84/5. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6713 — Mudd of the Prophet
The Sa' of Al-Madina, and the Mudd of the Prophet (saws)
وَمُدِّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَبَرَكَتِهِ وَمَا تَوَارَثَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَرْنًا بَعْدَ قَرْنٍ.
Mudd of the Prophet: Measuring Zakat al-Fitr and Expiation
Sahih Bukhari : 6713
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6713
حَدَّثَنَا مُنْذِرُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ الْجَارُودِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قُتَيْبَةَ ـ وَهْوَ سَلْمٌ ـ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يُعْطِي زَكَاةَ رَمَضَانَ بِمُدِّ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمُدِّ الأَوَّلِ، وَفِي كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ بِمُدِّ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ أَبُو قُتَيْبَةَ قَالَ لَنَا مَالِكٌ مُدُّنَا أَعْظَمُ مِنْ مُدِّكُمْ وَلاَ نَرَى الْفَضْلَ إِلاَّ فِي مُدِّ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. وَقَالَ لِي مَالِكٌ لَوْ جَاءَكُمْ أَمِيرٌ فَضَرَبَ مُدًّا أَصْغَرَ مِنْ مُدِّ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كُنْتُمْ تُعْطُونَ قُلْتُ كُنَّا نُعْطِي بِمُدِّ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ أَفَلاَ تَرَى أَنَّ الأَمْرَ إِنَّمَا يَعُودُ إِلَى مُدِّ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Nafi Narrated from:
Ibn `Umar used to give the Zakat of Ramadan (Zakat-al-Fitr) according to the Mudd of the Prophet, the first Mudd, and he also used to give things for expiation for oaths according to the Mudd of the Prophet. Abu Qutaiba said, "Malik said to us, 'Our Mudd (i.e., of Medina) is better than yours and we do not see any superiority except in the Mudd of the Prophet!'Malik further said, to me, 'If a ruler came to you and fixed a Mudd smaller than the one of the Prophet, by what Mudd would you measure what you give (for expiation or Zakat-al-Fitr?' I replied, 'We would give it according to the Mudd of the Prophet' On that, Malik said, 'Then, don't you see that we have to revert to the Mudd of the Prophet ultimately?'"
[1] The other Mudd is that used by Hishām, and it was bigger than that of the Prophet ﷺ.(2) Mālik asserts that the Mudd of the Prophet ﷺ should be used because he invoked for Allāh's Blessings in it, and so it is superior to any other Mudd even if it were bigger in size.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6713In-book reference : Book 84, Hadith 6USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 79, Hadith 704
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6713
This hadith explains the importance of the Mudd of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in giving Zakat of Ramadan and in expiation for oaths. Nafi reported that Ibn Umar used to give Zakat al-Fitr according to the Prophet’s Mudd, described here as the first Mudd. He also used the same measure when giving for oath expiation. Malik then explained that even if a ruler fixed a smaller Mudd, the final reference should return to the Mudd of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. For people searching about Zakat al-Fitr measurement or kaffarah measurement, this narration shows a clear concern for following the Prophetic measure rather than changing it for convenience.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Umar used the Prophet’s Mudd for Zakat al-Fitr.
- The same Prophetic measure was used for expiation for oaths.
- The narration gives weight to the original Prophetic measure.
- Religious giving should be measured with care and trust.
