Battle of Mu’tah
Total Hadiths 9
Prophetic Hadiths on the Historical Battle of Mu'tah
The provided authentic Hadiths offer a clear look into the emotional and strategic events surrounding the Battle of Mu'tah. In these accounts, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) miraculously shared the tragic news of the martyrdom of three noble commanders—Zaid bin Haritha, Ja'far bin Abi Talib, and Abdullah bin Rawaha—before any messenger arrived from the battlefield, openly shedding tears for their loss. The narrations highlight the profound grief felt by the Prophet (ﷺ) and the strict social discipline expected during communal mourning. Finally, they celebrate the military brilliance of Khalid bin Walid, who was honored as one of the swords of Allah for leading the Muslims to victory, alongside the heavenly status granted to Ja'far.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ وَاقِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَعَى زَيْدًا وَجَعْفَرًا وَابْنَ رَوَاحَةَ لِلنَّاسِ، قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ خَبَرُهُمْ فَقَالَ " أَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ زَيْدٌ فَأُصِيبَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ جَعْفَرٌ فَأُصِيبَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ ابْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَأُصِيبَ ـ وَعَيْنَاهُ تَذْرِفَانِ ـ حَتَّى أَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ سَيْفٌ مِنْ سُيُوفِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ".
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) had informed the people of the martyrdom of Zaid, Ja`far and Ibn Rawaha before the news of their death reached. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Zaid took the flag (as the commander of the army) and was martyred, then Ja`far took it and was martyred, and then Ibn Rawaha took it and was martyred." At that time the Prophet's eyes were shedding tears. He added, "Then the flag was taken by a Sword amongst the Swords of Allah (i.e. Khalid) and Allah made them (i.e. the Muslims) victorious."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4262In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 296USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 561
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ أَمَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةِ مُوتَةَ زَيْدَ بْنَ حَارِثَةَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنْ قُتِلَ زَيْدٌ فَجَعْفَرٌ، وَإِنْ قُتِلَ جَعْفَرٌ فَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ ". قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ كُنْتُ فِيهِمْ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ فَالْتَمَسْنَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَوَجَدْنَاهُ فِي الْقَتْلَى، وَوَجَدْنَا مَا فِي جَسَدِهِ بِضْعًا وَتِسْعِينَ مِنْ طَعْنَةٍ وَرَمْيَةٍ.
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) appointed Zaid bin Haritha as the commander of the army during the Ghazwa of Mu'tah and said, If Zaid is martyred, Ja`far should take over his position, and if Ja`far is martyred, `Abdullah bin Rawaha should take over his position.' " `Abdulla-h bin `Umar further said, "I was present amongst them in that battle and we searched for Ja`far bin Abi Talib and found his body amongst the bodies of the martyred ones, and found over ninety wounds over his body, caused by stabs or shots (of arrows).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4261In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 295USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 560
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي هِلاَلٍ، قَالَ وَأَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعٌ، أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، وَقَفَ عَلَى جَعْفَرٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَهْوَ قَتِيلٌ، فَعَدَدْتُ بِهِ خَمْسِينَ بَيْنَ طَعْنَةٍ وَضَرْبَةٍ، لَيْسَ مِنْهَا شَىْءٌ فِي دُبُرِهِ. يَعْنِي فِي ظَهْرِهِ.
Nafi Narrated from:
Ibn `Umar informed me that on the day (of Mu'tah) he stood beside Ja`far who was dead (i.e. killed in the battle), and he counted fifty wounds in his body, caused by stabs or strokes, and none of those wounds was in his back.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4260In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 294USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 560
حَدَّثَنِي عِمْرَانُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ أُغْمِيَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَوَاحَةَ، فَجَعَلَتْ أُخْتُهُ عَمْرَةُ تَبْكِي وَاجَبَلاَهْ وَاكَذَا وَاكَذَا. تُعَدِّدُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ حِينَ أَفَاقَ مَا قُلْتِ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ قِيلَ لِي آنْتَ كَذَلِكَ.
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
`Abdullah bin Rawaha fell down unconscious and his sister `Amra started crying and was saying loudly, "O Jabala! Oh so-and-so! Oh so-and-so! and went on calling him by his (good) qualities one by one). When he came to his senses, he said (to his sister), "When-ever you said something, I was asked, 'Are you really so (i.e. as she says)?"
[1] 'Jabal' literally means 'mountain'. 'Amra means 'Oh my supporter!'Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4267In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 301USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 566
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْثَرُ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ أُغْمِيَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَوَاحَةَ بِهَذَا، فَلَمَّا مَاتَ لَمْ تَبْكِ عَلَيْهِ.
Ash-Sha'bi Narrated from:
An Nu`man bin Bashir said, "Abdullah bin Rawaha fell down unconscious.." (and mentioned the above Hadith adding, "Thereupon, when he died she (i.e. his sister) did not weep over him."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4268In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 302USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 567
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا حَيَّا ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ ذِي الْجَنَاحَيْنِ.
'Amir Narrated from:
Whenever Ibn `Umar greeted the son of Ja`far, he used to say (to him), "Assalam 'Alaika (i.e. peace be on you) O the son of two-winged person."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4264In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 298USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 563
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَتْنِي عَمْرَةُ، قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ تَقُولُ لَمَّا جَاءَ قَتْلُ ابْنِ حَارِثَةَ وَجَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَوَاحَةَ ـ رضى الله عنهم ـ جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعْرَفُ فِيهِ الْحُزْنُ ـ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ ـ وَأَنَا أَطَّلِعُ مِنْ صَائِرِ الْبَابِ ـ تَعْنِي مِنْ شَقِّ الْبَابِ ـ فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ أَىْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ نِسَاءَ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ وَذَكَرَ بُكَاءَهُنَّ، فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَنْهَاهُنَّ قَالَ فَذَهَبَ الرَّجُلُ ثُمَّ أَتَى فَقَالَ قَدْ نَهَيْتُهُنَّ. وَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُطِعْنَهُ قَالَ فَأَمَرَ أَيْضًا فَذَهَبَ ثُمَّ أَتَى فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ غَلَبْنَنَا. فَزَعَمَتْ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " فَاحْثُ فِي أَفْوَاهِهِنَّ مِنَ التُّرَابِ " قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ أَرْغَمَ اللَّهُ أَنْفَكَ، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْتَ تَفْعَلُ، وَمَا تَرَكْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْعَنَاءِ.
Amra Narrated from:
I heard `Aisha saying, "When the news of the martyrdom of Ibn Haritha, Ja`far bin Abi Talib and `Abdullah bin Rawaka reached, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sat with sorrow explicit on his face." `Aisha added, "I was then peeping through a chink in the door. A man came to him and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The women of Ja`far are crying.' Thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) told him to forbid them to do so. So the man went away and returned saying, "I forbade them but they did not listen to me."The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered him again to go (and forbid them). He went again and came saying, 'By Allah, they overpowered me (i.e. did not listen to me)." `Aisha said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to him), "Go and throw dust into their mouths." Aisha added, "I said, May Allah put your nose in the dust! By Allah, neither have you done what you have been ordered, nor have you relieved Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) from trouble."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4263In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 297USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 562
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ، يَقُولُ لَقَدِ انْقَطَعَتْ فِي يَدِي يَوْمَ مُوتَةَ تِسْعَةُ أَسْيَافٍ، فَمَا بَقِيَ فِي يَدِي إِلاَّ صَفِيحَةٌ يَمَانِيَةٌ.
Khalid bin Al-Walid Narrated from:
On the day (of the battle of) Mu'tah, nine swords were broken in my hand, and nothing was left in my hand except a Yemenite sword of mine.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4265In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 299USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 564
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي قَيْسٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ، يَقُولُ لَقَدْ دُقَّ فِي يَدِي يَوْمَ مُوتَةَ تِسْعَةُ أَسْيَافٍ، وَصَبَرَتْ فِي يَدِي صَفِيحَةٌ لِي يَمَانِيَةٌ.
Khalid bin Al-Walid Narrated from:
On the day of Mu'tah, nine swords were broken in my hand and only a Yemenite sword of mine remained in my hand.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4266In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 300USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 565
