64/61. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4349 — Giving Companions a Choice
Sending 'Ali and Khalid ﵄ to Yemen
Hadith About Leadership and Giving Choice
Sahih Bukhari : 4349
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4349
حَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُرَيْحُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ. بَعَثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ، قَالَ ثُمَّ بَعَثَ عَلِيًّا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مَكَانَهُ فَقَالَ مُرْ أَصْحَابَ خَالِدٍ، مَنْ شَاءَ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُعَقِّبَ مَعَكَ فَلْيُعَقِّبْ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُقْبِلْ. فَكُنْتُ فِيمَنْ عَقَّبَ مَعَهُ، قَالَ فَغَنِمْتُ أَوَاقٍ ذَوَاتِ عَدَدٍ.
Al-Bara Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent us to Yemen along with Khalid bin Al-Walid. Later on he sent `Ali bin Abi Talib in his place. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to `Ali, "Give Khalid's companions the choice of either staying with you (in Yemen) or returning to Medina." I was one of those who stayed with him (i.e. `Ali) and got several Awaq (of gold from the war booty.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4349In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 376USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 636
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4349
This hadith about leadership shows a simple but important decision. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم first sent the group to Yemen with Khalid bin Al-Walid. Later, he sent Ali bin Abi Talib in his place and told him to give Khalid's companions a choice: whoever wanted to stay with Ali could stay, and whoever wanted to return could return. Al-Bara chose to stay and later received several Awaq from the war booty. The core topic is leadership in Islam because the hadith shows order, replacement of command, and a choice given to the people involved. The narration does not add more details, so the explanation stays with that clear point.
What we learn from this hadith
- Leadership can include giving people a clear and fair choice.
- A command change was handled with direct instruction.
- Al-Bara chose to stay with Ali after the option was given.
- The narration mentions war booty without adding further rulings here.
