64/69. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4368 — Four Commands Given to Abdul Qais
The delegation of ‘Abdul-Qais
Abdul Qais Hadith: Four Commands and Four Prohibitions
Sahih Bukhari : 4368
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4368
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ الْعَقَدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا قُرَّةُ، عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ، قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ إِنَّ لِي جَرَّةً يُنْتَبَذُ لِي نَبِيذٌ، فَأَشْرَبُهُ حُلْوًا فِي جَرٍّ إِنْ أَكْثَرْتُ مِنْهُ، فَجَالَسْتُ الْقَوْمَ، فَأَطَلْتُ الْجُلُوسَ خَشِيتُ أَنْ أَفْتَضِحَ فَقَالَ قَدِمَ وَفْدُ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَرْحَبًا بِالْقَوْمِ غَيْرَ خَزَايَا وَلاَ النَّدَامَى ". فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِنْ مُضَرَ، وَإِنَّا لاَ نَصِلُ إِلَيْكَ إِلاَّ فِي أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ، حَدِّثْنَا بِجُمَلٍ مِنَ الأَمْرِ، إِنْ عَمِلْنَا بِهِ دَخَلْنَا الْجَنَّةَ، وَنَدْعُو بِهِ مَنْ وَرَاءَنَا. قَالَ " آمُرُكُمْ بِأَرْبَعٍ، وَأَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ أَرْبَعٍ، الإِيمَانِ بِاللَّهِ، هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا الإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَإِقَامُ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ وَصَوْمُ رَمَضَانَ، وَأَنْ تُعْطُوا مِنَ الْمَغَانِمِ الْخُمُسَ، وَأَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ أَرْبَعٍ مَا انْتُبِذَ فِي الدُّبَّاءِ، وَالنَّقِيرِ، وَالْحَنْتَمِ، وَالْمُزَفَّتِ ".
Abu Jamra Narrated from:
I said to Ibn `Abbas, "I have an earthenware pot containing Nabidh (i.e. water and dates or grapes) for me, and I drink of it while it is sweet. If I drink much of it and stay with the people for a long time, I get afraid that they may discover it (for I will appear as if I were drunk).Ibn `Abbas said, "A delegation of `Abdul Qais came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he said, "Welcome, O people! Neither will you have disgrace nor will you regret." They said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! There are the Mudar pagans between you and us, so we cannot come to you except in the sacred Months. So please teach us some orders on acting upon which we will enter Paradise. Besides, we will preach that to our people who are behind us."The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I order you to do four things and forbid you from four things (I order you): To believe in Allah...Do you know what is to believe in Allah? That is to testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah: (I order you also to offer prayers perfectly to pay Zakat; and to fast the month of Ramadan and to give the Khumus (i.e. one-fifth of the booty) (for Allah's Sake). I forbid you from four other things (i.e. the wine that is prepared in) Ad-Dubba, An-Naquir, Az-Hantam and Al-Muzaffat. (See Hadith No. 50 Vol. 1)
[1] See Iqāmat-as-Ṣalāt in the glossary.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4368In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 394USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 654
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4368
This Hadith presents the well-known delegation of Abdul Qais and the Prophet's clear teaching to them. Abu Jamra first asks Ibn Abbas about nabidh that is still sweet but may cause concern if he drinks too much and sits long with people. Ibn Abbas then narrates the coming of Abdul Qais. They could only reach the Prophet during the sacred months because the Mudar pagans were between them and Madinah. They asked for clear commands they could act upon and teach their people. The Prophet ordered them to believe in Allah, explained it with the testimony, and mentioned prayer, Zakat, fasting Ramadan, and giving one-fifth of war booty. He also forbade four vessels linked in the text with wine preparation. The core message is learning faith, practicing it, and carrying it back to others.
What we learn from this hadith
- The delegation asked for teachings they could practice and share.
- The Prophet explained belief in Allah with the testimony of faith.
- The Hadith mentions prayer, Zakat, Ramadan fasting, and Khumus.
- The Prophet forbade four vessels connected in the text with wine preparation.
