Regarding The Imam Is The Shield Of The Covenant — Sunan Abi Dawud

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Muhammad bin al-Sabahfrom'Abdur Rahman bin Abi al-ZanadfromAbu al-Zanadfrom'Abdur Rahman bin Harmaz al-A'arajfromAbu Hurairah

Hadith text · Matn

‏ إِنَّمَا الإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ بِهِ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Abu Hurarirah reported the Messenger of Allaah(ﷺ) as saying “A Muslim ruler is shield by which a battle is fought.”

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ الْبَزَّازُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 2758sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Ahmed bin Salah al-Masrifrom'Abdullah bin Wahbfrom'Amr bin al-Harith bin Ya'qubfromBukayr bin 'Abdullah bin al-AshjfromHassan ibn Ali bin Abi Talib

Hadith text · Matn

‏ إِنِّي لاَ أَخِيسُ بِالْعَهْدِ وَلاَ أَحْبِسُ الْبُرُدَ وَلَكِنِ ارْجِعْ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي نَفْسِكَ الَّذِي فِي نَفْسِكَ الآنَ فَارْجِعْ ‏

‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَسْلَمْتُ ‏.‏ قَالَ بُكَيْرٌ وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّ أَبَا رَافِعٍ كَانَ قِبْطِيًّا ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ هَذَا كَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَلاَ يَصْلُحُ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated AbuRafi':

The Quraysh sent me to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and when I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), Islam was cast into my heart, so I said: Messenger of Allah, I swear by Allah, I shall never return to them. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: I do not break a covenant or imprison messengers, but return, and if you feel the same as you do just now, come back. So I went away, and then came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and accepted Islam. The narrator Bukair said: He informed me that Abu Rafi' was a Copt. Abu Dawud said: This was valid in those days, but today it is not valid.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا رَافِعٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ بَعَثَتْنِي قُرَيْشٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُلْقِيَ فِي قَلْبِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ أَبَدًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏