Hadith 6866

وَقَالَ حَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ ، عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ، قَالَ : قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِلْمِقْدَادِ : " إِذَا كَانَ رَجُلٌ مُؤْمِنٌ يُخْفِي إِيمَانَهُ ، مَعَ قَوْمٍ كُفَّارٍ ، فَأَظْهَرَ إِيمَانَهُ ، فَقَتَلْتَهُ ، فَكَذَلِكَ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ تُخْفِي إِيمَانَكَ بِمَكَّةَ مِنْ قَبْلُ " .
The Prophet also said to Al-Miqdad, "If a faithful believer conceals his faith (Islam) from the disbelievers, and then when he declares his Islam, you kill him, (you will be sinful). Remember that you were also concealing your faith (Islam) at Mecca before."
Hadith Reference صحيح البخاري / كتاب الديات / 6866
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
The beginning of this hadith is as follows: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sent a small expedition in which Hazrat Miqdad radi Allahu anhu was also present. When this expedition advanced towards the disbelievers, they scattered, but a wealthy man remained there and he recited the testimony of faith (kalimat al-shahadah). Hazrat Miqdad radi Allahu anhu advanced and killed him. When people narrated this incident to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he said:
"You killed a man who had recited La ilaha illallah. When he comes on the Day of Resurrection reciting the testimony, what will you do with La ilaha illallah at that time?" At that moment, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to Hazrat Miqdad radi Allahu anhu:
"The man whom you killed was a believer and he had concealed his faith."
(al-Mu'jam al-Kabir of al-Tabarani: 24/12, Hadith: 12379, and Fath al-Bari: 236/12)
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6866