37/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4075 — Abu Bakr Calms Down and Rejects the Offer
Mentioning the Different Reports From Al-A'mash in This Hadith
How Abu Bakr Responded to Anger and a Violent Offer
Sunan an-Nasai : 4075
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4075
أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ الأَشْعَرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنِ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ، قَالَ غَضِبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى رَجُلٍ غَضَبًا شَدِيدًا حَتَّى تَغَيَّرَ لَوْنُهُ قُلْتُ يَا خَلِيفَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَمَرْتَنِي لأَضْرِبَنَّ عُنُقَهُ فَكَأَنَّمَا صُبَّ عَلَيْهِ مَاءٌ بَارِدٌ فَذَهَبَ غَضَبُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ . قَالَ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ أَبَا بَرْزَةَ وَإِنَّهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ لأَحَدٍ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ هَذَا خَطَأٌ وَالصَّوَابُ أَبُو نَصْرٍ وَاسْمُهُ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ خَالَفَهُ شُعْبَةُ .
Abu Barzah Narrated from:
Abu Bakr got very angry with a man, so much so that his color changed. I said: 'O Khalifah of the Messenger of Allah, if you tell me to, I will strike his neck (kill him).' It was as if cold water had been poured on him and he became calm. He said: 'May your mother be bereft of you, Abu Barzah! That is not for anyone after the Messenger of Allah [SAW].'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4075In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 110English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4080
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4075
This hadith gives a vivid picture of Abu Bakr's anger: his color changed because he was so upset. Abu Barzah offered to strike the man's neck if ordered. The offer had the opposite effect from what might be expected. It was as though cold water had been poured over Abu Bakr, and his anger disappeared. He strongly corrected Abu Barzah and said that such authority was not for anyone after the Messenger of Allah. The narration teaches that severe anger should be interrupted, not fed. It also shows Abu Bakr refusing to use his leadership or personal feelings as a reason to take a life.
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.
