64/54. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4321 — Proof and Spoils in Battle
“…and on the day of Hunain when you rejoiced at your great number….”
Hadith About Battle Spoils and Proof in Islam
Sahih Bukhari : 4321
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4321
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ كَثِيرِ بْنِ أَفْلَحَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَامَ حُنَيْنٍ، فَلَمَّا الْتَقَيْنَا كَانَتْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ جَوْلَةٌ، فَرَأَيْتُ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، قَدْ عَلاَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَضَرَبْتُهُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ عَلَى حَبْلِ عَاتِقِهِ بِالسَّيْفِ، فَقَطَعْتُ الدِّرْعَ، وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَىَّ فَضَمَّنِي ضَمَّةً وَجَدْتُ مِنْهَا رِيحَ الْمَوْتِ، ثُمَّ أَدْرَكَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَأَرْسَلَنِي، فَلَحِقْتُ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ مَا بَالُ النَّاسِ قَالَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. ثُمَّ رَجَعُوا وَجَلَسَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَنْ قَتَلَ قَتِيلاً لَهُ عَلَيْهِ بَيِّنَةٌ فَلَهُ سَلَبُهُ ". فَقُلْتُ مَنْ يَشْهَدُ لِي ثُمَّ جَلَسْتُ ـ قَالَ ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ فَقُمْتُ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ يَشْهَدُ لِي ثُمَّ جَلَسْتُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ، فَقُمْتُ فَقَالَ " مَالَكَ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ ". فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ. فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ صَدَقَ وَسَلَبُهُ عِنْدِي، فَأَرْضِهِ مِنِّي. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لاَهَا اللَّهِ، إِذًا لاَ يَعْمِدُ إِلَى أَسَدٍ مِنْ أُسْدِ اللَّهِ يُقَاتِلُ عَنِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيُعْطِيَكَ سَلَبَهُ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " صَدَقَ فَأَعْطِهِ ". فَأَعْطَانِيهِ فَابْتَعْتُ بِهِ مَخْرَفًا فِي بَنِي سَلِمَةَ، فَإِنَّهُ لأَوَّلُ مَالٍ تَأَثَّلْتُهُ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ.
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
We set out along with the Prophet (ﷺ) during the year of (the battle of) Hunain, and when we faced the enemy, the Muslims (with the exception of the Prophet (ﷺ) and some of his companions) retreated (before the enemy). I saw one of the pagans over-powering one of the Muslims, so I struck the pagan from behind his neck causing his armor to be cut off. The pagan headed towards me and pressed me so forcibly that I felt as if I was dying. Then death took him over and he released me. Afterwards I followed `Umar and said to him, "What is wrong with the people?" He said, "It is the Order of Allah."Then the Muslims returned (to the battle after the flight) and (after overcoming the enemy) the Prophet sat and said, "Whoever had killed an Infidel and has an evidence to this issue, will have the Salb (i.e. the belonging of the deceased e.g. clothes, arms, horse, etc)." I (stood up) and said, "Who will be my witness?" and then sat down. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) repeated his question. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said the same (for the third time).I got up and said, "Who will be my witness?" and then sat down. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked his former question again. So I got up. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, What is the matter, O Abu Qatada?" So I narrated the whole story; A man said, "Abu Qatada has spoken the truth, and the Salb of the deceased is with me, so please compensate Abu Qatada on my behalf."Abu Bakr said, "No! By Allah, it will never happen that the Prophet (ﷺ) will leave a Lion of Allah who fights for the Sake of Allah and His Apostle and give his spoils to you." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Abu Bakr has spoken the truth. Give it (the spoils) back to him (O man)!" So he gave it to me and I bought a garden in (the land of) Banu Salama with it (i.e. the spoils) and that was the first property I got after embracing Islam.
[1] i.e., why have they fled?Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4321In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 351USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 610
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4321
This Hadith about battle spoils teaches fairness, evidence, and giving people their due rights. Abu Qatada fought during Hunain and killed an enemy combatant who had attacked a Muslim. After the battle, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم announced that whoever killed an enemy and had proof would receive the belongings of the one he killed. Abu Qatada needed a witness, and the matter was brought before the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. When another man admitted that the spoils were with him, Abu Bakr spoke in support of Abu Qatada. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم accepted the truth and ordered that the spoils be returned. The Hadith shows that even in a tense setting, claims were not handled by emotion alone. Evidence, testimony, and fair judgment mattered.
What we learn from this hadith
- A claim should be supported with proof or witness.
- Bravery in defending a Muslim was recognized in this event.
- Rights should be returned to their proper owner.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم judged the matter after hearing the facts.
