49/21. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3735 — Early Acceptance of Islam
Chapter [Regarding Feelings Towards 'Ali]
Hadith About the First to Accept Islam
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3735
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3735
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زَيْدَ بْنَ أَرْقَمَ، يَقُولُ أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ عَلِيٌّ . قَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ مُرَّةَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لإِبْرَاهِيمَ النَّخَعِيِّ فَأَنْكَرَهُ وَقَالَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَأَبُو حَمْزَةَ اسْمُهُ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ .
Narrated a man from the Ansar: That Zaid Bin Al-Arqam Said: "The First To Accept Islam Was 'Ali." 'Amr Bin Murrah Said: "So I Mentioned That To Ibrahim An-Nakha'I, So He Rejected That And Said: 'The First To Accept Islam Was Abu Bakr As-Siddiq.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3735In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 132English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3735
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3735
This hadith about the first to accept Islam reports that Zaid bin Al-Arqam said, “The first to accept Islam was Ali.” Then Amr bin Murrah mentioned that to Ibrahim An-Nakha'i, who rejected it and said, “The first to accept Islam was Abu Bakr As-Siddiq.” The report is useful because it does not hide the difference in wording and view. It presents both statements within the same narration. The core topic is early Islam and the careful handling of reports about who accepted first. For readers searching first Muslim Ali or Abu Bakr, this hadith should be explained with the same balance: Zaid’s statement is mentioned, and Ibrahim’s rejection is also mentioned.
What we learn from this hadith
- Zaid bin Al-Arqam is reported as saying Ali was first to accept Islam.
- Ibrahim An-Nakha'i rejected that statement and said Abu Bakr was first.
- The narration itself shows that this matter was discussed among scholars and narrators.
- A fair explanation should include both parts of the report.
