Sunan Ibn Majah
Sunan Ibn Majah 42
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ بَشِيرِ بْنِ ذَكْوَانَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زَبْرٍ - حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي الْمُطَاعِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْعِرْبَاضَ بْنَ سَارِيَةَ، يَقُولُ قَامَ فِينَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَوَعَظَنَا مَوْعِظَةً بَلِيغَةً وَجِلَتْ مِنْهَا الْقُلُوبُ وَذَرَفَتْ مِنْهَا الْعُيُونُ فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَعَظْتَنَا مَوْعِظَةَ مُوَدِّعٍ فَاعْهَدْ إِلَيْنَا بِعَهْدٍ فَقَالَ " عَلَيْكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَإِنْ عَبْدًا حَبَشِيًّا وَسَتَرَوْنَ مِنْ بَعْدِي اخْتِلاَفًا شَدِيدًا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالأُمُورَ الْمُحْدَثَاتِ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ " .
Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Bashir ibn Dhakwan al-Dimashqi narrated to us: al-Walid ibn Muslim narrated to us: Abdullah ibn al-Ala—meaning Ibn Zabr—narrated to us: Yahya ibn Abi al-Mutaa narrated to me: I heard al-Irbad ibn Sariyah say: One day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stood among us and delivered a profound admonition that made hearts tremble and eyes shed tears. It was said: Messenger of Allah, you have admonished us as if bidding farewell, so give us a parting charge. He said: I enjoin upon you reverence for Allah, and listening and obedience, even if [your leader is] an Abyssinian slave. You will see severe discord after me, so hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Bite down on it with your molars. Beware of newly introduced matters, for every innovation is misguidance.
Translation notes
The Arabic includes the source identification meaning Ibn Zabr in the chain. It describes a farewell-like admonition, then gives commands to fear Allah, listen and obey, adhere firmly to the Prophets Sunnah and that of the rightly guided caliphs, and avoid newly introduced matters. The image of biting down with the molars is retained.