64/36. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4193 — Qasamah and the Uraina Narration
The story of (the tribes of) ‘Ukl and ‘Uraina
Qasamah Hadith: Consultation and the Narration of Uraina
Sahih Bukhari : 4193
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4193
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ أَبُو عُمَرَ الْحَوْضِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، وَالْحَجَّاجُ الصَّوَّافُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو رَجَاءٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ وَكَانَ مَعَهُ بِالشَّأْمِ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، اسْتَشَارَ النَّاسَ يَوْمًا قَالَ مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي هَذِهِ الْقَسَامَةِ فَقَالُوا حَقٌّ، قَضَى بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَضَتْ بِهَا الْخُلَفَاءُ، قَبْلَكَ. قَالَ وَأَبُو قِلاَبَةَ خَلْفَ سَرِيرِهِ فَقَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ فَأَيْنَ حَدِيثُ أَنَسٍ فِي الْعُرَنِيِّينَ قَالَ أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ إِيَّاىَ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ. قَالَ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ صُهَيْبٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ. وَقَالَ أَبُو قِلاَبَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ مِنْ عُكْلٍ. ذَكَرَ الْقِصَّةَ.
Abu Raja' Narrated from:
`Umar bin `Abdul `Aziz consulted the people saying, "What do you think of Qasama." They said, "'It is a right (judgment) which Allah's Apostle and the Caliphs before you acted on." Abu Qilaba was behind `Umar's bed. 'Anbasa bin Sa`id said, But what about the narration concerning the people of `Uraina?" Abu Qilaba said, "Anas bin Malik narrated it to me," and then narrated the whole story.
[1] If somebody is murdered somewhere and the people of that area deny the murder and of knowing about the murderer, then fifty of them should take an oath to confirm their claim, and if they take such an oath " Qasama ," then the government pays the blood-money to the relatives of the deceased person.(1) The Prophet ﷺ did not ask the people of 'Uraina to take an oath concerning the murder of the shepherd, but he killed them. [See H. No. 4192]Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4193In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 233USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 506
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4193
This Qasamah hadith is about consultation and narration. Umar bin Abdul Aziz asked people what they said about Qasamah. They answered that it was a right judgment, acted on by Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and the caliphs before him. Abu Qilabah was behind his bed, and Anbasah bin Sa‘id brought up the narration about the people of Uraina. Abu Qilabah replied that Anas bin Malik had narrated it to him, then he mentioned the whole story. The text does not give a full ruling here, so the explanation should not go beyond it. The main point is that serious legal questions were discussed with reference to reports from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and known practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- Umar bin Abdul Aziz consulted others before speaking about Qasamah.
- The people answered by referring to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and earlier caliphs.
- Abu Qilabah cited Anas bin Malik as his source for the Uraina story.
- Legal discussion in the narration is tied to transmitted reports, not guesswork.
