al-Hikam al-Jadira bil-Idhaa - ضمن Majmu Rasail Ibn Rajab
- Author died
- 795 AH
- Editions
- Al-Fārūq al-Ḥadīthah lil-Ṭibā‘ah wal-Nashr
Al-Hikam al-Jadira bil-Idha'ah min Qawl al-Nabi ﷺ Bu'ithtu bil-Sayf Bayna Yaday al-Sa'ah (Wisdoms Worthy of Proclamation from the Prophet's Saying: "I Have Been Sent with the Sword Before the Hour") is a short hadith commentary treatise by the Hanbali scholar Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (736–795 AH / 1335–1393 CE) .
Subject and Content
The treatise provides an analytical exposition of a hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal from Abdullah ibn Umar, in which the Prophet ﷺ stated: بُعِثْتُ بِالسَّيْفِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ، حَتَّى يُعْبَدَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَجُعِلَ رِزْقِي تَحْتَ ظِلِّ رُمْحِي، وَجُعِلَ الذِّلَّةُ وَالصَّغَارُ عَلَى مَنْ خَالَفَ أَمْرِي، وَمَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ ("I have been sent with the sword before the Hour until Allah alone is worshipped without partner, and my provision has been placed under the shade of my spear, and humiliation and lowliness have been placed upon whoever opposes my command, and whoever imitates a people is of them") .
Ibn Rajab structures his commentary around the distinct clauses of the hadith:
- Being sent with the sword before the Hour: He explains that the Prophet ﷺ was sent to invite mankind to divine monotheism (tawhid) through the sword after first inviting them through reasoned argument and clear proof (al-hujjah wal-bayan) . Those who do not respond to the Quran and logical demonstration are addressed with the sword, in accordance with the Quranic verse: لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ وَأَنزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ ("We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [affairs] in justice, and We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people") . The phrasing also indicates the proximity of the Prophet's mission to the Day of Resurrection .
- Provision under the shade of the spear: Ibn Rajab notes that the Prophet ﷺ was not commissioned to pursue or hoard worldly wealth, but rather his livelihood was derived as spoils of war (fay' and ghanimah) resulting from his worship and struggle . Since wealth was created for humanity to aid in the obedience of Allah, those who utilize it for disbelief forfeit their right to it, allowing it to be reclaimed by believers . Furthermore, because his jihad was undertaken solely to elevate the word of Allah rather than for material gain, worldly sustenance came as an unpursued consequence of sincere devotion .
- Humiliation for those who oppose his command and the prohibition of imitation: The text examines the decree of abasement upon the adversaries of the prophetic message, as well as the legal and theological implications of imitating non-Muslims in their customs, dress, and practices .
Manuscripts and Publication
The treatise survives in manuscript collections, including copy MS 5318 in the Fatih collection in Istanbul and MS 56/16b in the Saudi Library .
It has been published in Majmu' Rasa'il Ibn Rajab (a multi-volume compilation of the author's collected monographs) . It has also appeared as a standalone volume in several critical editions, including one edited by Abd al-Qadir al-Arna'ut (published by Dar al-Ma'mun, Damascus, 1990) , an edition with an introduction by Nasir al-Din al-Albani (Dar Murjan, Cairo) , and an edition published by al-Maktab al-Islami in Beirut supervised by Zuhayr al-Shawish .
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