97/31. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7475 — Dream of the Well, Abu Bakr and Umar
(Allah’s) Wish and Will
وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ} وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ}. {وَلاَ تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ غَدًا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ}. {إِنَّكَ لاَ تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ}. قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ نَزَلَتْ فِي أَبِي طَالِبٍ. {يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ}.
Hadith About the Dream of the Well and Leadership
Sahih Bukhari : 7475
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7475
حَدَّثَنَا يَسَرَةُ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ جَمِيلٍ اللَّخْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ رَأَيْتُنِي عَلَى قَلِيبٍ فَنَزَعْتُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ أَنْزِعَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا ابْنُ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ فَنَزَعَ ذَنُوبًا أَوْ ذَنُوبَيْنِ وَفِي نَزْعِهِ ضَعْفٌ، وَاللَّهُ يَغْفِرُ لَهُ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا عُمَرُ فَاسْتَحَالَتْ غَرْبًا، فَلَمْ أَرَ عَبْقَرِيًّا مِنَ النَّاسِ يَفْرِي فَرِيَّهُ، حَتَّى ضَرَبَ النَّاسُ حَوْلَهُ بِعَطَنٍ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While I was sleeping, I saw myself (in a dream) standing by a well. I drew from it as much water as Allah wished me to draw, and then Ibn Quhafa (Abu Bakr) took the bucket from me and drew one or two buckets, and there was weakness in his drawing----may Allah forgive him! Then `Umar took the bucket which turned into something like a big drum. I had never seen a powerful man among the people working as perfectly and vigorously as he did. (He drew so much water that) the people drank to their satisfaction and watered their camels that knelt down there. (See Hadith No. 16, Vol. 5)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7475In-book reference : Book 97, Hadith 101USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 93, Hadith 567
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7475
This hadith about the dream of the well presents a striking scene from the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) sleep. He saw himself at a well, drawing water as much as Allah wished. Then Abu Bakr took the bucket and drew one or two buckets, with some weakness in his drawing, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “May Allah forgive him.” Then Umar took it, and the bucket became like a large drum. Umar drew with such strength that the people drank fully and watered their camels. The hadith uses the dream image of water, a bucket, Abu Bakr, and Umar. It points to service, strength, and benefit reaching people.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s dream showed benefit reaching people through leadership.
- Abu Bakr and Umar are mentioned with distinct actions in the dream.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) connected his own drawing to Allah’s will.
- Strength in service can bring wide benefit to people.
