64/35. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4164 — Unable to Recognize the Tree
The Ghazwa of Al-Hudaibiya
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ} .
Hadith About the Ridwan Pledge Tree: The Companions Could Not Recognize It
Sahih Bukhari : 4164
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4164
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا طَارِقٌ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِمَّنْ بَايَعَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ، فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهَا الْعَامَ الْمُقْبِلَ فَعَمِيَتْ عَلَيْنَا.
Said ibn al-Musayyab Narrated from:
Narrated Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab: That his father was amongst those who had given the Pledge of allegiance (to the Prophet (ﷺ) ) beneath the Tree, and the next year when they went towards the Tree, they were not able to recognize it.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4164In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 206USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 482
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4164
This hadith about the Ridwan Pledge Tree is direct and simple. Sa'id bin Al-Musaiyab narrated that his father was among those who gave the pledge under the Tree. When they returned the following year, the tree became unclear to them and they were not able to recognize it. The report does not add extra rulings or stories. It only tells us that even those who were present at the pledge later could not identify the exact tree. This keeps the focus on the pledge to the Prophet, not on a physical tree after the event. It is a useful reminder to be careful with claims about exact religious sites when the text itself shows uncertainty.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions who were present later could not identify the exact tree.
- The importance of the report is the pledge, not later claims about the location.
- Religious memory should be handled with honesty.
- Uncertainty in the text should not be turned into firm claims.
