Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “I have been made successful through terror.” Sahih Bukhari
Is the reference and the translation correct?
Answer
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith. The reference is therefore correct.
Imam Muslim (rahimahullah) has also recorded this Hadith.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 335-438, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 521)
A better and more accurate translation would be “I was assisted through fear.”
This Hadith means that Allah Ta’ala placed fear of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) into the hearts of his enemy who were up to a distance of a month’s journey away. Even if he were to set out alone without an army, they would still be afraid of him due to his awe that was divinely put into the enemy.
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 335)
See the full Hadith here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar