Hadith 5250

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ , حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ , حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ , قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ عِكْرِمَةَ يَرْفَعُ الْحَدِيثَ فِيمَا أَرَى إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ : قال رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " مَنْ تَرَكَ الْحَيَّاتِ مَخَافَةَ طَلَبِهِنَّ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا , مَا سَالَمْنَاهُنَّ مُنْذُ حَارَبْنَاهُنَّ " .
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet ﷺ said: He who leaves the snakes along through fear of their pursuit, does not belong to us. We have not made peace with them since we have fought with them.
Hadith Reference سنن ابي داود / أبواب السلام / 5250
Hadith Grading الألبانی: صحيح  |  زبیر علی زئی: ضعيف, إسناده ضعيف, موسي بن مسلم الطحان شك في وصل الحديث, فالحديث معلول, انوار الصحيفه، صفحه نمبر 182
Hadith Takhrij « تفرد بہ أبوداود، (تحفة الأشراف: 6221)، وقد أخرجہ: مسند احمد (1/230) (صحیح) »
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:

Both of the aforementioned narrations are weak in their chains of transmission; however, their meaning is correct, as has been clarified in the research and verification section.


A person of faith should be courageous and brave, and should not remain fearful of his enemy, whether that enemy is human or animal. Rather, he should place his trust in Allah Ta'ala.


Similarly, one should not fear their retaliation either.


The enmity between humans and snakes is natural and innate.


One who fears snakes possesses a level of faith that is less than the highest degree.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 5250