Sunan Ibn Majah: Book 11, Hadith 18
It was narrated from Abu Burdah that his father Abu Musa said: “I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with a group of Asharites and asked him to give us animals to ride. He said: ‘By Allah, I cannot give you anything to ride, and I have nothing to give you to ride.’ We stayed as long as Allah willed, then some camels were brought to him. He ordered that we be given three she-camels with fine humps. When we left, we said to one another: ‘We came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to ask him for animals to ride, and he swore by Allah that he would not give us anything to ride, then he gave us something. Let us go back.’ So we went to him and we said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! We came to you seeking mounts, and you took an oath that you would not give us mounts, then you gave us some mounts.’ He said: ‘By Allah, I did not give you animals to ride, rather Allah gave you them to ride. I, by Allah, if Allah wills, do not swear and then see something better than it, but I offer expiation for what I swore about, and do that which is better.’ Or he said: ‘I do that which is better and offer expiation for what I swore about.'”
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، أَنْبَأَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غَيْلاَنُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ” وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ ” . قَالَ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثَةِ إِبِلٍ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَلاَّ يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا ارْجِعُوا بِنَا . فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَتَيْنَاكَ نَسْتَحْمِلُكَ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا . ثُمَّ حَمَلْتَنَا فَقَالَ ” وَاللَّهِ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَمَلَكُمْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ بَلِ اللَّهُ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ” . أَوْ قَالَ ” أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي ” .
Sunan Ibn Majah: Book 11, Hadith 18
Sahih (Darussalam)
The above hadith is from the Sunan Ibn Majah collection of hadiths. Ibn Majah’s Sunan is an integral part of the six most revered hadith collections in Sunni Islam. Compiled in the 3rd century AH (9th century CE), this volume consists of about 4,000 hadiths that span a vast range of Islamic sciences. Readers will find chapters dedicated to creed, the intricacies of devotional practices, guidelines for ethical behavior, and legal opinions on social conduct. A critical aspect of this collection is that it is often subject to more scrutiny regarding its authenticity. Experts in hadith criticism have pointed out that it contains a number of narrations considered weak or problematic when measured against the rigorous standards of the other five books. Even so, it is an indispensable work for those pursuing advanced Islamic studies.
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For more Hadith in Book 11: The Chapters on Expiation