64/44. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4261 — Commanders at Mu'tah
The expedition of Mu`tah to the land of Syria
Battle of Mu'tah Hadith: Leadership, Succession, and Sacrifice
Sahih Bukhari : 4261
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4261
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ أَمَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةِ مُوتَةَ زَيْدَ بْنَ حَارِثَةَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنْ قُتِلَ زَيْدٌ فَجَعْفَرٌ، وَإِنْ قُتِلَ جَعْفَرٌ فَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ ". قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ كُنْتُ فِيهِمْ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ فَالْتَمَسْنَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَوَجَدْنَاهُ فِي الْقَتْلَى، وَوَجَدْنَا مَا فِي جَسَدِهِ بِضْعًا وَتِسْعِينَ مِنْ طَعْنَةٍ وَرَمْيَةٍ.
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) appointed Zaid bin Haritha as the commander of the army during the Ghazwa of Mu'tah and said, If Zaid is martyred, Ja`far should take over his position, and if Ja`far is martyred, `Abdullah bin Rawaha should take over his position.' " `Abdulla-h bin `Umar further said, "I was present amongst them in that battle and we searched for Ja`far bin Abi Talib and found his body amongst the bodies of the martyred ones, and found over ninety wounds over his body, caused by stabs or shots (of arrows).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4261In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 295USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 560
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4261
This Battle of Mu'tah hadith focuses on clear leadership and sacrifice. Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم appointed Zaid bin Haritha as the commander. He then gave a clear order for what should happen if Zaid was killed: Ja'far should take his place. If Ja'far was killed, Abdullah bin Rawaha should take over. The narration then tells us that Ibn Umar was present in that battle. He and others searched for Ja'far bin Abi Talib and found him among the martyrs with more than ninety wounds from stabs and arrows. The hadith about Mu'tah teaches that leadership should be clear before pressure comes. It also shows how Ja'far met severe harm in battle and remained linked with sacrifice.
What we learn from this hadith
- Clear leadership helps people know what to do during a hard situation.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم named a line of command before the battle.
- Ja'far's many wounds show the heavy cost he faced at Mu'tah.
