64/37. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4194 — Power with Forgiveness at Dhi Qarad
Ghazwa Dhat-Qarad
وَهْيَ الْغَزْوَةُ الَّتِي أَغَارُوا عَلَى لِقَاحِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَبْلَ خَيْبَرَ بِثَلاَثٍ.
Dhi Qarad Hadith: Courage, Control, and Forgiveness
Sahih Bukhari : 4194
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4194
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمٌ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَلَمَةَ بْنَ الأَكْوَعِ، يَقُولُ خَرَجْتُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُؤَذَّنَ، بِالأُولَى، وَكَانَتْ لِقَاحُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَرْعَى بِذِي قَرَدٍ ـ قَالَ ـ فَلَقِيَنِي غُلاَمٌ لِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ فَقَالَ أُخِذَتْ لِقَاحُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ مَنْ أَخَذَهَا قَالَ غَطَفَانُ. قَالَ فَصَرَخْتُ ثَلاَثَ صَرَخَاتٍ ـ يَا صَبَاحَاهْ ـ قَالَ فَأَسْمَعْتُ مَا بَيْنَ لاَبَتَىِ الْمَدِينَةِ، ثُمَّ انْدَفَعْتُ عَلَى وَجْهِي حَتَّى أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذُوا يَسْتَقُونَ مِنَ الْمَاءِ، فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْمِيهِمْ بِنَبْلِي، وَكُنْتُ رَامِيًا، وَأَقُولُ أَنَا ابْنُ الأَكْوَعْ، الْيَوْمُ يَوْمُ الرُّضَّعْ. وَأَرْتَجِزُ حَتَّى اسْتَنْقَذْتُ اللِّقَاحَ مِنْهُمْ، وَاسْتَلَبْتُ مِنْهُمْ ثَلاَثِينَ بُرْدَةً، قَالَ وَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالنَّاسُ فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَدْ حَمَيْتُ الْقَوْمَ الْمَاءَ وَهُمْ عِطَاشٌ، فَابْعَثْ إِلَيْهِمُ السَّاعَةَ. فَقَالَ " يَا ابْنَ الأَكْوَعِ، مَلَكْتَ فَأَسْجِحْ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ رَجَعْنَا وَيُرْدِفُنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى نَاقَتِهِ حَتَّى دَخَلْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ.
Salama bin Al-Akwa` Narrated from:
Once I went (from Medina) towards (Al-Ghaba) before the first Adhan of the Fajr Prayer. The shecamels of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to graze at a place called Dhi-Qarad. A slave of `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf met me (on the way) and said, "The she-camels of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had been taken away by force." I asked, "Who had taken them?" He replied "(The people of) Ghatafan." I made three loud cries (to the people of Medina) saying, "O Sabahah!" I made the people between the two mountains of Medina hear me.Then I rushed onward and caught up with the robbers while they were watering the camels. I started throwing arrows at them as I was a good archer and I was saying, "I am the son of Al-Akwa`, and today will perish the wicked people." I kept on saying like that till I restored the shecamels (of the Prophet), I also snatched thirty Burda (i.e. garments) from them.Then the Prophet (ﷺ) and the other people came there, and I said, "O Allah's Prophet! I have stopped the people (of Ghatafan) from taking water and they are thirsty now. So send (some people) after them now." On that the Prophet said, "O the son of Al-Akwa`! You have over-powered them, so forgive them." Then we all came back and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) seated me behind him on his she-camel till we entered Medina.
[2] Yā Ṣabāhāh! : A call for help.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4194In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 234USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 507
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4194
This Dhi Qarad hadith shows both courage and restraint. Salama bin Al-Akwa‘ heard that the she-camels of Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم had been taken by force. He raised the alarm loudly, rushed after the raiders, and used his skill with arrows until he recovered the camels and took garments from them. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم arrived with the people, Salama said he had kept the raiders from water while they were thirsty and asked that people be sent after them. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, 'O son of Al-Akwa‘! You have over-powered them, so forgive them.' The hadith’s main lesson is not only bravery. It also teaches restraint after gaining the upper hand.
What we learn from this hadith
- Salama acted quickly when the Prophet’s camels were taken.
- He used his ability to recover what had been stolen.
- After gaining control, he was told by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to forgive.
- Strength in this hadith is joined with restraint, not endless pursuit.
