1135 – Abu Rafiʿ (d. — AH) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “I neither break a covenant nor imprison emissaries.” It was narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Hibban declared it sound.⦗1⦘

Hadith grading:
The report is authentic. Ibn Hibban judged it ṣaḥīḥ, saying, “Its transmitters are trustworthy,” and al-Suyuti likewise graded it sound in al-Jamiʿ al-Ṣaghir. The author states: “Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Nasa’i, and authenticated by Ibn Hibban.” The editor adds: Abu Dawud and al-Mundhiri left it without further comment, and Abu Dawud remarked, “That ruling applied in those days; today it is no longer suitable.” Shaykh Shuʿayb Arnaʾut also deemed its chain sound in his notes on al-Ihsan fi Taqrib Sahih Ibn Hibban.

Vocabulary:
– “la akhīsu bi-l-ʿahd”: from the verb khāsa–yakhīsu, meaning to act treacherously or violate an agreement; thus, “I do not break or betray a covenant.”
– “wa-lā aḥbisu r-rusul”: ḥabs means to detain or prevent. The plural rusul (sing. rasūl) here denotes envoys or ambassadors who carry messages between heads of state in matters of governance.