❖ Authored by: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Anwar Zāhid ḥafiẓahullāh
✿ Context of the Qur'anic Verse
The majority of scholars of tafsīr hold that the verse:
"يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا..."
(O you who have believed, if there comes to you a fāsiq with information, verify it...)
[Surah al-Ḥujurāt: 6]
was revealed regarding Walīd ibn ʿUqbah ibn Abī Muʿīṭ when the Prophet ﷺ sent him to the tribe of Banū al-Muṣṭaliq to collect zakāh.
✿ The Story of Ḥārith al-Khuzāʿī رضي الله عنه
According to Musnad Aḥmad, Ḥārith ibn Ḍirār al-Khuzāʿī رضي الله عنه, the father of Umm al-Muʾminīn Maymūnah رضي الله عنها, narrates:
I came to the Prophet ﷺ who invited me to Islam. I accepted and embraced Islam. He then informed me about the obligation of zakāh. I acknowledged it and said:
“I will return to my people, call them to Islam, and collect zakāh from those who embrace the faith. After a certain period, send someone to me and I will hand over the collected zakāh.”
He returned to his people, preached Islam, and collected zakāh. When the agreed-upon time passed and no messenger arrived from the Prophet ﷺ, he gathered his tribal leaders and said:
“It’s inconceivable that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would break his word. I fear that perhaps due to some displeasure, the Prophet ﷺ has not sent anyone. Let us ourselves go and deliver the zakāh to him.”
They set out with the wealth. Meanwhile, the Prophet ﷺ had already sent Walīd ibn ʿUqbah رضي الله عنه as the collector. However, when Walīd approached the area, he became fearful, thinking the people were preparing to attack him, and returned to the Prophet ﷺ reporting:
“Ḥārith has withheld zakāh and intended to kill me!”
Upon hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ became angry and intended to send a contingent to reprimand Ḥārith. This small force encountered Ḥārith on the way near Madinah and surrounded him.
Ḥārith رضي الله عنه asked:
“What is this? Who are you sent to?”
They replied:
“To you, on account that you withheld zakāh and intended to kill the Prophet’s envoy.”
He responded:
“By Allah, Who sent Muḥammad ﷺ with the truth, I neither saw him nor did he reach me. Come, I am heading to the Prophet ﷺ myself.”
When he arrived, the Prophet ﷺ asked:
“Did you withhold zakāh and try to kill my envoy?”
Ḥārith replied:
“Never, O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I never saw him. I feared that perhaps due to divine or prophetic displeasure the envoy was not sent, so I came personally.”
✿ Revelation of the Verse
Upon this incident, the verse:
"يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا..."
was revealed up to “ḥakīm”.
✿ Extended Narrations
In another version found in Ṭabarānī, it is stated:
When the Prophet’s envoy neared the settlement of Ḥārith رضي الله عنه, the people joyfully prepared to welcome him. However, Shayṭān instilled fear in the envoy’s heart, leading him to think they were coming to fight him. He turned back and reported falsely.
Ḥārith and his people, fearing divine or prophetic anger due to the envoy’s return, came themselves and arrived at Ẓuhr time. During the ʿAṣr adhān, the verse was revealed.
According to another narration in Ṭabarī, the Prophet ﷺ was already considering sending another group to them. But before that, Ḥārith’s delegation arrived, clarified the matter, and sought refuge from Allah’s wrath and the Prophet’s displeasure. Allah then revealed the verse, validating their excuse and clearing them of blame.
❖ Ḥadīth Verification
⟹ The chain of transmission is weak (إسناده ضعيف).
- Reported in Musnad Aḥmad [4/279, Ḥadīth 18650]
- Also found in Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr, Ḥadīth 3395
Refer: Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid [7/109, Ḥadīth 11352]
❖ In Ṭabarī [1/383, Ḥadīth 31685],
→ Mūsā ibn ʿUbayd al-Rabadhī is a weak narrator (ḍaʿīf).
❖ The next narration in Ṭabarī contains ʿAṭiyyah ibn Saʿd al-ʿAwfī, who is also weak (ḍaʿīf).
❖ Conclusion
This well-known account related to the verse in Surah al-Ḥujurāt is popular in tafsīr literature, but the chains of transmission are weak. Although the incident aligns with the meaning of the verse, it should not be cited as a sound narration without clarifying its weakness.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
