36/10. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3962 — Avoiding Division and Violence
Standing firm during times of tribulation
Hadith About Fitnah and Division: Put Down the Sword
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3962
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3962
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، - أَوْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ زَيْدِ بْنِ جُدْعَانَ شَكَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ - عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَسْلَمَةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " إِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُ فِتْنَةٌ وَفُرْقَةٌ وَاخْتِلاَفٌ فَإِذَا كَانَ كَذَلِكَ فَأْتِ بِسَيْفِكَ أُحُدًا فَاضْرِبْهُ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ ثُمَّ اجْلِسْ فِي بَيْتِكَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَكَ يَدٌ خَاطِئَةٌ أَوْ مَنِيَّةٌ قَاضِيَةٌ " . فَقَدْ وَقَعَتْ وَفَعَلْتُ مَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ .
Abu Burda Narrated from:
I entered upon Muhammad bin Maslamah and he said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘There will be tribulation, division and dissension. When that comes, take your sword to Uhud and strike it until it breaks, then sit in your house until there comes to you the hand of the evildoer (to kill you) or a predestined (natural) death.’” "And that came to pass, and I did as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3962In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 37English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 3962
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3962
This hadith about fitnah speaks about a time of tribulation, division, and disagreement. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gives a very strong image: take the sword to Uhud and strike it until it breaks. The point in this narration is not to join the violence when the situation becomes confused and divided. Muhammad bin Maslamah says that the event came to pass and he did what the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم told him. The hadith teaches that when fighting and division spread, safety for religion may come through stepping back, staying home, and refusing to become part of wrongful bloodshed. The wording also reminds us that a person may face harm from an evildoer or meet a natural death, but should still avoid sinful violence.
What we learn from this hadith
- When tribulation brings division, a Muslim should not rush into violent conflict.
- Breaking the sword in this narration shows a serious choice to avoid bloodshed.
- Staying away from fitnah can be a form of protecting one’s religion.
- The hadith points to patience even when harm may come from others.
