25/5. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1637a — The Thursday Event and Final Instructions
Not Making A Will For One Who Has Nothing To Be Bequeathed
Hadith About the Thursday Event: Final Advice and Proper Respect
Sahih Muslim : 1637a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1637a
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِسَعِيدٍ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَحْوَلِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يَوْمُ الْخَمِيسِ وَمَا يَوْمُ الْخَمِيسِ ثُمَّ بَكَى حَتَّى بَلَّ دَمْعُهُ الْحَصَى . فَقُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ وَمَا يَوْمُ الْخَمِيسِ قَالَ اشْتَدَّ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَجَعُهُ . فَقَالَ " ائْتُونِي أَكْتُبْ لَكُمْ كِتَابًا لاَ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدِي " . فَتَنَازَعُوا وَمَا يَنْبَغِي عِنْدَ نَبِيٍّ تَنَازُعٌ . وَقَالُوا مَا شَأْنُهُ أَهَجَرَ اسْتَفْهِمُوهُ . قَالَ " دَعُونِي فَالَّذِي أَنَا فِيهِ خَيْرٌ أُوصِيكُمْ بِثَلاَثٍ أَخْرِجُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِنْ جَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَأَجِيزُوا الْوَفْدَ بِنَحْوِ مَا كُنْتُ أُجِيزُهُمْ " . قَالَ وَسَكَتَ عَنِ الثَّالِثَةِ أَوْ قَالَهَا فَأُنْسِيتُهَا . قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Thursday, (and then said): What is this Thursday? He then wept so much that his tears moistened the pebbles. I said: Ibn 'Abbas, what is (significant) about Thursday? He (Ibn 'Abbas) said: The illness of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) took a serious turn (on this day), and he said: Come to me, so that I should write for you a document that you may not go astray after me.They (the Companions around him) disputed, and it is not meet to dispute in the presence of the Apostle. They said: How is lie (Allah's Apostle)? Has he lost his consciousness? Try to learn from him (this point). He (the Holy Prophet) said: Leave me. I am better in the state (than the one in which you are engaged). I make a will about three things: Turn out the polytheists from the territory of Arabia; show hospitality to the (foreign) delegations as I used to show them hospitality. He (the narrator) said: He (Ibn Abbas) kept silent on the third point, or he (the narrator) said: But I forgot that.This hadith was mentioned through another chain.
[1] That is, some of them thought that it was better that he not be bothered with that, due to the strain on his condition, while others thought that it should be considered an order from him. Then some of them asked the others whether they thought that there was something wrong with him; maybe they thought he was delirious, and that is why they did not want him to write? And then they told them that rather, they should listen to what he is saying and try to understand it. See Minnat Al-Mun'im .Reference : Sahih Muslim 1637aIn-book reference : Book 25, Hadith 29USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 13, Hadith 4014
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1637a
This hadith about the Thursday event shows Ibn Abbas remembering a painful moment with tears. The illness of Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) became severe, and he asked for writing material so a document could be written for them. The people present disputed, and the narration says dispute was not fitting in the presence of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). He then told them to leave him, saying his state was better than what they were engaged in. He gave advice about three matters. Two are mentioned clearly: turn out the polytheists from the territory of Arabia, and show hospitality to delegations as he used to do. The third was either not spoken by the narrator or was forgotten. The explanation must not fill that gap with guesses.
What we learn from this hadith
- Dispute in the Prophet’s presence is shown as improper in this report.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) cared about guidance for the community.
- Two instructions are clearly preserved in the text.
- Where the narrator was silent or forgot, we should not invent the missing point.
