64/60. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4344 — Ease, Teamwork, and Avoiding Intoxicants
Sending Abu Musa and Mu'adh to Yemen
Hadith About Ease in Islam and Intoxicants
Sahih Bukhari : 4344
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4344
حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَدَّهُ أَبَا مُوسَى، وَمُعَاذًا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ " يَسِّرَا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرَا، وَبَشِّرَا وَلاَ تُنَفِّرَا، وَتَطَاوَعَا ". فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أَرْضَنَا بِهَا شَرَابٌ مِنَ الشَّعِيرِ الْمِزْرُ، وَشَرَابٌ مِنَ الْعَسَلِ الْبِتْعُ. فَقَالَ " كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ ". فَانْطَلَقَا فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ لأَبِي مُوسَى كَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ قَائِمًا وَقَاعِدًا وَعَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ وَأَتَفَوَّقُهُ تَفَوُّقًا. قَالَ أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَنَامُ وَأَقُومُ، فَأَحْتَسِبُ نَوْمَتِي كَمَا أَحْتَسِبُ قَوْمَتِي، وَضَرَبَ فُسْطَاطًا، فَجَعَلاَ يَتَزَاوَرَانِ، فَزَارَ مُعَاذٌ أَبَا مُوسَى، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مُوثَقٌ، فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى يَهُودِيٌّ أَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ ارْتَدَّ. فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ لأَضْرِبَنَّ عُنُقَهُ. تَابَعَهُ الْعَقَدِيُّ وَوَهْبٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ. وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ وَالنَّضْرُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. رَوَاهُ جَرِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ.
Abu Burda Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) sent his (i.e. Abu Burda's) grandfather, Abu Musa and Mu`adh to Yemen and said to both of them "Facilitate things for the people (Be kind and lenient) and do not make things difficult (for people), and give them good tidings, and do not repulse them and both of you should obey each other." Abu Musa said, "O Allah's Prophet! In our land there is an alcoholic drink (prepared) from barley called Al-Mizr, and another (prepared) from honey, called Al-Bit"' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "All intoxicants are prohibited."Then both of them proceeded and Mu`adh asked Abu Musa, "How do you recite the Qur'an?" Abu Musa replied, "I recite it while I am standing, sitting or riding my riding animals, at intervals and piecemeal." Mu`adh said, "But I sleep and then get up. I sleep and hope for Allah's Reward for my sleep as I seek His Reward for my night prayer." Then he (i.e. Mu`adh) pitched a tent and they started visiting each other.Once Mu`adh paid a visit to Abu Musa and saw a chained man. Mu`adh asked, "What is this?" Abu Musa said, "(He was) a Jew who embraced Islam and has now turned apostate." Mu`adh said, "I will surely chop off his neck!"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4344, 4345In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 372USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 632
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4344
This hadith brings together several clear teachings. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent Abu Musa and Mu'adh to Yemen and told them to make things easy, not hard; give good news, not repel people; and cooperate with each other. Abu Musa then asked about drinks known in their land: Al-Mizr from barley and Al-Bit' from honey. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered with the broad rule that all intoxicants are prohibited. The narration also mentions Qur'an recitation in different states and a balanced pattern of sleep and night prayer. So the main theme is ease in Islam, but the hadith also gives guidance on teamwork, lawful living, and steady worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ease and good news should shape the way people are guided.
- Workers in one mission should cooperate and obey each other in good.
- Every intoxicant is prohibited, whatever its local name or source.
- Worship can be steady and balanced, including recitation and night prayer.
