93/43. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7205 — Allegiance According to Sunnah
How do the people give the Bai'a to the Imam
Hadith About Allegiance According to Allah and the Sunnah
Sahih Bukhari : 7205
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7205
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا بَايَعَ النَّاسُ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنِّي أُقِرُّ بِالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، عَلَى سُنَّةِ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ، فِيمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، وَإِنَّ بَنِيَّ قَدْ أَقَرُّوا بِذَلِكَ.
Abdullah ibn Dinar Narrated from:
When the people took the oath of allegiance to `Abdul Malik, `Abdullah bin `Umar wrote to him: "To Allah's Slave, `Abdul Malik, Chief of the believers, I give 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 in whatever is within my ability; and my sons too, give the same pledge."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7205In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 65USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 312
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7205
This hadith about allegiance according to Allah and the Sunnah reports another wording of Ibn Umar's letter to Abdul Malik. When the people gave allegiance to Abdul Malik, Ibn Umar wrote that he accepted listening and obedience to him as chief of the believers. He added that this was according to Allah's law and the tradition of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, in whatever was within his ability. He also stated that his sons had accepted the same. The wording is focused and careful. It shows a pledge connected to religious guidance and capacity, not to personal desire or pressure. The hadith is especially relevant for the topic of bay'ah and obedience within ability.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Umar connected allegiance with Allah's law and the Sunnah.
- The pledge was limited to what was within ability.
- The statement included listening and obedience.
- His sons also accepted the same pledge.
