39/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2167b — Wording Variants on Meeting People of the Book
The Prohibition Of Initiating The Greeting With The People Of The Book, And How To Respond To Them
Hadith Wording Variants About Meeting People of the Book
Sahih Muslim : 2167b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2167b
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ، بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَفِي حَدِيثِ وَكِيعٍ " إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الْيَهُودَ " . وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ قَالَ فِي أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ . وَفِي حَدِيثِ جَرِيرٍ " إِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ " . وَلَمْ يُسَمِّ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ .
Suhail Narrated from:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Suhail with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording. The hadith transmitted on the authority of Waki', the words are 'When you meet the Jews." And in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Shu'ba, the words are: 'When you meet the People of the Book." And in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Jarir the words are:" When you meet them," but none amongst the polytheists has been mentioned explicitly by name.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2167bIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 17USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5390
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2167b
This entry reports the same Hadith through Suhail with slight wording differences. One wording says when you meet the Jews. Another says People of the Book. Another says when you meet them. The narration also notes that none of the transmitters explicitly mentioned polytheists by name. The main value of this report is careful wording. It shows that the Hadith record preserves who was named in each version and who was not named. For people searching the do not initiate salam Hadith, this entry matters because it highlights the exact reported wording. The explanation should not merge all groups beyond what the narration itself says.
What we learn from this hadith
- Different transmitters reported slight wording differences.
- Some wordings mention Jews, while another mentions People of the Book.
- The narration notes that polytheists were not explicitly named.
