Going deeply into and arguing about knowledge, and exaggerating in religion, and inventing heresies Sahih al-Bukhari 7300

Sahih al-Bukhari 7300
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ التَّيْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، خَطَبَنَا عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَلَى مِنْبَرٍ مِنْ آجُرٍّ، وَعَلَيْهِ سَيْفٌ فِيهِ صَحِيفَةٌ مُعَلَّقَةٌ فَقَالَوَاللَّهِ مَا عِنْدَنَا مِنْ كِتَابٍ يُقْرَأُ إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ‏.‏ فَنَشَرَهَا فَإِذَا فِيهَا أَسْنَانُ الإِبِلِ وَإِذَا فِيهَا ‏"‏ الْمَدِينَةُ حَرَمٌ مِنْ عَيْرٍ إِلَى كَذَا، فَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ‏"‏‏.‏ وَإِذَا فِيهِ ‏"‏ ذِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ يَسْعَى بِهَا أَدْنَاهُمْ، فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ‏"‏‏.‏ وَإِذَا فِيهَا ‏"‏ مَنْ وَالَى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ‏"
Translation
Narrated Ibrahim At Taimi's father

`Ali addressed us while he was standing on a brick pulpit and carrying a sword from which was hanging a scroll He said "By Allah, we have no book to read except Allah's Book and whatever is on this scroll," And then he unrolled it, and behold, in it was written what sort of camels were to be given as blood money, and there was also written in it: 'Medina is a sanctuary form 'Air (mountain) to such and such place so whoever innovates in it an heresy or commits a sin therein, he will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people and Allah will not accept his compulsory or optional good deeds.' There was also written in it: 'The asylum (pledge of protection) granted by any Muslims is one and the same, (even a Muslim of the lowest status is to be secured and respected by all the other Muslims, and whoever betrays a Muslim in this respect (by violating the pledge) will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and Allah will not accept his compulsory or optional good deeds.' There was also written in it: 'Whoever (freed slave) befriends (takes as masters) other than his real masters (manumitters) without their permission will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people, and Allah will not accept his compulsory or optional good deeds. ' (See Hadith No. 94, Vol. 3)

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This profound hadith, transmitted by Sayyiduna 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), encapsulates the supreme authority of the Qur'an and Sunnah as the sole sources of divine legislation. It underscores that the Prophet ﷺ left behind a comprehensive legal and moral framework, preserved in the Qur'an and the practical Sunnah, which governs all aspects of life—from criminal justice (blood money) to sacred sanctuaries, communal solidarity, and social loyalty. The central theme is the inviolability of Islamic law and the severe consequences of innovation (bid'ah) and betrayal of communal trust, affirming that Allah's curse and rejection of deeds await those who transgress these divinely ordained boundaries.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The hadith occurs during the caliphate of 'Ali, who publicly displayed a scroll containing Prophetic injunctions to clarify legal rulings. The term "ṣaḥīfah" (scroll) refers to a written document of Prophetic dictations, not part of the Qur'an but a record of Sunnah. Key linguistic nuances: "Man aḥdatha fīhā ḥadathan" (whoever innovates in it a heresy) uses "ḥadath" meaning a newly introduced matter in religion, specifically bid'ah. "Dhimmah" (asylum/pledge) signifies the covenant of protection extended to non-Muslim citizens, emphasizing its sanctity. "Yatawalla" (befriends/takes as masters) refers to a freed slave aligning with another patron, violating the bond of wala' (clientage). The repetition of "la'anahu Allah" (Allah's curse) and rejection of deeds highlights the gravity of these offenses, as curse (la'n) denotes being distanced from divine mercy.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • Sanctity of Medina: The Prophet ﷺ declared Medina a sacred sanctuary (ḥaram) from 'Air to Thawr, akin to Mecca's inviolability. Innovating therein or committing sins incurs divine curse and rejection of deeds—a severe deterrent against religious distortion and moral transgression in the Prophet's city.
  • Unity of the Muslim Polity: The "asylum granted by any Muslim is one" establishes that protection offered by even the lowest-status Muslim binds the entire community. This principle ensures collective responsibility, security, and equality before the law, forbidding betrayal of covenants.
  • Loyalty in Patronage: A freed slave must remain loyal to his manumitter; seeking another patron without permission is a grave betrayal. This preserves social order, honors contracts, and prevents discord in familial and tribal bonds.
  • Rejection of Deeds: The hadith explicitly states that Allah will not accept compulsory or optional good deeds from such offenders—a warning that major sins, without sincere repentance, nullify the reward of righteous acts, though scholars clarify this does not negate the obligation to perform them.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani (rahimahullah) states in Fath al-Bari: "This hadith proves the severe prohibition of bid'ah in Medina and the inviolability of its sanctuary, and it establishes the consensus that the covenant of protection is one and indivisible, obligating all Muslims to honor it. The rejection of deeds signifies that such major sins, if unrepented, nullify the reward of voluntary and obligatory acts, though the obligation remains."

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

This teaching calls every believer to uphold the primacy of the Qur'an and Sunnah in all affairs, rejecting innovations in worship and dogma with scholarly discernment. It demands unwavering honesty in contracts, honoring pledges of safety and trust—whether in business, community, or interfaith relations. Muslims must cultivate loyalty to their legitimate bonds, avoiding betrayal in family, social, and professional spheres. The severe warnings inspire sincere repentance and vigilance against minor transgressions that compound into major sins. Practically, this means: preserving the sanctity of sacred places, standing by the weak in covenants, and ensuring that our deeds are purified from ostentation and sin, so that Allah accepts them. Let us strive to embody the Prophetic ethos of mercy, justice, and unwavering adherence to divine law, seeking Allah's pleasure in every action.