Hadith #179

Arabic Text

English Translation

‘Affān narrated to us: Hammād ibn Zayd narrated to us: Ayyūb narrated to us, from Abū Qilābah, from Abū al-Muhallab, from ‘Imrān ibn Husayn, who said: Al-‘Adbā’ belonged to a man from Banū ‘Uqayl and was among the fastest camels of the Hajj pilgrims. The man was captured and al-‘Adbā’ was taken with him. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ passed by him while he was in bonds, and the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ was riding a donkey with a blanket on it. The man said: O Muhammad, you seize me and the fastest camel of the pilgrims? The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: We are seizing you on account of the crimes of your allies, Thaqīf. Thaqīf had captured two men from the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ. The man also said: I am a Muslim. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: Had you said this when you were in control of your own affairs, you would have succeeded completely. Then the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ passed on. The man called out: O Muhammad, I am hungry, so feed me! I am thirsty, so give me water! The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: This is your need. Then he was ransomed in exchange for the two men. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ kept al-‘Adbā’ for his own mount. Then the polytheists raided the pasturing animals of Madinah and took them away. Al-‘Adbā’ was among them, and they also captured a Muslim woman. Whenever they stopped, they would rest their camels in their courtyards. One night, after they had fallen asleep, the woman got up. Every camel she approached would groan, so she left it, until she came upon al-‘Adbā’ — a docile, well-trained she-camel. She mounted her and headed toward Madinah. She vowed that if Allāh — mighty and majestic is He — saved her on it, she would slaughter it. When she arrived in Madinah, the camel was recognized. People said: The she-camel of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ! the Prophet ﷺ was informed of her vow — or she came and told him herself. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: What a terrible way to repay her! If Allāh — blessed and exalted is He — saved her on it, she would slaughter it! Then the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: There is no fulfillment of a vow involving disobedience to Allāh, nor in what the son of Ādam does not own. Wuhayb — meaning Ibn Khālid — also narrated it. Thaqīf were allies of Banū ‘Uqayl. Hammād ibn Salamah added in his version: Al-‘Adbā’ was a tame camel, not prevented from any trough or pasture. ‘Affān said: mujarrasah means well-trained.