32/6. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1742a — Ask Allah for Safety
It is disliked to wish to meet the enemy, and the command to be steadfast when meeting the enemy
Ask Allah for Safety Hadith: Patience and Dua When Facing the Enemy
Sahih Muslim : 1742a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1742a
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مُوسَى، بْنُ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، عَنْ كِتَابِ، رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَالُ لَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي أَوْفَى فَكَتَبَ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ حِينَ سَارَ إِلَى الْحَرُورِيَّةِ يُخْبِرُهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ فِي بَعْضِ أَيَّامِهِ الَّتِي لَقِيَ فِيهَا الْعَدُوَّ يَنْتَظِرُ حَتَّى إِذَا مَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَامَ فِيهِمْ فَقَالَ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لاَ تَتَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ الْعَافِيَةَ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ ظِلاَلِ السُّيُوفِ " . ثُمَّ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُجْرِيَ السَّحَابِ وَهَازِمَ الأَحْزَابِ اهْزِمْهُمْ وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ " .
Abu Nadr Narrated from:
It is narrated by Abu Nadr that he learnt from a letter sent by a man from the Aslam tribe, who was a Companion of the Prophet (ﷺ) and whose name was 'Abdullah b. Abu Aufa, to 'Umar b. 'Ubaidullah when the latter marched upon Haruriyya (Khawarij) informing him that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in one of those days when he was confronting the enemy waited until the sun had declined.Then he stood up (to address the people) and said: O ye men, do not wish for an encounter with the enemy. Pray to Allah to grant you security; (but) when you (have to) encounter them exercise patience, and you should know that Paradise is under the shadows of the swords. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up (again) and said: O Allah. Revealer of the Book, Disperser of the clouds, Defeater of the hordes, put our enemy to rout and help us against them.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1742aIn-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 19, Hadith 4314
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1742a
This Hadith about asking Allah for safety gives a fuller teaching on facing danger. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم waited until the sun declined, then addressed the people. He told them not to wish for an encounter with the enemy. Instead, they should ask Allah to grant them security. If they had to meet the enemy, they were told to exercise patience. The Hadith also says that Paradise is under the shadows of the swords, in this battle setting. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made dua, calling upon Allah as the Revealer of the Book, the Disperser of the clouds, and the Defeater of the hordes, asking for help against the enemy.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not wish for battle; ask Allah for safety.
- If a real encounter happens, patience is required.
- Dua and reliance on Allah are shown in the Prophet's words.
