Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 2684
sahih

Narrated Sa`id bin Jubair:

A Jew from Hira asked me which one of the two periods Musa (i.e. Prophet (ﷺ) Moses) completed. I said, "I don't know, (but wait) till I see the most learned 'Arab and inquire him about it." So, I went to Ibn `Abbas and asked him. He replied, "Moses completed the longer and better period." Ibn `Abbas added, "No doubt, an apostle of Allah always does what he says."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، أَخْبَرَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ شُجَاعٍ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ الأَفْطَسِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ سَأَلَنِي يَهُودِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحِيرَةِ أَىَّ الأَجَلَيْنِ قَضَى مُوسَى قُلْتُ لاَ أَدْرِي حَتَّى أَقْدَمَ عَلَى حَبْرِ الْعَرَبِ فَأَسْأَلَهُ‏.‏ فَقَدِمْتُ، فَسَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَالَ قَضَى أَكْثَرَهُمَا وَأَطْيَبَهُمَا، إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَالَ فَعَلَ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 52, Hadith 45
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 3, Book 48, Hadith 849 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Prophets and Messengers of Allah were endowed with the most perfect moral characters and were the most truthful among all people. The Quran made mention of Prophet Moosaa, given his exemplary resolve and patience. In this hadeeth, the Taabi’ee (a Muslim who saw at least one of the Companions)Sa’eed ibn Jubayr related that a Jew from the people of Al-Heerah, which was an ancient city in Iraq near Kufa, and was the capital of many dynasties, asked himwhich one of the two periods Prophet Moosaa (Moses) completed, referring to the ayah that reads (what means): {He said, "Indeed, I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters, on [the condition] that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be [as a favor] from you.} [Quran 28:27]. The ayah means that Prophet Moosaa was offered to marry the man’s daughter, and her dower was to work for him for eight years, and if he chose to work for him from ten years instead, it would be a favor and not required of him. Sa’eed told him that he did not know which period Prophet Moosaa completed, and told him that he would ask the well-ayahd Arab scholar, meaning, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them), in Makkah. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) informed him that Prophet Moosaa completed ten years. He (may Allah be pleased with them) added: “No doubt, a Messenger of Allah always does what he says.” This applies to all Messengers of Allah, and foremostly Prophet Moosaa, because they were talking about him in particular. This is because the Prophets of Allah were endowed with the most perfect moral characters which entailed fulfilling their promises. The hadeeth urges the fulfillment of promises. .