Question
What is the translation of the word يبسون in the following Hadith?
عن سفيان بن أبي زهير رضي الله عنه، أنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، يقول: تفتح اليمن، فيأتي قوم يبسون، فيتحملون بأهلهم ومن أطاعهم، والمدينة خير لهم لو كانوا يعلمون، وتفتح الشأم، فيأتي قوم يبسون، فيتحملون بأهليهم ومن أطاعهم، والمدينة خير لهم لو كانوا يعلمون، وتفتح العراق، فيأتي قوم يبسون، فيتحملون بأهليهم ومن أطاعهم، والمدينة خير لهم لو كانوا يعلمون
Answer
This narration is recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
‘يبسون’ means they will be driving their animals and livestock. It could also mean they will entice their families, make it seem very attractive and encourage them [to migrate].
(Refer: Al Minhaj of ‘Allamah Nawawi, Hadith: 3351, Fathul Bari, Hadith: 1875)
The translation of the complete Hadith is as follows:
Sufyan ibn Abi Zuhayr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that he heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: “Yemen will be conquered and some people will migrate [from Madinah] and will urge their families/drive their animals and those under their command to migrate [to Yemen] but Madinah is best for them if only they knew. Sham will also be conquered and some people will migrate [from Madinah] and will urge their families/drive their animals and those under their command to migrate their, but Madinah is best for them if only they knew. ‘Iraq will be conquered, some people will migrate [from Madinah] and will urge their families/drive their animals and those under their command to migrate [to ‘Iraq], but Madinah is best for them if only they knew.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1875, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1388)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar,
This Hadith is addressing those who prefer to leave Madinah Munawwarah for worldly motives, and not those who do so for the service and upliftment of Din.