Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال

Chapter 40.0

The translators of a ruler

باب تَرْجَمَةِ الْحُكَّامِ، وَهَلْ يَجُوزُ تُرْجُمَانٌ وَاحِدٌ

2 hadiths

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7195sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

2 transmitters

Narrated by Kharija ibn Zayd ibn ThabitfromZayd ibn Thabit

Hadith text · Matn

وَقَالَ خَارِجَةُ بْنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَ كِتَابَ الْيَهُودِ، حَتَّى كَتَبْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كُتُبَهُ، وَأَقْرَأْتُهُ كُتُبَهُمْ إِذَا كَتَبُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَعِنْدَهُ عَلِيٌّ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ وَعُثْمَانُ مَاذَا تَقُولُ هَذِهِ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ حَاطِبٍ فَقُلْتُ تُخْبِرُكَ بِصَاحِبِهِمَا الَّذِي صَنَعَ بِهِمَا‏.‏ وَقَالَ أَبُو جَمْرَةَ كُنْتُ أُتَرْجِمُ بَيْنَ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَبَيْنَ النَّاسِ‏.‏ وَقَالَ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ لاَ بُدَّ لِلْحَاكِمِ مِنْ مُتَرْجِمَيْنِ‏.‏

English translation

Kharija bin Zaid bin Thabit said that Zaid bin Thabit said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered me to learn the writing of the Jews. I even wrote letters for the Prophet (ﷺ) (to the Jews) and also read their letters when they wrote to him." And 'Umar said in the presence of 'Ali, 'Abdur-Rahman, and 'Uthman, "What is this woman saying?" (the woman was non-Arab) 'Abdur-Rahman bin Hatib said:

"She is informing you about her companion who has committed illegal sexual intercourse with her." Abu Jamra said, "I was an interpreter between Ibn 'Abbas and the people." Some people said, "A ruler should have two interpreters."

Sahih al-Bukhari, 7196sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by al-Hakm bin Nafi', Abu al-YamanfromShu'aib bin Abi Hamzafromal-Zuhrifrom'Ubaydullah bin 'Abdullah bin 'Utbafromibn Abbas

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ بْنَ حَرْبٍ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ هِرَقْلَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فِي رَكْبٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ، ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتَرْجُمَانِهِ قُلْ لَهُمْ إِنِّي سَائِلٌ هَذَا، فَإِنْ كَذَبَنِي فَكَذِّبُوهُ‏.‏ فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ فَقَالَ لِلتَّرْجُمَانِ قُلْ لَهُ إِنْ كَانَ مَا تَقُولُ حَقًّا فَسَيَمْلِكُ مَوْضِعَ قَدَمَىَّ هَاتَيْنِ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas:

That Abu Sufyan bin Harb told him that Heraclius had called him along with the members of a Quraish caravan and then said to his interpreter, "Tell them that I want to ask this (Abu Sufyan) a question, and if he tries to tell me a lie, they should contradict him." Then Abu Sufyan mentioned the whole narration and said that Heraclius said to the inter Peter, "Say to him (Abu Sufyan), 'If what you say is true, then he (the Prophet) will take over the place underneath my two feet.' "