64/36. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4192 — The People of Ukl and Uraina
The story of (the tribes of) ‘Ukl and ‘Uraina
Ukl and Uraina Hadith: Betrayal, Murder, and Justice
Sahih Bukhari : 4192
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4192
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ أَنَسًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ حَدَّثَهُمْ أَنَّ نَاسًا مِنْ عُكْلٍ وَعُرَيْنَةَ قَدِمُوا الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَتَكَلَّمُوا بِالإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالُوا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا أَهْلَ ضَرْعٍ، وَلَمْ نَكُنْ أَهْلَ رِيفٍ. وَاسْتَوْخَمُوا الْمَدِينَةَ، فَأَمَرَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِذَوْدٍ وَرَاعٍ، وَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا فِيهِ، فَيَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا، فَانْطَلَقُوا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا نَاحِيَةَ الْحَرَّةِ كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِسْلاَمِهِمْ، وَقَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَاسْتَاقُوا الذَّوْدَ، فَبَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَعَثَ الطَّلَبَ فِي آثَارِهِمْ فَأَمَرَ بِهِمْ فَسَمَرُوا أَعْيُنَهُمْ، وَقَطَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ، وَتُرِكُوا فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْحَرَّةِ حَتَّى مَاتُوا عَلَى حَالِهِمْ. قَالَ قَتَادَةُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ يَحُثُّ عَلَى الصَّدَقَةِ، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْمُثْلَةِ. وَقَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَأَبَانُ وَحَمَّادٌ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ. وَقَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ وَأَيُّوبُ عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَدِمَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ عُكْلٍ.
Anas Narrated from:
Some people of the tribe of `Ukl and `Uraina arrived at Medina to meet the Prophet (ﷺ) and embraced Islam and said, "O Allah's Prophet! We are the owners of milch livestock (i.e. bedouins) and not farmers (i.e. countrymen)." They found the climate of Medina unsuitable for them. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered that they should be provided with some milch camels and a shepherd and ordered them to go out of Medina and to drink the camels' milk and urine (as medicine) So they set out and when they reached Al-Harra, they reverted to Heathenism after embracing Islam, and killed the shepherd of the Prophet and drove away the camels.When this news reached the Prophet, he sent some people in pursuit of them. (So they were caught and brought back to the Prophet (ﷺ)). The Prophet (ﷺ) gave his orders in their concern. So their eyes were branded with pieces of iron and their hands and legs were cut off and they were left away in Harra till they died in that state of theirs. (See Hadith 234 Vol 1)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4192In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 232USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 505
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4192
This Ukl and Uraina hadith describes a severe event. Some people came to Madinah, spoke of Islam, and said they were people of livestock, not farmers. They found Madinah’s climate unsuitable. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered that they be given milch camels and a shepherd, and that they go out and drink from their milk and urine as medicine. When they reached Al-Harra, they reverted after Islam, killed the Prophet’s shepherd, and drove away the camels. The news reached the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and people were sent after them. The hadith then reports the punishment carried out on them. The explanation must stay with the text: it is about care first, then betrayal, murder, theft, pursuit, and punishment.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم provided camels and a shepherd when they complained of illness.
- The people then committed betrayal, murder, and theft according to the report.
- The response came after news of their actions reached the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The hadith describes a severe legal case and should not be reduced to one detail.
