64/29. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4108 — Restraint to Avoid Division
The Ghazwa of Al-Khandaq or Al-Ahzab Battle
قَالَ مُوسَى بْنُ عُقْبَةَ كَانَتْ فِي شَوَّالٍ سَنَةَ أَرْبَعٍ.
Hadith About Avoiding Division and Guarding the Tongue
Sahih Bukhari : 4108
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4108
حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ وَأَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ وَنَسْوَاتُهَا تَنْطُفُ، قُلْتُ قَدْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ النَّاسِ مَا تَرَيْنَ، فَلَمْ يُجْعَلْ لِي مِنَ الأَمْرِ شَىْءٌ. فَقَالَتِ الْحَقْ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ، وَأَخْشَى أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي احْتِبَاسِكَ عَنْهُمْ فُرْقَةٌ. فَلَمْ تَدَعْهُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ، فَلَمَّا تَفَرَّقَ النَّاسُ خَطَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ فَلْيُطْلِعْ لَنَا قَرْنَهُ، فَلَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِهِ مِنْهُ وَمِنْ أَبِيهِ. قَالَ حَبِيبُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ فَهَلاَّ أَجَبْتَهُ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَحَلَلْتُ حُبْوَتِي وَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَقُولَ أَحَقُّ بِهَذَا الأَمْرِ مِنْكَ مَنْ قَاتَلَكَ وَأَبَاكَ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ. فَخَشِيتُ أَنْ أَقُولَ كَلِمَةً تُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ الْجَمْعِ، وَتَسْفِكُ الدَّمَ، وَيُحْمَلُ عَنِّي غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ، فَذَكَرْتُ مَا أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ فِي الْجِنَانِ. قَالَ حَبِيبٌ حُفِظْتَ وَعُصِمْتَ. قَالَ مَحْمُودٌ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ وَنَوْسَاتُهَا.
`Ikrima bin Khalid Narrated from:
Ibn `Umar said, "I went to Hafsa while water was dribbling from her twined braids. I said, 'The condition of the people is as you see, and no authority has been given to me.' Hafsa said, (to me), 'Go to them, and as they (i.e. the people) are waiting for you, and I am afraid your absence from them will produce division amongst them.' " So Hafsa did not leave Ibn `Umar till we went to them.When the people differed. Muawiya addressed the people saying, "'If anybody wants to say anything in this matter of the Caliphate, he should show up and not conceal himself, for we are more rightful to be a Caliph than he and his father." On that, Habib bin Masalama said (to Ibn `Umar), "Why don't you reply to him (i.e. Muawiya)?"`Abdullah bin `Umar said, "I untied my garment that was going round my back and legs while I was sitting and was about to say, 'He who fought against you and against your father for the sake of Islam, is more rightful to be a Caliph,' but I was afraid that my statement might produce differences amongst the people and cause bloodshed, and my statement might be interpreted not as I intended. (So I kept quiet) remembering what Allah has prepared in the Gardens of Paradise (for those who are patient and prefer the Hereafter to this worldly life)." Habib said, "You did what kept you safe and secure (i.e. you were wise in doing so).
[1] The fighting (between ‘Alī and Mu‘āwiya) in Siffīn.(1) Ibn 'Umar here means 'Alī bin Abī Ṭālib who had fought against Mu'āwiya, and Abū Sufyān (i.e., Mu'āwiya's father) in the battles of Uḥud and Al-Khandaq .Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4108In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 152USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 434
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4108
This Hadith about avoiding division shows Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما choosing silence when words could cause harm. He was urged to go to the people because his absence might increase division. Later, when Muawiya spoke about the matter of leadership, Ibn Umar wanted to reply. He thought of words that would answer the claim, but he feared his statement might divide the gathering, cause bloodshed, or be understood in a way he did not intend. So he stayed quiet, remembering what Allah has prepared in Paradise. The Hadith is a strong lesson in guarding speech when public words may lead to conflict.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Umar considered the possible harm of his words before speaking.
- He feared division and bloodshed among the people.
- He chose restraint while remembering the reward prepared by Allah.
- Not every true or strong reply needs to be said in a tense gathering.
