42/22. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2715 — Learning Languages for Letters
What Has Been Related About Learning Syrian
Hadith About Learning Languages for Communication
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2715
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2715
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ خَارِجَةَ بْنِ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ قَالَ أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ أَتَعَلَّمَ لَهُ كَلِمَاتِ كِتَابِ يَهُودَ . قَالَ " إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا آمَنُ يَهُودَ عَلَى كِتَابٍ " . قَالَ فَمَا مَرَّ بِي نِصْفُ شَهْرٍ حَتَّى تَعَلَّمْتُهُ لَهُ قَالَ فَلَمَّا تَعَلَّمْتُهُ كَانَ إِذَا كَتَبَ إِلَى يَهُودَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَإِذَا كَتَبُوا إِلَيْهِ قَرَأْتُ لَهُ كِتَابَهُمْ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ رَوَاهُ الأَعْمَشُ عَنْ ثَابِتِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ قَالَ أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ أَتَعَلَّمَ السُّرْيَانِيَّةَ .
Zaid bin Thabit Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Ordered Me To Learn Some Statements From Writings Of The Jews For Him, And He Said: 'For Indeed By Allah! I Do No Trust The Jews With My Letters.'" He Said: "Half A Month Did Not Pass Before I Learned It, When He (ﷺ) Wanted To Write To The Jews I Would Write It To Them, And When They Wrote To Him I Would Read Their Letters To Him."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2715In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 28English translation : Vol. 5, Book 40, Hadith 2715
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2715
This hadith about learning languages shows Zaid bin Thabit serving the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم through reading and writing. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered him to learn some statements from the writings of the Jews. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said he did not trust the Jews with his letters. Zaid said half a month did not pass before he learned it. After that, when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم wanted to write to the Jews, Zaid wrote to them. When they wrote to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, Zaid read their letters to him. The hadith about learning language in Islam is tied here to trust, letters, and clear communication. It also shows quick effort from Zaid and the practical value of literacy in dealing with written messages.
What we learn from this hadith
- Learning another writing system can serve a real communication need.
- Zaid learned quickly after the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered him.
- Written messages were handled with care and trusted help.
- Reading and writing can be used in service of important duties.
