Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 2846
sahih

Narrated Jabir:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Who will bring me the information about the enemy on the day (of the battle) of Al-Ahzab (i.e. Clans)?" Az-Zubair said, "I will." The Prophet (ﷺ) said again, "Who will bring me the information about the enemy?" Az-Zubair said again, "I will." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Every prophet had a disciple and my disciple is Az-Zubair. "

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَنْ يَأْتِينِي بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ يَوْمَ الأَحْزَابِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ يَأْتِينِي بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا، وَحَوَارِيَّ الزُّبَيْرُ ‏"‏‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 56, Hadith 62
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 4, Book 52, Hadith 99 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Battle of the Trench was one of the toughest battles that the Muslims ever experienced, after Quraysh and other disbelieving Arab tribes along with the Jews from Banoo Quraythah allied to fight the Muslims. In this hadeeth, Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports one of the incidents that highlights the extreme courage of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The Battle of the Trench was different from other battles because it was the Muslims against all the disbelieving tribes of Arabia (supported by the Jews of Banoo Quraythah after they betrayed the Muslims). So, the Prophet ﷺ asked who was willing to secretly collect information about Banoo Quraythah, as reported in Musnad Ahmad. The person who actually went out to secretly obtain information about Quraysh and its allies was Huthayfah ibn al-Yamaan (may Allah be pleased with him), as reported in Saheeh Muslim. Upon hearing the Prophet ﷺ, al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward and expressed his interest in the mission. The Prophet ﷺ repeated his request and again al-Zubayr stepped forward to take the mission. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ remarked:“Every prophet had a disciple, and my disciple is Al-Zubayr.” The intended meaning of disciple (Hawaary) is a supporter just like the disciples of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). It is said that they were given that name because they used to wash clothes and whiten them – and the word Hawaary is derived from such a meaning. This hadeeth highlights the virtue of al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwaam (may Allah be pleased with him) and shows that Muslims should send secret agents to collect information about the enemy. .
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