64/51. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4294 — Ibn Abbas Explains Surah Nasr
Chapter
Surah Nasr Hadith: Ibn Abbas and the Meaning of Allah’s Help and Victory
Sahih Bukhari : 4294
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4294
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ عُمَرُ يُدْخِلُنِي مَعَ أَشْيَاخِ بَدْرٍ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِمَ تُدْخِلُ هَذَا الْفَتَى مَعَنَا، وَلَنَا أَبْنَاءٌ مِثْلُهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ مِمَّنْ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ. قَالَ فَدَعَاهُمْ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ، وَدَعَانِي مَعَهُمْ قَالَ وَمَا رُئِيتُهُ دَعَانِي يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلاَّ لِيُرِيَهُمْ مِنِّي فَقَالَ مَا تَقُولُونَ {إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ * وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ} حَتَّى خَتَمَ السُّورَةَ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ أُمِرْنَا أَنْ نَحْمَدَ اللَّهَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرَهُ، إِذَا نُصِرْنَا وَفُتِحَ عَلَيْنَا. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ نَدْرِي. أَوْ لَمْ يَقُلْ بَعْضُهُمْ شَيْئًا. فَقَالَ لِي يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ أَكَذَاكَ تَقُولُ قُلْتُ لاَ. قَالَ فَمَا تَقُولُ قُلْتُ هُوَ أَجَلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَعْلَمَهُ اللَّهُ لَهُ {إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ} فَتْحُ مَكَّةَ، فَذَاكَ عَلاَمَةُ أَجَلِكَ {فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا} قَالَ عُمَرُ مَا أَعْلَمُ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ مَا تَعْلَمُ.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
`Umar used to admit me (into his house) along with the old men who had fought in the Badr battle. Some of them said (to `Umar), "Why do you allow this young man to enter with us, while we have sons of his own age? " `Umar said, "You know what person he is." One day `Umar called them and called me along with them, I had thought he called me on that day to show them something about me (i.e. my knowledge). `Umar asked them, "What do you say about (the Sura):"When comes the help of Allah and the Conquest (of Mecca) And you see mankind entering the Religion of Allah (i.e. Islam) in crowds. 'So celebrate the Praises Of your Lord and ask for His forgiveness, Truly, He is the One Who accepts repentance and forgives." (110.1-3)Some of them replied, "We are ordered to praise Allah and repent to Him if we are helped and granted victory." Some said, "We do not know." Others kept quiet. `Umar then said to me, "Do you say similarly?" I said, "No." `Umar said "What do you say then?" I said, "This Verse indicates the approaching of the death of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) of which Allah informed him. When comes the help of Allah and the Conquest, i.e. the Conquest of Mecca, that will be the sign of your Prophet's) approaching death, so testify the uniqueness of your Lord (i.e. Allah) and praise Him and repent to Him as He is ready to forgive." On that, `Umar said, "I do not know about it anything other than what you know."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4294In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 327USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 588
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4294
This Surah Nasr hadith shows the knowledge of Ibn Abbas and the way ‘Umar recognized it. ‘Umar used to bring Ibn Abbas with elders who had fought at Badr. Some wondered why this young man was included. Then ‘Umar asked them about the Surah that begins with Allah’s help and the conquest. Some said it ordered praise and seeking forgiveness when help and victory came. Ibn Abbas gave a deeper answer from the text. He said it pointed to the approaching death of Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, and that the conquest of Makkah was the sign. The Surah then commands glorifying Allah, praising Him, and seeking His forgiveness. ‘Umar said he knew from it what Ibn Abbas knew. The hadith teaches insight, humility, and the link between victory and repentance.
What we learn from this hadith
- Victory should lead to praise of Allah and seeking forgiveness.
- Ibn Abbas understood a deeper meaning in Surah Nasr.
- ‘Umar valued knowledge even when it came from a young person.
- The Conquest of Makkah is linked in this report with Surah Nasr.
