[The Account of Ghawrath ibn al-Hārith]

Ibn Isḥāq (1) reports in connection with this expedition: ʿAmr ibn ʿUbayd related to me, from al-Ḥasan, from Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh, that a man of Banū Muḥārib called Ghawrath said to his clansmen of Ghatafān and Muḥārib, “Shall I not kill Muḥammad for you?” They answered, “Indeed; but how will you do it?” He replied, “I shall take him unawares.”

He approached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while the Prophet was seated with his sword resting in his lap. Ghawrath said, “Muḥammad, may I look at that sword of yours?” The Prophet said, “Yes.” Ghawrath took it, drew it from the scabbard, and began to brandish it, intending to strike—but Allah confounded him.

He then said, “Muḥammad, do you not fear me?” The Prophet replied, “No. Why should I fear you?” Ghawrath said, “Do you not fear me while the sword is in my hand?” He answered, “No. Allah protects me from you.” Ghawrath thereupon returned the Prophet’s sword to him, and Allah revealed:

“O you who believe, remember Allah’s favor upon you when a people resolved to stretch out their hands against you, but He restrained their hands from you. So be mindful of Allah, and in Allah let the believers place their trust.” (al-Māʾidah 5:11)

Ibn Isḥāq (2) adds: Yazīd ibn Rūmān related to me that the verse was in fact revealed concerning ʿAmr ibn Juhāsh of Banū al-Naḍīr and what he conspired.

Thus Ibn Isḥāq recounts the story of this Ghawrath through ʿAmr ibn ʿUbayd the Qadarī, leader of the deviant sect. Although he is not accused of intentional fabrication, it is nonetheless improper to transmit from him because of his innovation and his advocacy of it.

The ḥadīth itself is authentically established in the two Ṣaḥīḥs through other chains—praise be to Allah.

Al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Bayhaqī (3) has cited several additional lines of transmission for this report; it is firmly recorded in the two Ṣaḥīḥs (4) through al-Zuhrī, from Sinān ibn Abī Sinān and Abū Salamah, from Jābir, who said: He campaigned with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the Najd expedition. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was returning, the midday heat overtook him in a valley thick with acacia. The people scattered under the trees for shade, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ rested beneath one of them and hung his sword upon it. Jābir said: We fell asleep; then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called us, and we answered him. A Bedouin was sitting beside him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “This man drew my sword while I was asleep. I awoke and it was naked in his hand. He said, ‘Who will protect you from me?’ I replied, ‘Allah.’ He repeated, ‘Who will protect you from me?’ I replied, ‘Allah.’ So he sheathed the sword and sat down.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not punish him for what he had done.

Muslim (5) likewise records it from Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah, from ʿAffān, from Abān, from Yaḥyā ibn Abī Kathīr