32/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1730a — Invitation Before Fighting
Permissibility of raiding the Kuffar, who have been reached with the call of Islam, without giving prior warning
Hadith About Invitation Before Fighting in Islam
Sahih Muslim : 1730a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1730a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمُ بْنُ أَخْضَرَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى نَافِعٍ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الدُّعَاءِ، قَبْلَ الْقِتَالِ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَىَّ إِنَّمَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي أَوَّلِ الإِسْلاَمِ قَدْ أَغَارَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ وَهُمْ غَارُّونَ وَأَنْعَامُهُمْ تُسْقَى عَلَى الْمَاءِ فَقَتَلَ مُقَاتِلَتَهُمْ وَسَبَى سَبْيَهُمْ وَأَصَابَ يَوْمَئِذٍ - قَالَ يَحْيَى أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ - جُوَيْرِيَةَ - أَوْ قَالَ الْبَتَّةَ - ابْنَةَ الْحَارِثِ وَحَدَّثَنِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ وَكَانَ فِي ذَاكَ الْجَيْشِ.
Ibn 'Aun Narrated from:
I wrote to Nafi' inquiring from him whether it was necessary to extend (to the disbelievers) an invitation to accept (Islam) before meeting them in fight. He wrote (in reply) to me that it was necessary in the early days of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made a raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water. He killed those who fought and imprisoned others. On that very day, he captured Juwairiya bint al-Harith. Nafi' said that this tradition was related to him by Abdullah b. Umar who (himself) was among the raiding troops.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1730aIn-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 19, Hadith 4292
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1730a
Core topic: Battle Invitation. This narration records a question sent to Nafi' about whether an invitation to accept Islam was necessary before meeting enemies in battle. Nafi' replied that this was necessary in the early days of Islam. He then mentioned the raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were unaware and their cattle were drinking at the water. The report says those who fought were killed, others were imprisoned, and Juwairiya bint al-Harith was captured that day. It also notes that Abdullah b. Umar related the tradition and was among the troops. For readers searching for hadith about invitation before fighting, the key is to present the narration carefully and not add claims beyond what it states.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration discusses the question of invitation before fighting.
- Nafi' described that requirement as linked to the early days of Islam.
- The report mentions Banu Mustaliq being unaware at the time of the raid.
- The narrator identifies Abdullah b. Umar as part of the army.
