1/6. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 17b — Clear Command for Faith
The command to believe in Allah and His Messenger (saws) and the laws of Islam, calling people to it, asking about it, memorizing it and conveying it to those who have not heard the message
Abdul Qais Delegation Hadith: Faith, Prayer, Zakat and Ramadan
Sahih Muslim : 17b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 17b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، وَأَلْفَاظُهُمْ، مُتَقَارِبَةٌ - قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، - عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أُتَرْجِمُ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَبَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَأَتَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ تَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ نَبِيذِ الْجَرِّ، فَقَالَ إِنَّ وَفْدَ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ أَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنِ الْوَفْدُ أَوْ مَنِ الْقَوْمُ " . قَالُوا رَبِيعَةُ . قَالَ " مَرْحَبًا بِالْقَوْمِ أَوْ بِالْوَفْدِ غَيْرَ خَزَايَا وَلاَ النَّدَامَى " . قَالَ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا نَأْتِيكَ مِنْ شُقَّةٍ بَعِيدَةٍ وَإِنَّ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ هَذَا الْحَىَّ مِنْ كُفَّارِ مُضَرَ وَإِنَّا لاَ نَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ نَأْتِيَكَ إِلاَّ فِي شَهْرِ الْحَرَامِ فَمُرْنَا بِأَمْرٍ فَصْلٍ نُخْبِرْ بِهِ مَنْ وَرَاءَنَا نَدْخُلُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ . قَالَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ أَرْبَعٍ . قَالَ أَمَرَهُمْ بِالإِيمَانِ بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ . وَقَالَ " هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا الإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ " . قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ " شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامُ الصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ وَصَوْمُ رَمَضَانَ وَأَنْ تُؤَدُّوا خُمُسًا مِنَ الْمَغْنَمِ " . وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنِ الدُّبَّاءِ وَالْحَنْتَمِ وَالْمُزَفَّتِ . قَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ النَّقِيرِ . قَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ الْمُقَيَّرِ . وَقَالَ " احْفَظُوهُ وَأَخْبِرُوا بِهِ مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ " . وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ " مَنْ وَرَاءَكُمْ " وَلَيْسَ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ الْمُقَيَّرِ .
Abu Jamra reported: I was an interpreter between Ibn Abbas and the people, that a woman happened to come there and asked about nabidh or the pitcher of wine. He replied: A delegation of the people of 'Abdul-Qais came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He (the Holy Prophet) asked the delegation or the people (of the delegation about their identity). They replied that they belonged to the tribe of Rabi'a. He (the Holy Prophet) welcomed the people or the delegation which were neither humiliated nor put to shame. They (the members of the delegation) said: Messenger of Allah, we come to you from a far-off distance and there lives between you and us a tribe of the unbelievers of Mudar and, therefore, it is not possible for us to come to you except in the sacred months. Thus direct us to a clear command, about which we should inform people beside us and by which we may enter heaven. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: I command you to do four deeds and forbid you to do four (acts), and added: I direct you to affirm belief in Allah alone, and then asked them: Do you know what belief in Allah really implies? They said: Allah and His Messenger know best. The Prophet said: It implies testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, fast of Ramadan, that you pay one-fifth of the booty (fallen to your lot) and I forbid you to use gourd, wine jar, or a receptacle for wine. Shu'ba sometimes narrated the word naqir (wooden pot) and sometimes narrated it as muqayyar. The Prophet also said: Keep it in your mind and inform those who have been left behind.
[1] The word used here is Al-Jarr or, earthenware vessel, a general term which some of them say Al-Hantam belongs to. [1] They say that it is another name for Al-Muqayyar , see the previous narration.Reference : Sahih Muslim 17bIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 24USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 23
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 17b
This Abdul Qais delegation hadith gives a clear command for a people who could only visit during the sacred months. They asked for a decisive teaching to share with those behind them and by which they hoped to enter Paradise. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم directed them to believe in Allah alone, then explained that belief as testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, paying zakat, fasting Ramadan, and giving one-fifth from booty. He also forbade several vessels used for drinks and told them to keep the teaching in mind and inform those behind them. The Hadith joins learning, action, and sharing knowledge.
What we learn from this hadith
- The delegation wanted clear guidance they could teach to others.
- Belief in Allah is explained through testimony and key acts of worship.
- Prayer, zakat, Ramadan fasting, and khums are named in the command.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them to remember the teaching and pass it on.
