65/2.5. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4479 — Changing Allah’s Command: The Children of Israel
"And (remember) when We said: Enter this town (Jerusalem) and eat bountifully therein with pleasure and delight wherever you wish..." (V.2:58)
رَغَدًا: وَاسِعٌ كَثِيرٌ
Hadith About Obedience and the Children of Israel
Sahih Bukhari : 4479
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4479
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قِيلَ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ {ادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ} فَدَخَلُوا يَزْحَفُونَ عَلَى أَسْتَاهِهِمْ، فَبَدَّلُوا وَقَالُوا حِطَّةٌ، حَبَّةٌ فِي شَعَرَةٍ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It was said to the children of Israel, 'Enter the gate (of the town), prostrate (in humility) and say: Hittatun (i.e. repentance) i.e. O Allah! Forgive our sins.' But they entered by dragging themselves on their buttocks, so they did something different (from what they had been ordered to do) and said, 'Hittatun,' but added, "A grain in a hair."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4479In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 6USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 6
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4479
This hadith tells of a command given to the Children of Israel. They were told to enter the gate in prostration and say “Hittatun,” meaning a request for forgiveness. But they entered in a different manner, dragging themselves on their buttocks, and changed the wording by adding a phrase about a grain in a hair. The main lesson is about obedience to Allah’s command as it is given. A hadith about Hittatun and the Children of Israel should stay close to the text: the issue mentioned is changing both action and wording. It warns against treating a command lightly or replacing humility with mockery or distortion.
What we learn from this hadith
- They were commanded to enter with humility and seek forgiveness.
- The hadith says they changed what they were ordered to do.
- The narration warns against altering commanded words and actions.
