44/47. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2522e — Prophetic Correction of Tribal Pride
The Virtues Of Ghifar, Aslam, Juhainah, Ashja', Muzainah, Tamim, Daws and Tayy'
Hadith About Prophetic Correction of Tribal Pride
Sahih Muslim : 2522e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2522e
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ جُهَيْنَةُ وَأَسْلَمُ وَغِفَارُ خَيْرًا مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ وَبَنِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ غَطَفَانَ وَعَامِرِ بْنِ صَعْصَعَةَ " . وَمَدَّ بِهَا صَوْتَهُ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَابُوا وَخَسِرُوا . قَالَ " فَإِنَّهُمْ خَيْرٌ " . وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي كُرَيْبٍ " أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ جُهَيْنَةُ وَمُزَيْنَةُ وَأَسْلَمُ وَغِفَارُ " .
Abu Bakra Narrated from:
Abu Bakra reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: What is your view if Juhaina, Aslam, Ghifar were better than Banu Tamim, Banu 'Abdullah b. Ghatfan and 'Amir b. Sa'sa'a' respectively (then what would be status of the latter one)? He said this in a loud voice. They said: Allah's Messenger, they would be definitely at a loss and disadvantage. Thereupon he said: They (the first group) are decidedly better than the others; and in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Abu Kuraib the words are: It you were to find that Juhaina, Muzaina and Aslam and Ghifar (are better than...).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2522eIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 277USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6130
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2522e
This hadith about tribal pride records the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asking the people what they would think if Juhaina, Aslam, and Ghifar were better than Banu Tamim, Banu Abdullah b. Ghatfan, and Amir b. Sa'sa'a. He raised his voice, and the people replied that the latter would be at loss and disadvantage. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said that the first group was indeed better. Another wording includes Juhaina, Muzaina, Aslam, and Ghifar. The explanation should stay close to the text: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected the way people ranked tribes. He did not leave honor to public reputation alone. This hadith also shows how a strong question can help people accept a truth they may not have expected.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used a question to correct tribal assumptions.
- The narration names specific tribes and does not make a general tribal rule.
- People's reply shows they understood the weight of being better in this context.
