Musannaf — Ibn Abi Shaybah 37157
As an encyclopedia containing over 37,000 individual reports, the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah is uniquely structurally suited for preserving narrations like 37157. Unlike later Sahih collections that filtered out complex political entries to prioritize legal rulings, a Musannaf gathers a broad spectrum of statements from the Prophet, his Companions ( Mawqoof ), and Successors ( Maqtoo' ) arranged topically.
A Kufan narrator noted by Hadith critics for transmitting historical accounts concerning early political strife and the virtues of the Prophet's companions.
A hadith number like 37157 might look like a random catalog entry. But inside it is a man’s pride, a Prophet’s wisdom, and a lesson in how to eat — and live — with humility.
The primary narrator who directly questioned Safinah regarding the political propaganda of the era. Historical Context: Caliphate vs. Monarchy musannaf ibn abi shaybah 37157
Abdullah ibn Numa'ir narrated to us from Hisham ibn 'Urva, from his father, from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever performs an action without our command, it is rejected." (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 37157)
Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Shaybah Al-Abasi (159 AH – 235 AH / 775 CE – 849 CE) was a giant among early Sunni scholars. A contemporary of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Imam Ali ibn al-Madini, Ibn Abi Shaybah was known for his encyclopedic memory and his expertise in both Hadith and Fiqh.
'An Abi ‘Abdillah al-Sunabihi, qala: Qala Rasulullah (saw): "Idha kana al-ma’u qullatayn lam yahmil al-khabath" aw qala: "lam yunajjisahu shay’." A hadith number like 37157 might look like
This narration is part of a larger discussion in early Islamic history regarding the transition from the to the era of Kingship (Mulk) .
To understand the weight of this narration, Islamic scholars look closely at the transmission chain ( Isnad ):
: Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah was a prominent Sunni scholar and a teacher to major figures like Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim. Historical Context: Caliphate vs
This aligns seamlessly with the prophetic paradigm where the true, consensus-based Caliphate was predicted to last approximately 30 years following the death of the Prophet, encompassing the leadership of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. The transition to Mu'awiyah established hereditary, dynastic administration, which early scholars classified as the birth of temporal kingship in the Muslim world. Caliphate ( Khilafah ) Kingship ( Mulk ) Shura (Consultation/Consensus) Dynastic/Hereditary Succession Authority Strictly bound by Prophetic precedent Driven by political expediency and power Characterization Spiritual and temporal guidance Temporal governance, often strict or harsh The Place of this Narration within the Musannaf
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