knowledge in Islam.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may be sent to ask and learn on behalf of others.
- The mosque is shown here as a place where a visitor came to meet the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم identified himself clearly when asked.
- The report should be understood only within the details given here.
