49/27. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5416 — Accepting the Prophet's Ruling
The Judge Suggesting Leniency
Hadith About Accepting the Prophet's Judgment in Water Rights
Sunan an-Nasai : 5416
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5416
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ خَاصَمَ الزُّبَيْرَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي شِرَاجِ الْحَرَّةِ الَّتِي يَسْقُونَ بِهَا النَّخْلَ فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ سَرِّحِ الْمَاءَ يَمُرَّ . فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ فَاخْتَصَمُوا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ ثُمَّ أَرْسِلِ الْمَاءَ إِلَى جَارِكَ " . فَغَضِبَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْ كَانَ ابْنَ عَمَّتِكَ فَتَلَوَّنَ وَجْهُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا زُبَيْرُ اسْقِ ثُمَّ احْبِسِ الْمَاءَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْجَدْرِ " . فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ إِنِّي أَحْسَبُ أَنَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ { فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ } الآيَةَ .
'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair Narrated from:
A man among the Ansar disputed with Az-Zubair concerning a stream in Al-Harrah from which they both used to water their date palm trees. The Ansari said: "Let the water flow," but he (Az-Zubair) refused. They brought their dispute to the Messenger of Allah [SAW]. The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Irrigate (your land), O Zubair, then let the water flow to your neighbor."The Ansari became angry and said: "O Messenger of Allah, is it because he is your cousin?" The face of the Messenger of Allah [SAW] changed color (because of anger) and he said: "O Zubair, irrigate (your land) then block the water until it flows back to the walls." Az-Zubair said: "I think that this Verse was revealed concerning this matter: 'But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith.'"
[1] An-Nisâ’ 4:65.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5416In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 38English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5418
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5416
This hadith about accepting the Prophet's judgment describes a dispute between an Ansari man and Az-Zubair over a stream used for watering date palms. The Prophet SAW first told Az-Zubair to water his land, then let the water flow to his neighbor. The Ansari became angry and said it was because Az-Zubair was the Prophet's cousin. The Prophet's face changed, and he then told Az-Zubair to water his land and hold the water until it reached the walls. Az-Zubair connected the event with the verse beginning, But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith. The hadith teaches respect for fair judgment and warns against rejecting a ruling through anger.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet SAW first gave a ruling that allowed water to pass to the neighbor.
- Anger led the Ansari to speak unfairly about the ruling.
- Az-Zubair was then given his right in a clearer and fuller way.
- Disputes should be handled by accepting just judgment.
