6/47. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 817a — Allah Raises People by the Qur'an
The virtue of one who acts in accordance with the Qur’an and teaches it. And the virtue of one who learns wisdom from Fiqh or other types of knowledge, then acts upon it and teaches it
Allah Raises People by the Qur'an: A Hadith on Honor and Knowledge
Sahih Muslim : 817a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 817a
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ وَاثِلَةَ، أَنَّ نَافِعَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْحَارِثِ، لَقِيَ عُمَرَ بِعُسْفَانَ وَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَسْتَعْمِلُهُ عَلَى مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ مَنِ اسْتَعْمَلْتَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْوَادِي فَقَالَ ابْنَ أَبْزَى . قَالَ وَمَنِ ابْنُ أَبْزَى قَالَ مَوْلًى مِنْ مَوَالِينَا . قَالَ فَاسْتَخْلَفْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَوْلًى قَالَ إِنَّهُ قَارِئٌ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَإِنَّهُ عَالِمٌ بِالْفَرَائِضِ . قَالَ عُمَرُ أَمَا إِنَّ نَبِيَّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْفَعُ بِهَذَا الْكِتَابِ أَقْوَامًا وَيَضَعُ بِهِ آخَرِينَ " .
Amir b. Wathila Narrated from:
Nafi' b. 'Abd al-Harith met 'Umar at 'Usfan and 'Umar had employed him as collector in Mecca. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said to him (Nafi'): Whom have you appointed as collector over the people of the valley? He said: Ibn Abza. He said: Who is Ibn Abza? He said: He is one of our freed slaves. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: So you have appointed a freed slave over them. He said: He is well versed In the Book of Allah. the Exalted and Great, and he is well versed In the commandments and injunctions (of the Shari'ah). 'Umar said: So the Prophet (ﷺ) said: By this Book, Allah would exalt some peoples and degrade others.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 817aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 325USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1780
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 817a
This hadith about Allah raising people by the Qur'an is shown through a real question about leadership. 'Umar asked Nafi' whom he had appointed over the people of the valley. Nafi' answered that he appointed Ibn Abza, a freed slave. When 'Umar asked about that choice, Nafi' explained that Ibn Abza was well versed in the Book of Allah and knew the commandments and injunctions. 'Umar then quoted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: by this Book, Allah exalts some people and degrades others. The Hadith does not make family line or social rank the main point. It makes knowledge of Allah's Book and religious understanding a reason for honor and responsibility. It is a clear reminder that the Qur'an raises people when they carry it with knowledge.
What we learn from this hadith
- Knowledge of Allah's Book can make a person worthy of trust.
- Social status is not the main measure in this narration.
- 'Umar accepted the value of Qur'anic knowledge in leadership.
- The Qur'an is described as a means by which Allah raises some people and lowers others.
