The Prophet (ﷺ) said. No doubt your blood, property, the sub-narrator Muhammad thought that Abu Bakra had also mentioned and your honor (chastity), are sacred to one another as is the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours. It is incumbent on those who are present to inform those who are absent." (Muhammad the Sub-narrator used to say, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) told the truth.") The Prophet (ﷺ) repeated twice: "No doubt! Haven't I conveyed Allah's message to you.
Hadith Commentary: The Sanctity of Life and Property
This profound hadith was delivered during the Farewell Pilgrimage, establishing fundamental principles of Islamic sacred law. The Prophet (ﷺ) equated the sanctity of Muslim life, property, and honor to the sacredness of the Day of Arafah and the month of Dhul-Hijjah - times when even pre-Islamic Arabs respected bloodshed prohibitions.
Legal and Social Implications
The declaration establishes the inviolability (hurma) of Muslim lives and properties, making unlawful aggression against them equivalent to violating the most sacred times in Islam. This forms the basis of Islamic criminal law regarding homicide and theft.
The protection extends to honor and chastity, prohibiting slander, false accusation (qadhf), and all forms of sexual immorality that violate personal dignity.
The Duty of Transmission
The command "It is incumbent upon those present to inform those absent" establishes the obligation of tabligh (conveying the message) and the collective responsibility of the Muslim community in preserving and transmitting religious knowledge.
The Prophet's repetition and questioning "Haven't I conveyed Allah's message?" emphasizes the critical importance of these principles and serves as a final confirmation of his completion of the divine message.
Scholarly Observations
Imam al-Bukhari's inclusion of the sub-narrator's affirmation "Allah's Messenger told the truth" demonstrates the meticulous verification process in hadith transmission and the companions' absolute conviction in the Prophet's truthfulness.
Classical scholars note this hadith establishes the foundational principle of mutual responsibility within the Muslim community and the absolute prohibition of transgressing against what Allah has made sacred.