64/87. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4469 — The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Defended Usama’s Command
The dispatch of Usama bin Zaid ﵄ by the Prophet (saws) during his fatal illness
Hadith About Usama bin Zaid’s Command and Leadership
Sahih Bukhari : 4469
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4469
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ بَعْثًا وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ، فَطَعَنَ النَّاسُ فِي إِمَارَتِهِ، فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " إِنْ تَطْعُنُوا فِي إِمَارَتِهِ فَقَدْ كُنْتُمْ تَطْعُنُونَ فِي إِمَارَةِ أَبِيهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ، وَايْمُ اللَّهِ إِنْ كَانَ لَخَلِيقًا لِلإِمَارَةِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ لَمِنْ أَحَبِّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ، وَإِنَّ هَذَا لَمِنْ أَحَبِّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ بَعْدَهُ ".
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent troops appointed Usama bin Zaid as their commander. The people criticized his leadership. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got up and said, "If you (people) are criticizing his (i.e. Usama's) leadership you used to criticize the leadership of his father before. By Allah, he (i.e. Zaid) deserved the leadership indeed, and he used to be one of the most beloved persons to me, and now this (i.e. his son, Usama) is one of the most beloved persons to me after him."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4469In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 484USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 745
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4469
This hadith gives a fuller account of criticism against Usama bin Zaid’s leadership. Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم sent troops and appointed Usama as commander. When people criticized his command, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stood up and reminded them that they had also criticized the leadership of his father before. He then said that Zaid deserved leadership and was among the most beloved people to him. He also said that Usama was among the most beloved people to him after Zaid. For anyone searching Usama bin Zaid commander hadith, the main lesson is to judge leadership with fairness and not speak against someone without proper cause mentioned in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم appointed Usama bin Zaid as commander.
- He reminded the people that Zaid had also been criticized before.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم affirmed love for both Zaid and Usama.
