37/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4073 — A Serious Threat Removes Abu Bakr's Anger
Mentioning the Different Reports From Al-A'mash in This Hadith
Anger, Loyalty, and Legal Limits in Abu Bakr's Example
Sunan an-Nasai : 4073
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4073
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْبَخْتَرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ، قَالَ مَرَرْتُ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَهُوَ مُتَغَيِّظٌ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا خَلِيفَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَنْ هَذَا الَّذِي تَغَيَّظُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ وَلِمَ تَسْأَلُ قُلْتُ أَضْرِبُ عُنُقَهُ . قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ لأَذْهَبَ عِظَمُ كَلِمَتِي غَضَبَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا كَانَتْ لأَحَدٍ بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Abu Barzah Narrated from:
I passed by Abu Bakr and he was furious with one of his companions. I said: 'O Khalifah of the Messenger of Allah, who is the one with whom you are furious?' He said: 'Why are you asking about him?' I said: 'I will strike his neck (kill him).' By Allah, the seriousness of what I said took away his anger. Then he said: 'That is not for anyone after Muhammad [SAW].'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4073In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 108English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4078
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4073
In this hadith, Abu Barzah passes by Abu Bakr while he is furious with one of his companions. When Abu Barzah offers to kill the man, the weight of the statement causes Abu Bakr's anger to disappear. Abu Bakr then says that such a thing was not for anyone after Muhammad. The report does not praise the offer. Its focus is Abu Bakr's rejection of it and his recognition that anger does not create a right to take life. It also warns that strong loyalty can become harmful when it crosses legal and moral limits. Personal conflict must not be treated as a capital matter.
What we learn from this hadith
- Personal anger does not make killing lawful.
- Abu Bakr rejected violent loyalty rather than accepting it.
- Leadership does not remove the need for legal limits.
- The narration distinguishes the Prophet's position from later rulers.
