36/10. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3958 — Stay Away From Killing During Fitnah
Standing firm during times of tribulation
Hadith About Avoiding Killing During Fitnah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3958
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3958
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْجَوْنِيِّ، عَنِ الْمُشَعَّثِ بْنِ طَرِيفٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " كَيْفَ أَنْتَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ وَمَوْتًا يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يُقَوَّمَ الْبَيْتُ بِالْوَصِيفِ " . يَعْنِي الْقَبْرَ قُلْتُ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ - أَوْ قَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ - قَالَ " تَصَبَّرْ " . قَالَ " كَيْفَ أَنْتَ وَجُوعًا يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ مَسْجِدَكَ فَلاَ تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ وَلاَ تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ فِرَاشِكَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ أَوْ - مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ - قَالَ " عَلَيْكَ بِالْعِفَّةِ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ " كَيْفَ أَنْتَ وَقَتْلاً يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى تُغْرَقَ حِجَارَةُ الزَّيْتِ بِالدَّمِ " . قُلْتُ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ . قَالَ " الْحَقْ بِمَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ آخُذُ بِسَيْفِي فَأَضْرِبَ بِهِ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ " شَارَكْتَ الْقَوْمَ إِذًا وَلَكِنِ ادْخُلْ بَيْتَكَ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ دُخِلَ بَيْتِي قَالَ " إِنْ خَشِيتَ أَنْ يَبْهَرَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ طَرَفَ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ فَيَبُوءَ بِإِثْمِهِ وَإِثْمِكَ فَيَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ " .
Abu Dharr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “What will you do, O Abu Dharr, when death overwhelms the people to such an extent that a grave will be equal in value to a slave?” I said: “Whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me, or Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said “Be patient.”He said: ‘What will you do when famine strikes the people so that you will go to the place where you pray and will not be able to return to your bed, or you will not be able to get up from your bed to go to the place where you pray?” He said: “I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best, or whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me.” He said: “You must refrain from forbidden things.”He said: “What will you do when killing befalls the people so that Hijaratuz-Zait* is covered with blood?” I said: “Whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me.” He said: “Stay with those whom you belong to.” He said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should I not take my sword and strike those who do that?’” He said: “Then you will be just like the people. Rather enter your house.”I said: “O Messenger of Allah, what if they enter my house?” He said: “If you are afraid that the flashing of the sword will dazzle you, then put the edge of your garment over your face, and let him carry his own sin and your sin, and he will be one of the people of the Hellfire.”
[1] A place at Harrah, in Al-Madinah.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3958In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 33English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 3958
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3958
This Hadith is a detailed personal advice to Abu Dharr, and people may search it as hadith stay in your house during fitnah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked what he would do when death, famine, and killing overtake people. In response to death, he said, “Be patient.” In response to famine, he said, “You must refrain from forbidden things.” When killing spreads, Abu Dharr asked if he should take his sword and strike those involved. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that would make him like the people, and told him to enter his house. The narration is about avoiding participation in widespread killing. It teaches patience, restraint, and staying away from actions that join a violent fitnah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Patience is advised when death overwhelms people.
- Refraining from forbidden things is advised during famine.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told Abu Dharr not to join the killing.
- Staying away from violent fitnah is a clear message of the Hadith.
