32/28. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1776a — Prophet Did Not Retreat
The Battle of Hunain
Hadith About the Prophet Not Retreating at Hunain
Sahih Muslim : 1776a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1776a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِلْبَرَاءِ يَا أَبَا عُمَارَةَ أَفَرَرْتُمْ يَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا وَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَكِنَّهُ خَرَجَ شُبَّانُ أَصْحَابِهِ وَأَخِفَّاؤُهُمْ حُسَّرًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِمْ سِلاَحٌ أَوْ كَثِيرُ سِلاَحٍ فَلَقُوا قَوْمًا رُمَاةً لاَ يَكَادُ يَسْقُطُ لَهُمْ سَهْمٌ جَمْعَ هَوَازِنَ وَبَنِي نَصْرٍ فَرَشَقُوهُمْ رَشْقًا مَا يَكَادُونَ يُخْطِئُونَ فَأَقْبَلُوا هُنَاكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى بَغْلَتِهِ الْبَيْضَاءِ وَأَبُو سُفْيَانَ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ يَقُودُ بِهِ فَنَزَلَ فَاسْتَنْصَرَ وَقَالَ " أَنَا النَّبِيُّ لاَ كَذِبْ أَنَا ابْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبْ " . ثُمَّ صَفَّهُمْ .
Abu Ishaq Narrated from:
A man asked Bara' (b. 'Azib): Did you run away on the Day of Hunain. O, Abu Umira? He said: No, by Allah, The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not turn his back; (what actually happened was that) some young men from among his companions, who were hasty and who were either without any arms or did not have abundant arms, advanced and met a party of archers (who were so good shots) that their arrows never missed the mark.This party (of archers) belonged to Banu Hawazin and Banu Nadir. They shot at the advancing young men and their arrows were not likely to miss their targets. So these young men turned to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) while he was riding on his white mule and Abu Sufyan b. al-Harith b. 'Abd al-Muttalib was leading him. (At this) he got down from his mule, invoked God's help, and called out: I am the Prophet. This is no untruth. I am the son of 'Abd al-Muttalib. Then he deployed his men into battle array.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1776aIn-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 97USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 19, Hadith 4388
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1776a
This hadith about the Prophet not retreating at Hunain answers a direct question: did they run away on the Day of Hunain? Bara' says no, by Allah, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not turn his back. He explains that some young Companions, lightly armed or unarmed, faced skilled archers from Hawazin and Banu Nadir. Their arrows struck hard, so the young men returned toward the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). He was on his white mule, then he got down, sought Allah’s help, declared his prophethood, and arranged the people in battle order. The key message is the Prophet’s courage and leadership during confusion.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not turn away from the battlefield.
- Some fighters fell back after facing strong archers.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) sought Allah’s help before arranging the ranks.
- Leadership can be shown clearly during moments of fear.
