64/30. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4120 — Generosity and Fair Compensation
The return of the Prophet (saws) from Ahzab and his going out to Bani Quraiza
Hadith About Generosity: Returning Date Palms with Fair Compensation
Sahih Bukhari : 4120
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4120
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، وَحَدَّثَنِي خَلِيفَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَجْعَلُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّخَلاَتِ حَتَّى افْتَتَحَ قُرَيْظَةَ وَالنَّضِيرَ، وَإِنَّ أَهْلِي أَمَرُونِي أَنْ آتِيَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَسْأَلَهُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا أَعْطَوْهُ أَوْ بَعْضَهُ. وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ أَعْطَاهُ أُمَّ أَيْمَنَ، فَجَاءَتْ أُمُّ أَيْمَنَ فَجَعَلَتِ الثَّوْبَ فِي عُنُقِي تَقُولُ كَلاَّ وَالَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ لاَ يُعْطِيكَهُمْ وَقَدْ أَعْطَانِيهَا، أَوْ كَمَا قَالَتْ، وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لَكِ كَذَا ". وَتَقُولُ كَلاَّ وَاللَّهِ. حَتَّى أَعْطَاهَا، حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " عَشَرَةَ أَمْثَالِهِ ". أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ.
Anas Narrated from:
Some (of the Ansar) used to present date palm trees to the Prophet (ﷺ) till Banu Quraiza and Banu An- Nadir were conquered (then he returned to the people their date palms). My people ordered me to ask the Prophet (ﷺ) to return some or all the date palms they had given to him, but the Prophet (ﷺ) had given those trees to Um Aiman.On that, Um Aiman came and put the garment around my neck and said, "No, by Him except Whom none has the right to be worshipped, he will not return those trees to you as he (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ)) has given them to me." The Prophet (ﷺ) go said (to her), "Return those trees and I will give you so much (instead of them)." But she kept on refusing, saying, "No, by Allah," till he gave her ten times the number of her date palms.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4120In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 164USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 446
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4120
This Hadith about generosity shows a careful and fair way of handling gifts and property. Some of the Ansar had given date palm trees to the Prophet. After Banu Quraiza and Banu An-Nadir were conquered, the trees were returned to their people. Anas was asked by his family to request some or all of what had been given. But those trees had already been given to Umm Aiman. She strongly refused to give them back because they had been gifted to her. The Prophet did not ignore her claim. Instead, he offered her something in return until she received ten times the number of her date palms. The core message is fairness with generosity. The Hadith teaches that when people have a claim, it should be handled with care, respect, and a good replacement when needed.
What we learn from this hadith
- Gifts and property matters should be handled with fairness and care.
- A person's claim should not be ignored when something has already been given to them.
- Generosity can help settle a hard situation in a peaceful way.
- The Prophet showed concern for both the original givers and Umm Aiman.
