36/3. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3937 — Whoever Plunders Is Not One of Us
The prohibition of plunder
Hadith About Plunder Not Being from the Prophet’s Way
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3937
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3937
حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ الْحُصَيْنِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " مَنِ انْتَهَبَ نُهْبَةً فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا " .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever plunders is not one of us.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3937In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 12English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 3937
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3937
This hadith about plunder is a short narration from ‘Imran bin Husain. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Whoever plunders is not one of us.” The wording is even shorter than the narration that mentions open plunder, but the meaning is direct. Plunder means taking by force or grabbing what is not rightfully taken. The hadith does not give exceptions or a story in this version, so the explanation should not add one. It teaches that plunder is not part of the conduct linked with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). For readers searching for the hadith on plunder in Islam, this report gives a plain moral line: do not join in taking property through plunder.
What we learn from this hadith
- Plunder is clearly warned against in this narration.
- The phrase “not one of us” distances the act from the Prophet’s way.
- The hadith protects property from forceful taking.
- The short wording makes the message easy to remember and act on.
