96/2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7275 — Follow the Prophet and Abu Bakr
Following the Sunna of the Prophet (saws)
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا} قَالَ أَيِمَّةً نَقْتَدِي بِمَنْ قَبْلَنَا، وَيَقْتَدِي بِنَا مَنْ بَعْدَنَا. وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَوْنٍ ثَلاَثٌ أُحِبُّهُنَّ لِنَفْسِي وَلإِخْوَانِي هَذِهِ السُّنَّةُ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمُوهَا وَيَسْأَلُوا عَنْهَا، وَالْقُرْآنُ أَنْ يَتَفَهَّمُوهُ وَيَسْأَلُوا عَنْهُ، وَيَدَعُوا النَّاسَ إِلاَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ.
Hadith About Following the Example of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and Abu Bakr
Sahih Bukhari : 7275
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7275
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ وَاصِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ جَلَسْتُ إِلَى شَيْبَةَ فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ جَلَسَ إِلَىَّ عُمَرُ فِي مَجْلِسِكَ هَذَا فَقَالَ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ لاَ أَدَعَ فِيهَا صَفْرَاءَ وَلاَ بَيْضَاءَ إِلاَّ قَسَمْتُهَا بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. قُلْتُ مَا أَنْتَ بِفَاعِلٍ. قَالَ لِمَ. قُلْتُ لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ صَاحِبَاكَ قَالَ هُمَا الْمَرْآنِ يُقْتَدَى بِهِمَا.
Abu Wail Narrated from:
I sat with Shaiba in this Mosque (Al-Masjid-Al-Haram), and he said, "`Umar once sat beside me here as you are now sitting, and said, 'I feel like distributing all the gold and silver that are in it (i.e., the Ka`ba) among the Muslims'. I said, 'You cannot do that.' `Umar said, 'Why?' I said, 'Your two (previous) companions (the Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr) did not do it. `Umar said, 'They are the two persons whom one must follow.'" (See Hadith No. 664, Vol. 2)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7275In-book reference : Book 96, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 92, Hadith 380
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7275
This Hadith shows how Umar measured his actions by the example of those before him. He thought about distributing the gold and silver in the Ka'bah among the Muslims. Shaiba told him that he would not do it because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and Abu Bakr had not done it. Umar accepted this and said that those two were the persons to be followed. For people searching for a hadith about following the Sunnah, this narration gives a strong practical example. Umar did not act only on a personal idea, even though it seemed connected to benefit. He looked at the path of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and Abu Bakr. The lesson is careful restraint when earlier guidance is clear.
What we learn from this hadith
- Good intentions should still be weighed by the Prophet’s example.
- Umar respected the practice of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and Abu Bakr.
- Not every idea should be acted upon when a better precedent exists.
- Following trusted guidance protects religious decisions.
