65/63.4. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4903 — Hypocrisy, Denial, and Forgiveness
"And when you look at them, their bodies please you, and when they speak, you listen to their words." (V.63:4)
Hadith About Hypocrisy, Denial, and Turning Away from Forgiveness
Sahih Bukhari : 4903
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4903
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زَيْدَ بْنَ أَرْقَمَ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَفَرٍ أَصَابَ النَّاسَ فِيهِ شِدَّةٌ، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ لأَصْحَابِهِ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَنْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِهِ. وَقَالَ لَئِنْ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الأَذَلَّ. فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ فَسَأَلَهُ، فَاجْتَهَدَ يَمِينَهُ مَا فَعَلَ، قَالُوا كَذَبَ زَيْدٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي مِمَّا قَالُوا شِدَّةٌ، حَتَّى أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ تَصْدِيقِي فِي {إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ} فَدَعَاهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيَسْتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ فَلَوَّوْا رُءُوسَهُمْ. وَقَوْلُهُ {خُشُبٌ مُسَنَّدَةٌ} قَالَ كَانُوا رِجَالاً أَجْمَلَ شَىْءٍ.
Zaid bin Arqam Narrated from:
We went out with the Prophet (ﷺ) : on a journey and the people suffered from lack of provisions. So `Abdullah bin Ubai said to his companions, "Don't spend on those who are with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), that they may disperse and go away from him." He also said, "If we return to Medina, surely, the more honorable will expel therefrom the meaner. So I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and informed him of that.He sent for `Abdullah bin Ubai and asked him, but `Abdullah bin Ubai swore that he did not say so. The people said, "Zaid told a lie to 'Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)." What they said distressed me very much.Later Allah revealed the confirmation of my statement in his saying:-- '(When the hypocrites come to you.' (63.1)So the Prophet (ﷺ) called them that they might ask Allah to forgive them, but they turned their heads aside. (Concerning Allah's saying: 'Pieces of wood propped up,' Zaid said; They were the most handsome men.)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4903In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 423USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 426
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4903
This Hadith about hypocrisy gives more detail about the event. The Muslims were on a journey and faced shortage of provisions. Abdullah bin Ubai told his companions not to spend on those with Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم so they would leave him. Zaid informed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, but Abdullah bin Ubai denied it with a strong oath. People then said Zaid had lied, and that caused him great pain. Allah later revealed verses confirming Zaid’s report. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم called the accused people so they could ask Allah for forgiveness, but they turned their heads away. The Hadith points to the danger of harmful speech, false denial, and refusing a chance to seek forgiveness.
What we learn from this hadith
- Using money or support to harm believers is shown as blameworthy in the report.
- False denial can cause pain to truthful people.
- Turning away when invited to seek forgiveness is a serious sign.
