Reality of the Story of the Idol at Buwāna and Analysis of Its Chains of Transmission
Authored by: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Anwar Zāhid ḥafiẓahu-llāh
It is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) that Umm Ayman (رضي الله عنها) informed him, saying:
“In a settlement between Makkah and Madinah called Buwāna, there existed an idol. The Quraysh used to visit it, revere it, offer sacrifices at its feet, shave their heads there, and spend the entire day in retreat. This was their annual occasion. Abū Ṭālib also used to go there with his people and would ask the Prophet ﷺ to accompany them, but the Prophet ﷺ would refuse.”
Once, I saw Abū Ṭālib become extremely angry with the Prophet ﷺ and say:
“The stance you have adopted against our gods is becoming dangerous for me.”
On that day, even the Prophet’s paternal aunts were very displeased with him. They said:
“O Muḥammad ﷺ! What harm is there if one more person joins the festival of the tribe?”
Eventually, they forced the Prophet ﷺ to go with them. However, the Prophet ﷺ disappeared from there for a time determined by Allah ﷻ. When he returned, he was visibly disturbed.
His aunts asked, “Why are you so disturbed?”
He replied:
“I fear that I may have been affected by something.”
They said: “May Allah protect you from the tribulation of Shayṭān! All goodness is found in you. What did you see?”
He said: “Whenever I tried to approach the idol, a tall white figure would appear in front of me, shouting: O Muḥammad ﷺ! Step back! Do not touch it!”
Umm Ayman (رضي الله عنها) states that after this incident, the Prophet ﷺ never again participated in the tribal festivals.
Its chain of transmission is fabricated (موضوع).
This narration was mentioned by Abū Nuʿaym in Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah, but it is a fabricated story.
Within its chain is Abū Bakr ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Sabrah, whom Imām al-Bukhārī declared as weak (ḍaʿīf).
Some critics have even stated:
“He used to fabricate ḥadīths.”
For reference, see the following classical sources:
This narration is not authentic. The incident of the idol at Buwāna and the Prophet ﷺ being forced by his family is based on a fabricated narration and cannot be relied upon in any scholarly or religious context.
Authored by: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Anwar Zāhid ḥafiẓahu-llāh
❖ The Story of the Idol at Buwāna and the Forced Participation of the Prophet ﷺ by His Relatives
It is narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) that Umm Ayman (رضي الله عنها) informed him, saying:
“In a settlement between Makkah and Madinah called Buwāna, there existed an idol. The Quraysh used to visit it, revere it, offer sacrifices at its feet, shave their heads there, and spend the entire day in retreat. This was their annual occasion. Abū Ṭālib also used to go there with his people and would ask the Prophet ﷺ to accompany them, but the Prophet ﷺ would refuse.”
Once, I saw Abū Ṭālib become extremely angry with the Prophet ﷺ and say:
“The stance you have adopted against our gods is becoming dangerous for me.”
On that day, even the Prophet’s paternal aunts were very displeased with him. They said:
“O Muḥammad ﷺ! What harm is there if one more person joins the festival of the tribe?”
Eventually, they forced the Prophet ﷺ to go with them. However, the Prophet ﷺ disappeared from there for a time determined by Allah ﷻ. When he returned, he was visibly disturbed.
His aunts asked, “Why are you so disturbed?”
He replied:
“I fear that I may have been affected by something.”
They said: “May Allah protect you from the tribulation of Shayṭān! All goodness is found in you. What did you see?”
He said: “Whenever I tried to approach the idol, a tall white figure would appear in front of me, shouting: O Muḥammad ﷺ! Step back! Do not touch it!”
Umm Ayman (رضي الله عنها) states that after this incident, the Prophet ﷺ never again participated in the tribal festivals.
✿ Verification of the Ḥadīth:
Its chain of transmission is fabricated (موضوع).
This narration was mentioned by Abū Nuʿaym in Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah, but it is a fabricated story.
Within its chain is Abū Bakr ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Sabrah, whom Imām al-Bukhārī declared as weak (ḍaʿīf).
Some critics have even stated:
“He used to fabricate ḥadīths.”
For reference, see the following classical sources:
- Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl (6/341)
- Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb (12/27 [138])
- Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb (p. 397)
- Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ (7/330)
- Al-Tārīkh al-Kabīr (9/9)
- Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid (10/113)
- Al-Mughnī (no. 7351)
- Al-Maḥrūmīn (3/147)
- Al-Ḍuʿafāʾ wa al-Matrūkīn (no. 3891)
- Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd (5/341)
- Tahdhīb al-Kamāl (no. 1582)
⚠ Conclusion:
This narration is not authentic. The incident of the idol at Buwāna and the Prophet ﷺ being forced by his family is based on a fabricated narration and cannot be relied upon in any scholarly or religious context.
