49/37. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3803 — Abdullah bin Salam Defends Uthman
The Virtues Of 'Abdullah bin Salam, May Allah Be Pleased With Him
Abdullah bin Salam Warning About Uthman
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3803
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3803
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْكِنْدِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُحَيَّاةَ يَحْيَى بْنُ يَعْلَى بْنِ عَطَاءٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَخِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا أُرِيدَ قَتْلُ عُثْمَانَ جَاءَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ مَا جَاءَ بِكَ قَالَ جِئْتُ فِي نَصْرِكَ . قَالَ اخْرُجْ إِلَى النَّاسِ فَاطْرُدْهُمْ عَنِّي فَإِنَّكَ خَارِجًا خَيْرٌ لِي مِنْكَ دَاخِلاً . فَخَرَجَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ اسْمِي فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فُلاَنٌ فَسَمَّانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَبْدَ اللَّهِ وَنَزَلَتْ فِيَّ آيَاتٌ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَنَزَلَتْ فِيَّ : ( وشهد شَاهِدٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى مِثْلِهِ فَآمَنَ وَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ) وَنَزَلَتْ فِيَّ : ( قلْ كَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ ) إِنَّ لِلَّهِ سَيْفًا مَغْمُودًا عَنْكُمْ وَإِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ قَدْ جَاوَرَتْكُمْ فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا الَّذِي نَزَلَ فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي هَذَا الرَّجُلِ أَنْ تَقْتُلُوهُ فَوَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ قَتَلْتُمُوهُ لَتَطْرُدُنَّ جِيرَانَكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ وَلَتَسُلُّنَّ سَيْفَ اللَّهِ الْمَغْمُودَ عَنْكُمْ فَلاَ يُغْمَدُ عَنْكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ . قَالُوا اقْتُلُوا الْيَهُودِيَّ وَاقْتُلُوا عُثْمَانَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ إِنَّمَا نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ . وَقَدْ رَوَى شُعَيْبُ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ فَقَالَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ .
Narrated 'Abdul-Malik bin 'Umair: From The Nephew Of 'Abdullah Bin Salam Who Said: "When They Were About To Kill 'Uthman, 'Abdullah Bin Salam Came And 'Uthman Said To Him: 'What Did You Come For?' He Said: 'I Came To Assist You.' He Said: 'Go To The People To Repel Their Advances Against Me. For Verily Your Going Is Better To Me Than Your Entering Here.' So 'Abdullah Went To The People And Said: 'O You People! During Jahiliyyah I Was Named So-And-So, Then The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Named Me 'Abdullah, And Some Ayat From The Book Of Allah Were Revealed About Me. (The Following) Was Revealed About Me: "A Witness From Among The Children Of Isra'Il Has Testified To Something Similar And Believed While You Rejected. Verily, Allah Does Not Guide The Wrongdoing People. (46:10)" [And (The Following) Was Revealed About Me:] "Sufficient As A Witness Between Me And You Is Allah, And Those Too Who Have Knowledge Of The Scripture. (13:43)" Allah Has Sheathed The Sword From You And The Angels Are Your Neighbors In This City Of Yours, The One In Which The Revelation Came To The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ). But By Allah! (Fear) Allah Regarding This Man; If You Kill Him, Then By Allah! If You Kill Him, Then You Will Cause The Angels To Remove Your Goodness From You, And To Raise Allah'S Sheathed Sword Against You, Such That It Will Never Be Sheathed Again Until The Day Of Resurrection.'" He Said: "They Said: 'Kill The Jew And Kill 'Uthman.'"
[1] Al-Ahqāf 46:10.[2] Ar-Ra'd 13:43.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3803In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 203English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3803
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3803
This Hadith about Abdullah bin Salam and Uthman shows a serious moment of advice. When Uthman was under threat, Abdullah bin Salam came to assist him. Uthman told him that speaking to the people outside would be better than entering. Abdullah then reminded the people of his own faith, his name given by the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the verses he said were revealed about him. His main message was to fear Allah regarding Uthman and not kill him. The narration presents his warning in strong words, mentioning the angels and Allah’s sheathed sword. The explanation must stay close to the text: this Hadith is about sincere warning, defending an innocent person, and calling people back from a grave action.
What we learn from this hadith
- Sincere advice should be given when people are moving toward serious wrongdoing.
- Abdullah bin Salam tried to protect Uthman by speaking directly to the people.
- The narration shows the importance of fearing Allah before taking harmful action.
- Public anger should not silence truthful warning and moral courage.
