47/31. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3193 — Romans and Persians in Surah Ar-Rum
Regarding Surat Ar-Rum
Surah Ar-Rum Romans Victory Hadith
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3193
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3193
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ الْفَزَارِيِّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى : ( الم * غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ * فِي أَدْنَى الأَرْضِ ) قَالَ غُلِبَتْ وَغَلَبَتْ كَانَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ أَهْلُ فَارِسَ عَلَى الرُّومِ لأَنَّهُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ أَهْلُ أَوْثَانٍ وَكَانَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ الرُّومُ عَلَى فَارِسَ لأَنَّهُمْ أَهْلُ كِتَابٍ فَذَكَرُوهُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ فَذَكَرَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّهُمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ " . فَذَكَرَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لَهُمْ فَقَالُوا اجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ أَجَلاً فَإِنْ ظَهَرْنَا كَانَ لَنَا كَذَا وَكَذَا وَإِنْ ظَهَرْتُمْ كَانَ لَكُمْ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَجَعَلَ أَجَلَ خَمْسِ سِنِينَ فَلَمْ يَظْهَرُوا فَذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَلاَ جَعَلْتَهُ إِلَى دُونِ - قَالَ أُرَاهُ الْعَشْرِ " . قَالَ سَعِيدٌ وَالْبِضْعُ مَا دُونَ الْعَشْرِ قَالَ ثُمَّ ظَهَرَتِ الرُّومُ بَعْدُ . قَالَ فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى : ( الم * غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ ) إِلَى قَوْلِهِ : (يفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنْصُرُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ) قَالَ سُفْيَانُ سَمِعْتُ أَنَّهُمْ ظَهَرُوا عَلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ إِنَّمَا نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Regarding The Saying Of Allah, Most High:Alif Lam Mim. The Romans Have Been Defeated. In The Nearest Land (30:1-3)" He Said: "Ghulibat Wa Ghalabat (Defeated And Then Victorious)." He Said: "The Idolaters Wanted The Persians To Be Victorious Over The Romans Because They Too Were People Who Worshiped Idols, While The Muslims Wanted The Romans To Be Victorious Over The Persians Because They Were People Of The Book. This Was Mentioned To Abu Bakr, So Abu Bakr Mentioned That To The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) And He Said: 'They Will Certainly Prevail.' Abu Bakr Mentioned That To Them, And They Said: 'Make A Wager Between Us And You; If We Win, We Shall Get This And That, And If You Win, You Shall Get This Or That.' He Made The Term Five Years, But They (The Romans) Were Not Victorious. They Mentioned That To The Prophet (ﷺ) And He Said: "Why Did You Not Make It Less (Than)" - He (One Of The Narrators Said): I Think He Said: "Ten?" He Said: Sa'Eed Said: "Al-Bid' Is What Is Less Than Then" - He Said: "Afterwards The Romans Have Been Victorious." He Said: "That Is What Allah Most High Said:'Alif Lam Mim. The Romans Have Been Defeated' Up To His Saying: 'And On The Day, The Believers Will Rejoice - With The Help Of Allah. He Helps Whom He Wills (30:1-5).' Sufyan Said: "I Heard That They Were Victorious Over Them On The Day Of Badr."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3193In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 245English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3193
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3193
This hadith gives a longer explanation of the opening verses of Surah Ar-Rum. Ibn Abbas explained that the Romans were defeated and later became victorious. The idolaters wanted the Persians to win because they were also idol worshipers, while the Muslims wanted the Romans to win because they were People of the Book. Abu Bakr mentioned the matter to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), who said the Romans would prevail. The narration also mentions a term set for the wager and the meaning of al-bid as less than ten. The core lesson is trust in Allah's revealed promise, while staying close to the details in the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith explains the defeat and later victory mentioned in Surah Ar-Rum.
- The believers' hopes were connected to the People of the Book in this event.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) affirmed that the Romans would prevail.
- The term al-bid is treated as a limited number of years.
