44/81. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4647 — Truthful Witness
It Is Not Essential To Call Witnesses When Buying Or Selling
Hadith About Truthful Witness: Khuzaimah and the Horse Sale
Sunan an-Nasai : 4647
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4647
أَخْبَرَنَا الْهَيْثَمُ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ الْهَيْثَمِ بْنِ عِمْرَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ حَمْزَةَ - عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، أَنَّ الزُّهْرِيَّ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ خُزَيْمَةَ، أَنَّ عَمَّهُ، حَدَّثَهُ - وَهُوَ، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ابْتَاعَ فَرَسًا مِنْ أَعْرَابِيٍّ وَاسْتَتْبَعَهُ لِيَقْبِضَ ثَمَنَ فَرَسِهِ فَأَسْرَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبْطَأَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ وَطَفِقَ الرِّجَالُ يَتَعَرَّضُونَ لِلأَعْرَابِيِّ فَيَسُومُونَهُ بِالْفَرَسِ وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ابْتَاعَهُ حَتَّى زَادَ بَعْضُهُمْ فِي السَّوْمِ عَلَى مَا ابْتَاعَهُ بِهِ مِنْهُ فَنَادَى الأَعْرَابِيُّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُبْتَاعًا هَذَا الْفَرَسَ وَإِلاَّ بِعْتُهُ . فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ سَمِعَ نِدَاءَهُ فَقَالَ " أَلَيْسَ قَدِ ابْتَعْتُهُ مِنْكَ " . قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِعْتُكَهُ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَدِ ابْتَعْتُهُ مِنْكَ " . فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يَلُوذُونَ بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبِالأَعْرَابِيِّ وَهُمَا يَتَرَاجَعَانِ وَطَفِقَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ يَقُولُ هَلُمَّ شَاهِدًا يَشْهَدُ أَنِّي قَدْ بِعْتُكَهُ . قَالَ خُزَيْمَةُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ أَنَا أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بِعْتَهُ . قَالَ فَأَقْبَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى خُزَيْمَةَ فَقَالَ " لِمَ تَشْهَدُ " . قَالَ بِتَصْدِيقِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَهَادَةَ خُزَيْمَةَ شَهَادَةَ رَجُلَيْنِ .
'Umarah bin Khuzaimah Narrated from:
It was narrated from 'Umarah bin Khuzaimah that his paternal uncle, who was one of the companions of the Prophet told him, that: the Prophet bought a horse from a Bedouin and asked him to follow him, so that he could pay him for the horse. The Prophet hastened but the Bedouin was slow. Men started to talk to the Bedouin and make offers for the horse, and they did not realize that the Prophet had bought it, until some of them offered more than the Prophet had bought it for.Then the Bedouin called out to the Prophet and said; "Are you going to buy this horse or shall I sell it?" The Prophet stood up when he heard him calling and said: "Have I not bought it from you?" He said: 'No, by Allah, I have not sold it to you, and the Prophet said "I bought it from you."The people started to gaiter around the Prophet and the Bedouin as they were talking, and the Bedouin started to say: "Bring a witness who will testify that you bought it. " Khuzaimah bin habit said: "I bear witness that you bought it" The Prophet turned to Khunzimah and said: "Why are you bearing witness?" He said: "Because I know that you are truthful, O Messenger of Allah" made the testimony of Khuzaimah equivalent to the testimony of two men. (sahih)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4647In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 199English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4651
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4647
This hadith about truthful witness tells of a horse sale between the Prophet and a Bedouin. The Prophet had bought the horse and asked the Bedouin to follow him for payment. Others then offered the Bedouin more, not knowing the horse had already been sold. A dispute followed, and the Bedouin asked for a witness. Khuzaimah bin Thabit testified that the Prophet had bought it. When asked why, he said it was because he knew the Messenger of Allah was truthful. The Prophet then made Khuzaimah's testimony equal to the testimony of two men. The core topic is testimony linked to truthfulness and trust in the Prophet's honesty.
What we learn from this hadith
- A completed sale should not be treated as open to higher offers.
- Witnesses can help settle disputes in transactions.
- Khuzaimah testified because he trusted the Prophet's truthfulness.
- The Prophet gave Khuzaimah's testimony a special status in this case.
