43/14. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2314a — Fulfilling Promises and Debts
His Generosity
Hadith About Keeping Promises and Debts
Sahih Muslim : 2314a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2314a
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ، بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، وَعَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ، بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَحَدُهُمَا يَزِيدُ عَلَى الآخَرِ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - قَالَ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَسَمِعْتُ أَيْضًا، عَمْرَو بْنَ دِينَارٍ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَزَادَ، أَحَدُهُمَا عَلَى الآخَرِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ قَدْ جَاءَنَا مَالُ الْبَحْرَيْنِ لَقَدْ أَعْطَيْتُكَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا " . وَقَالَ بِيَدَيْهِ جَمِيعًا فَقُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجِيءَ مَالُ الْبَحْرَيْنِ فَقَدِمَ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ بَعْدَهُ فَأَمَرَ مُنَادِيًا فَنَادَى مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِدَةٌ أَوْ دَيْنٌ فَلْيَأْتِ . فَقُمْتُ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْ قَدْ جَاءَنَا مَالُ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَعْطَيْتُكَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا " . فَحَثَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَرَّةً ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي عُدَّهَا . فَعَدَدْتُهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ خَمْسُمِائَةٍ فَقَالَ خُذْ مِثْلَيْهَا .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: In case we get wealth from Bahrain, I would give you so much and so much; he made an indication of it with both his hands. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) died before wealth from Bahrain came, and it fell to the lot of Abu Bakr after him. He commanded the announcer to make announcement to the effect that he to whom Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had held out promise or owed any debt should come (to him).I came and said: Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had said to me: In case there comes to us the wealth of Bahrain I shall give you so much, and so much. Abu Bakr took a handful (of the coins) and gave that to me once and asked me to count them I counted them as five hundred dinars and he said: Here is double of this for you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2314aIn-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 81USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 30, Hadith 5731
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2314a
This Hadith about keeping promises shows a clear example of trust after the death of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had promised Jabir that if wealth came from Bahrain, he would give him a generous amount. The wealth did not arrive during the Prophet's lifetime. Later, when it came to Abu Bakr, he announced that anyone who had a promise or debt owed by Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) should come forward. Jabir came and mentioned the promise. Abu Bakr gave him five hundred, then told him to take double of it. The main lesson is simple: a promise is not treated lightly, especially when it concerns someone's right. This Hadith also shows careful leadership, honesty with public wealth, and respect for what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had promised.
What we learn from this hadith
- Promises and debts should be taken seriously and fulfilled when possible.
- Abu Bakr showed care in honoring what Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had promised.
- A leader should protect people's rights and invite claims openly.
