93/43. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7203 — Pledge Within Ability
How do the people give the Bai'a to the Imam
Hadith About Political Allegiance Within Ability
Sahih Bukhari : 7203
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7203
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ حَيْثُ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عَلَى عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ ـ قَالَ ـ كَتَبَ إِنِّي أُقِرُّ بِالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ لِعَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى سُنَّةِ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، وَإِنَّ بَنِيَّ قَدْ أَقَرُّوا بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ.
Abdullah ibn Dinar Narrated from:
I witnessed Ibn `Umar when the people gathered around `Abdul Malik. Ibn `Umar wrote: I gave the Pledge of allegiance that I will listen to and obey Allah's Slave, `Abdul Malik, Chief of the believers according to Allah's Laws and the Traditions of His Apostle as much as I can; and my sons too, give the same pledge.'
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7203In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 63USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 310
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7203
This hadith about political allegiance reports what Ibn Umar wrote when people gathered around Abdul Malik. He stated that he accepted listening and obedience to Abdul Malik, the chief of the believers, according to Allah's law and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, as much as he could. He also wrote that his sons had accepted the same. The wording is careful. It connects obedience with Allah's law, the Sunnah, and personal ability. The hadith is not a long legal discussion. It is a written statement of allegiance that shows how Ibn Umar framed obedience: not as personal praise, but as a pledge tied to religious guidance and capacity.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Umar wrote his pledge in clear terms.
- The pledge was tied to Allah's law and the Sunnah.
- He included the phrase as much as I can.
- His sons were also included in the same pledge.
