Yet matters such as these (1) are not what distinguish the first and foremost from those who followed them, for there is no more warrant for deeming (2) one of these ordinances better than another. Moreover, because the Quran and Sunnah establish that precedence (3) belongs to those at al-Hudaybiyyah, this verse must be interpreted in a manner consistent with all the other revealed texts.
It is necessarily known that these first and foremost included Abū Bakr, Umar, Alī (4), Talhah, and al-Zubayr. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—pledged allegiance [with his own hand] (5) on Uthmān’s behalf, for he was (6) absent, having been sent to the people of Mecca to convey the Prophet’s message to them. It was on his account that the people pledged allegiance to [the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—] (7), when word reached the Prophet that they had killed Uthmān.
It is established in Sahīh Muslim, on the authority of Jābir [ibn Abd Allāh] (8)—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said (9):
“No one who pledged allegiance beneath the tree will enter the Fire.” (10)
(1) A and B read: “what.”
(2) A reads: “more worthy than one who deems it”; B reads: “more worthy for one who deems it.”
(3) N and M read: “the superiority of.”
(4) B reads: “Abū Bakr, Umar, Uthmān, and Alī.” A has the accusative forms: “Abā Bakr and Umara …,” etc. The correct reading is the one I have established, as found in N and M.
(5) “With his own hand” is omitted from N and M.
(6) A and B read: “for he had been.”
(7) The text in square brackets is omitted from N and M.
(8) “Ibn Abd Allāh” is an addition in A and B.
(9) A and B read: “that he said.”
(10) This hadith, with this wording, is found in *al-Musnad* (al-Halabī ed.), 3:350, except that it reads: “anyone among those who pledged allegiance.” The hadith is also narrated from Umm Mubashshir—may Allah be pleased with her—in *Muslim*, 4:1942 (Book of the Merits of the Companions, chapter “Some of the Merits of the Companions of the Tree”). Its wording is: Jābir reported: Umm Mubashshir informed me that she heard the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—say in Hafsa’s presence: “Allah willing, none of the Companions of the Tree who pledged allegiance beneath it will enter the Fire.” She said, “But they will, O Messenger of Allah.” He rebuked her, whereupon Hafsa said: “There is none of you but will come to it.” The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has also said: ‘Then We shall save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers there upon their knees.’” The hadith is likewise narrated from Hafsa in *Sunan Ibn Mājah*, 2:1431 (Book of Renunciation, chapter “The Resurrection”). Ahmad included the version found in *Muslim* in his *Musnad* (al-Halabī ed.), 6:420. He also included two other reports with similar wording—both state: “No one”—and one version reads, “No man”—“who witnessed Badr and al-Hudaybiyyah will enter the Fire”—at 3:396 and 6:285–362.