Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
tirmidhi:1239Qutaybah > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

"A slave came to give the pledge to the Prophet ﷺ for Hijrah, but the Prophet ﷺ did not realize that he was a slave. So his master came to get him and the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Sell him to me.' So he purchased him for two black slaves. Then he would not pledge from anyone until he asked him if he was a slave." [He said:] There is something on this topic from Anas.  

[Abu 'Eisa said:] The Hadith of Jabir is a Hasan Sahih Hadith. This is acted upon according to the people of knowledge. There is no harm in a slave for two slaves in hand to hand exchange, but they differ when it is on credit.
الترمذي:١٢٣٩حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلاَ يَشْعُرُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ  

قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ جَابِرٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنَّهُ لاَ بَأْسَ بِعَبْدٍ بِعَبْدَيْنِ يَدًا بِيَدٍ وَاخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ إِذَا كَانَ نَسِيئًا

See similar narrations below:

Collected by Muslim, Nasāʾī, Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Nasāʾī's Kubrá, Bayhaqī
muslim:1602[Chain 1] Yaḥyá b. Yaḥyá al-Tamīmī And Ibn Rumḥ > al-Layth [Chain 2] Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

There came a slave and pledg- ed allegiance to Allah's Apostle ﷺ on migration; he (the Holy Prophet) did not know that he was a slave. Then there came his master and demanded him back, whereupon Allah's Apostle ﷺ said: Sell him to me. And he bought him for two black slaves, and he did not afterwards take allegiance from anyone until he had asked him whether he was a slave (or a free man)  

مسلم:١٦٠٢حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِيُّ وَابْنُ رُمْحٍ قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ ح وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَمْ يَشْعُرْ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ  

nasai:4184Qutaybah > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

"A slave came and pledged to the Prophet to emigrate, and the Prophet did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him. The Prophet said: 'Sell him to me,' and he bought him for two black slaves. Then he did not accept the pledge from anyone until he asked: 'Is he a slave?"'  

النسائي:٤١٨٤أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلاَ يَشْعُرُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ  

nasai:4621Qutaybah > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

"A slave came and gave his pledge to the Messenger of Allah to emigrate, and the Prophet did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him. The Prophet said; 'Sell him to me.' So he bought him for two black slaves, then he did not accept until he had asked; 'Is he a slave?'''  

النسائي:٤٦٢١أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلاَ يَشْعُرُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ  

tirmidhi:1596Qutaybah > al-Layth b. Saʿd > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

"A slave came to give the pledge to the Prophet ﷺ for Hijrah, but the Prophet ﷺ did not realize that he was a slave. So his master came, and the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Sell him to me.' So he purchased him for two black slaves. After this he ﷺ would not take the pledge from anyone until he asked him if he was a slave." [He said:] There is something on this topic from Ibn 'Abbas.  

[Abu 'Eisa said:] The Hadith of Jabir is Hasan Gharib Sahih, we do not know of it except as a narration of Abu Az-Zubair.
الترمذي:١٥٩٦حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ

أَنَّهُ قَالَ جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلاَ يَشْعُرُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ  

قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ جَابِرٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ صَحِيحٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ
ibnmajah:2869Muḥammad b. Rumḥ > al-Layth b. Saʿd > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

“A slave came and gave his pledge to the Prophet ﷺ, pledging to emigrate, and the Prophet ﷺ did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him, and the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Sell him to me,’ and he brought him in exchange for two black slaves. Then after that he did not accept the pledge from anyone until he had asked whether he was a slave.”  

ابن ماجة:٢٨٦٩حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ أَنْبَأَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَمْ يَشْعُرِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ  

ahmad:14772Ḥujayn > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr And ʾIsḥāq b. ʿĪsá > Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh

"A slave came and gave his pledge to the Messenger of Allah to emigrate, and the Prophet did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him. The Prophet said; 'Sell him to me.' So he bought him for two black slaves, then he did not accept until he had asked; 'Is he a slave?''' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 4621)  

أحمد:١٤٧٧٢حَدَّثَنَا حُجَيْنٌ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عِيسَى حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَمْ يَشْعُرْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ ؟  

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ الْبَيْعَةَ إِنَّمَا يَجِبُ أَنْ تَقَعَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ مِنَ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْأَحْرَارِ مِنْهُمْ دُونَ الْعَبِيدِ

ibnhibban:4550al-Faḍl b. al-Ḥubāb al-Jumaḥī > Abū al-Walīd al-Ṭayālisī > Layth b. Saʿd > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh

[Machine] That a servant pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ for migration, so his master came to him wanting him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Then I will buy him with two black slaves." He did not pledge allegiance to anyone for migration until he asked him, "Is he a slave?"  

ابن حبّان:٤٥٥٠أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ الْجُمَحِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ

أَنَّ عَبْدًا بَايَعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ فَأَتَاهُ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ قَالَ فَاشْتَرَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايعْ أَحَدًا عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ «أَعْبُدٌ هُوَ؟ »  

ذِكْرُ جَوَازِ بَيْعِ الْمَرْءِ الْحَيَوَانَ بَعْضَهَا بِبَعْضٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ الَّذِي يَأْخُذُ أَقَلَّ فِي الْعَدَدِ مِنَ الَّذِي يُعْطِي

ibnhibban:5027Ibn Qutaybah > Yazīd b. Mawhab > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

"A slave came and pledged to the Prophet to emigrate, and the Prophet did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him. The Prophet said: 'Sell him to me,' and he bought him for two black slaves. Then he did not accept the pledge from anyone until he asked: 'Is he a slave?"' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 4184)  

ابن حبّان:٥٠٢٧أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ قُتَيْبَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ مَوْهَبٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَمْ يَشْعُرْ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «بِعْنِيهِ» فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايعْ أَحَدًا حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعْبُدٌ هُوَ؟  

nasai-kubra:7759Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

“A slave came and gave his pledge to the Prophet ﷺ, pledging to emigrate, and the Prophet ﷺ did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him, and the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Sell him to me,’ and he brought him in exchange for two black slaves. Then after that he did not accept the pledge from anyone until he had asked whether he was a slave.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2869)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٧٧٥٩أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَا يَشْعُرُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «بِعْنِيهِ» فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعْبُدٌ هُوَ؟  

nasai-kubra:8663Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

“A slave came and gave his pledge to the Prophet ﷺ, pledging to emigrate, and the Prophet ﷺ did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him, and the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Sell him to me,’ and he brought him in exchange for two black slaves. Then after that he did not accept the pledge from anyone until he had asked whether he was a slave.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2869)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٨٦٦٣أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَا يَشْعُرُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعْبُدٌ هُوَ؟»  

nasai-kubra:6171Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

“A slave came and gave his pledge to the Prophet ﷺ, pledging to emigrate, and the Prophet ﷺ did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him, and the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Sell him to me,’ and he brought him in exchange for two black slaves. Then after that he did not accept the pledge from anyone until he had asked whether he was a slave.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2869)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٦١٧١أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَا يَشْعُرُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «بِعْنِيهِ» فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ «أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ؟»  

bayhaqi:10522Abū ʿAbdullāh al-Ḥāfiẓ > Abū Bakr b. Isḥāq > Ismāʿīl b. Qutaybah > Yaḥyá b. Yaḥyá > al-Layth b. Saʿd > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

“A slave came and gave his pledge to the Prophet ﷺ, pledging to emigrate, and the Prophet ﷺ did not realize that he was a slave. Then his master came looking for him, and the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Sell him to me,’ and he brought him in exchange for two black slaves. Then after that he did not accept the pledge from anyone until he had asked whether he was a slave.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2869)   

البيهقي:١٠٥٢٢أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ أنا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ أنا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ قُتَيْبَةَ ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى أنا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَمْ يَشْعُرْ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ؟  

رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ فِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَحْيَى وَغَيْرِهِ
bayhaqi:18844Muḥammad b. ʿAbdullāh al-Ḥāfiẓ > Abū Bakr b. Isḥāq > Muḥammad b. Ayyūb > Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > al-Layth > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

[Machine] A man came and pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ for migration, without realizing that he was a slave. Then, his master came looking for him, so the Prophet ﷺ said to him, "Buy him from me." So, he bought him for two black slaves. After that, the man did not pledge allegiance to anyone until another man asked him, "Are you a slave?"  

البيهقي:١٨٨٤٤أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ ثنا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ أنبأ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ أنبأ قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ثنا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ ؓ قَالَ

جَاءَ عَبْدٌ فَبَايَعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْهِجْرَةِ وَلَمْ يَشْعُرْ أَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ فَجَاءَ سَيِّدُهُ يُرِيدُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِعْنِيهِ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِعَبْدَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ أَحَدًا بَعْدُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ أَعَبْدٌ هُوَ؟  

رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ فِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ قُتَيْبَةَ وَغَيْرِهِ قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ وَلَوْ كَانَ الْإِسْلَامُ يُعْتِقُهُ لَمْ يَشْتَرِ مِنْهُ حُرًّا وَلَكِنَّهُ أَسْلَمَ غَيْرَ خَارِجٍ مِنْ بِلَادٍ مَنْصُوبٍ عَلَيْهَا الْحَرْبُ