44/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2386a — Go to Abu Bakr
The Virtues Of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA)
Go to Abu Bakr Hadith: A Clear Direction
Sahih Muslim : 2386a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2386a
حَدَّثَنِي عَبَّادُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ، بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، سَأَلَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَيْئًا فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ جِئْتُ فَلَمْ أَجِدْكَ قَالَ أَبِي كَأَنَّهَا تَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ . قَالَ " فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدِينِي فَأْتِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ " . وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، جُبَيْرَ بْنَ مُطْعِمٍ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ امْرَأَةً أَتَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَكَلَّمَتْهُ فِي شَىْءٍ فَأَمَرَهَا بِأَمْرٍ . بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ عَبَّادِ بْنِ مُوسَى .
Muhammad b. Jubair b. Mut'im reported on the authority of his father that a woman asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about something but lit, told her to come to him on some other occasion, whereupon she said: What in your opinion (should I do) if I come to you but do not find you, and it seemed as if she meant that he might die. Thereupon he said: If you do not find me, then come to Abu Bakr. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Jubair b. Mut'im through another chain of transmitters (and the words are) that a woman came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and discussed with him something and he gave a command as we find in the above-mentioned narration.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2386a, bIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 5878
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2386a
This hadith records a woman coming to Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم to ask about something. He told her to return to him on another occasion. She then asked what she should do if she came and did not find him. The narrator says it seemed as if she meant his death. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered: if she did not find him, she should come to Abu Bakr. The narration is brief, but the direction is clear. It points to Abu Bakr as the person she should turn to in that case. The text does not tell us the exact issue she asked about, so the explanation should stay with the command given in the narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم directed the woman to Abu Bakr if she did not find him.
- The narration shows Abu Bakr's trusted place in that situation.
- The exact matter the woman asked about is not detailed in the text.
- A careful explanation should avoid adding details not mentioned.
