Numbering and Authentication of a Particular Hadeeth

26-3-2018 | IslamWeb

Question:

Asalamu alakium dear scholars my question is in regards to the hadeeth below:the hadeeth of ‘Amr ibn Salamah who said: “I used to memorize those words – meaning the Qur’aan – and it was as if it took root in my heart. When Makkah was conquered, then every tribe hastened to embrace Islam, and my father urged our tribe to hasten to embrace Islam. When my father returned (from the Prophet) to his tribe, he said, ‘By Allah, I have come to you from the true Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)!’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) afterwards said to them, ‘Offer such-and-such a prayer at such-and-such a time, and when the time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce the Adhaan (for the prayer), and let the one amongst you who knows most Qur’aan lead the prayer.’ So they looked for such a person and found none who knew more Qur'an than I, because of what I used to learn from the people. So they made me their imam (to lead the prayer) and at that time I was a boy of six or seven years.”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4051)My question is this hadeeth is cited to be Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4051 however when I look to find the hadeeth by the number Bukhaari, 4051 it gives a different narration under the number 4051 my question is in regards to this: is this hadeeth even found in al-Bukhaari, or any other hadeeth book known and if it is can you give proper citation for it along with its authenticity wether it is saheeh or daeef Your help will be highly appreciated jazakallahu khyran
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger. {C}{C}

We did not understand what you mean exactly by your question. If you meant that you looked for this Hadeeth and you did not find it with this number, then please be advised that the Hadeeth is authentic and it is reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari without doubt.

Numbering the narration was not done by Al-Bukhaari as it is known. Rather, it is done by the reviewers and publishing houses, and it varies according to the different editions. The number that you mentioned is in the edition published by Dar Ibn Katheer, Al-Yamamah –Beirut, and this edition was reviewed by Dr. Mustafa Dib Al-Bagha.

The Hadeeth was also published in the edition of Muhammad Zuhayr ibn Nasser Al-Nasser No. 4302, and this edition was published by Dar Tawq Al-Najat and it is illustrated, and the numbering was added by Mohamed Fouad Abdel-Baqi. This numbering (by Mohamed Fouad Abdel Baqi) is the most famous and it is the one adopted by contemporary people. So if you look up this Hadeeth in this edition by this number, you will find it. If you do not find it by number, you will find it in the Chapter of Al-Maghaazi (the Battles), as Al-Bukhari wrote a chapter about it without any title; he just wrote ‘Chapter’ without any title. It is the Chapter after which he mentioned the Chapter of ‘The Residence of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) in Makkah at the Time of the Conquest.'

The Hadeeth was narrated by ‘Amr ibn Salamah may Allaah be pleased with him and it reads:

"We were at a place which had water and it was a thoroughfare for the people, and the caravans used to pass by us and we would ask them, "What is wrong with the people? What is wrong with the people? Who is that man?” They would say, "That man claims that Allah has sent him and that he has been divinely inspired, or say that Allah has revealed to him such-and-such." I used to memorize that (Divine) talk, and feel as if it was inculcated in my heart. The Arabs (other than Quraysh) delayed their conversion to Islam till the Conquest (of Makkah). They used to say: "Leave him (i.e. Muhammad) and let him deal with his people (Quraysh): if he overpowers them, then he is a true Prophet.” So, when Makkah was conquered, every tribe rushed to embrace Islam, and my father hurried to embrace Islam before (the other members of) my tribe. When my father returned (from the Prophet) to his tribe, he said, "By Allah, I have come to you from the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) for sure!" The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) afterwards said to them, 'Offer such and such prayer at such and such time, and such prayer at such and such time, and when the time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce the Athaan (call for the prayer), and let the one amongst you who memorizes Quran the most lead you in the prayer." So they looked for such a person and found none who knew more Quran than I because of the Quran that I used to learn from the caravans. They, therefore, made me lead them in the prayer, and at that time, I was only a boy of six or seven years of age, wearing a Burda (i.e. a black checkered garment) that proved to be very short for me, and when I prostrate, part of my body becomes uncovered. A lady from the tribe said, "Won't you conceal the back (buttock) of your reciter (Imam) from us?" So they bought (a piece of cloth) and made a garment for me. I had never been so happy with anything before as I was with that garment.”

The narration was also narrated by Abu Daawood and others.

Allah knows best.

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