54/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2887a — Leave the Sword During Turmoil
Onset Of Tribulations Like Rainfall
Hadith About Leaving Conflict During Fitnah
Sahih Muslim : 2887a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2887a
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ، فُضَيْلُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ، الشَّحَّامُ قَالَ انْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَفَرْقَدٌ السَّبَخِيُّ، إِلَى مُسْلِمِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ وَهُوَ فِي أَرْضِهِ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا هَلْ سَمِعْتَ أَبَاكَ يُحَدِّثُ فِي الْفِتَنِ حَدِيثًا قَالَ نَعَمْ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا بَكْرَةَ يُحَدِّثُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُ فِتَنٌ أَلاَ ثُمَّ تَكُونُ فِتْنَةٌ الْقَاعِدُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمَاشِي فِيهَا وَالْمَاشِي فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ السَّاعِي إِلَيْهَا أَلاَ فَإِذَا نَزَلَتْ أَوْ وَقَعَتْ فَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ إِبِلٌ فَلْيَلْحَقْ بِإِبِلِهِ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ غَنَمٌ فَلْيَلْحَقْ بِغَنَمِهِ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ أَرْضٌ فَلْيَلْحَقْ بِأَرْضِهِ " . قَالَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ إِبِلٌ وَلاَ غَنَمٌ وَلاَ أَرْضٌ قَالَ " يَعْمِدُ إِلَى سَيْفِهِ فَيَدُقُّ عَلَى حَدِّهِ بِحَجَرٍ ثُمَّ لْيَنْجُ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعَ النَّجَاءَ اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ " . قَالَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أُكْرِهْتُ حَتَّى يُنْطَلَقَ بِي إِلَى أَحَدِ الصَّفَّيْنِ أَوْ إِحْدَى الْفِئَتَيْنِ فَضَرَبَنِي رَجُلٌ بِسَيْفِهِ أَوْ يَجِيءُ سَهْمٌ فَيَقْتُلُنِي قَالَ " يَبُوءُ بِإِثْمِهِ وَإِثْمِكَ وَيَكُونُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ " .
Abu Bakra Narrated from:
Abu Bakra reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There would soon be turmoil. Behold! there would be turmoil in which the one who would be seated would be better than one who would stand and the one who would stand would be better than one who would run. Behold! when the turmoil comes or it appears, the one who has camel should stick to his camel and he who has sheep or goat should stick to his sheep and goat and he who has land should stick to the land.A person said: 'Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion about one who has neither camel nor sheep nor land? Thereupon, he said: He should take hold of his sword and beat its edge with the help of stone and then try to find a way of escape. O Allah, I have conveyed (Thy Message); O Allah, I have conveyed (Thy Message); O Allah, I have conveyed (Thy Message).A person said: Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion if I am drawn to a rank in spite of myself, or in one of the groups and made to march and a man strikes with his sword or there comes an arrow and kills me? Thereupon he said: He will bear the punishment of his sin and that of yours and he would be one amongst the denizens of Hell.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2887aIn-book reference : Book 54, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 41, Hadith 6896
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2887a
This hadith about fitnah gives direct advice for a time of turmoil. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the seated person is better than the one who walks, and the walker is better than the one who runs toward it. Then he gave practical examples: the one with camels should stay with his camels, the one with sheep or goats should stay with them, and the one with land should stay with the land. When asked about someone with none of these, he said to damage the edge of his sword with a stone and try to escape if possible. The hadith strongly points away from armed involvement in such turmoil. It also shows the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم clearly conveyed this warning.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should avoid rushing into turmoil when it appears.
- Ordinary work and distance from conflict can be a safer path.
- The sword is not to be used in the turmoil described here.
- Escaping harm is encouraged when escape is possible.
