51/0. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2779c — People of Aqaba
Characteristics of The Hypocrites And Rulings Concerning Them
Hadith About the People of Aqaba and Hidden Enmity
Sahih Muslim : 2779c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2779c
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الْكُوفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ جُمَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ، قَالَ كَانَ بَيْنَ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعَقَبَةِ وَبَيْنَ حُذَيْفَةَ بَعْضُ مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَّهِ كَمْ كَانَ أَصْحَابُ الْعَقَبَةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْقَوْمُ أَخْبِرْهُ إِذْ سَأَلَكَ قَالَ كُنَّا نُخْبَرُ أَنَّهُمْ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ مِنْهُمْ فَقَدْ كَانَ الْقَوْمُ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ وَأَشْهَدُ بِاللَّهِ أَنَّ اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ مِنْهُمْ حَرْبٌ لِلَّهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الأَشْهَادُ وَعَذَرَ ثَلاَثَةً قَالُوا مَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ عَلِمْنَا بِمَا أَرَادَ الْقَوْمُ . وَقَدْ كَانَ فِي حَرَّةٍ فَمَشَى فَقَالَ " إِنَّ الْمَاءَ قَلِيلٌ فَلاَ يَسْبِقُنِي إِلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ " . فَوَجَدَ قَوْمًا قَدْ سَبَقُوهُ فَلَعَنَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ .
Abu Tufail reported that there was a dispute between Hudhaifa and one from the people of Aqaba as it happens amongst people. He said: I adjure you by Allah to tell me as to how many people from Aqaba were. The people said to him (Hudhaifa) to inform him as he had asked. We have been informed that they were fourteen and If you are to be counted amongst them, then they would be fifteen and I state by Allah that twelve amongst them were the enemies of Allah and of His Messenger (ﷺ) in this world. The rest of the three put forward this excuse: We did not hear the announcement of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and we were not aware of the intention of the people as he (the Holy Prophet) had been in the hot atmosphere. He (the Holy Prophet) then said: The water is small in quantity (at the next station). So nobody should go ahead of me, but he found people who had gone ahead of him and he cursed them on that day.
[1] Al-'Aqabah - what is mentioned here is not Al-'Aqabah located in Minâ, where the Muslims from Al-Madīnah swore allegiance ( Bay'ah ) to the Prophet prior to the Hijrah ; rather refers to Al-'Aqabah which was on the road to Tabūk, and was a place where the hypocrites gathered to plot their betrayal against the Prophet ﷺ at Tabūk.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2779cIn-book reference : Book 51, Hadith 14USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 38, Hadith 6690
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2779c
This Hadith reports a dispute involving Hudhaifa and a man from the people of Aqaba. When asked how many the people of Aqaba were, Hudhaifa said they had been informed that they were fourteen; if the man was counted among them, they were fifteen. He then swore that twelve of them were enemies of Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم in this world and on the Day witnesses stand. Three were excused because they said they had not heard the Prophet’s caller and did not know what the others intended. The report also mentions that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the water was little and no one should go ahead of him, but some did, and he cursed them that day.
What we learn from this hadith
- Hidden enmity against Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is treated seriously.
- The narration distinguishes twelve from three who gave an excuse.
- Not knowing or not hearing is mentioned as a stated excuse for three.
- Going ahead after the Prophet’s instruction led to blame in this report.
