64/58. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4339 — Accountability in Command
Sending Khalid bin Al-Walid to Banu Jadhima
Hadith About Accountability: The Incident of Banu Jadhima
Sahih Bukhari : 4339
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4339
حَدَّثَنِي مَحْمُودٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، وَحَدَّثَنِي نُعَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ إِلَى بَنِي جَذِيمَةَ، فَدَعَاهُمْ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ فَلَمْ يُحْسِنُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا. فَجَعَلُوا يَقُولُونَ صَبَأْنَا، صَبَأْنَا. فَجَعَلَ خَالِدٌ يَقْتُلُ مِنْهُمْ وَيَأْسِرُ، وَدَفَعَ إِلَى كُلِّ رَجُلٍ مِنَّا أَسِيرَهُ، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمٌ أَمَرَ خَالِدٌ أَنْ يَقْتُلَ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مِنَّا أَسِيرَهُ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَقْتُلُ أَسِيرِي، وَلاَ يَقْتُلُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي أَسِيرَهُ، حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرْنَاهُ، فَرَفَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَهُ فَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا صَنَعَ خَالِدٌ ". مَرَّتَيْنِ.
Narrated Salim's father: The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to the tribe of Jadhima and Khalid invited them to Islam but they could not express themselves by saying, "Aslamna (i.e. we have embraced Islam)," but they started saying "Saba'na! Saba'na (i.e. we have come out of one religion to another)." Khalid kept on killing (some of) them and taking (some of) them as captives and gave every one of us his Captive. When there came the day then Khalid ordered that each man (i.e. Muslim soldier) should kill his captive, I said, "By Allah, I will not kill my captive, and none of my companions will kill his captive." When we reached the Prophet, we mentioned to him the whole story. On that, the Prophet (ﷺ) raised both his hands and said twice, "O Allah! I am free from what Khalid has done."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4339In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 368USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 628
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4339
This Hadith about accountability tells the incident of Banu Jadhima. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to invite them to Islam. They could not express themselves clearly by saying Aslamna, and instead said Saba'na. Khalid killed some and took others captive. Later, he ordered each man to kill his captive. Salim's father refused, saying by Allah he would not kill his captive, and that none of his companions would kill theirs. When they returned and told the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم what had happened, he raised both hands and said twice, O Allah, I am free from what Khalid has done. The Hadith teaches that command decisions are accountable, unclear words must be handled carefully, and wrongful action is not approved simply because it happened under a commander.
What we learn from this hadith
- Unclear statements should not be rushed into harsh judgment.
- Salim's father refused to kill his captive.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم openly disavowed what Khalid had done.
- Commanders and soldiers are accountable for their actions.
