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Explanation of a comment made by Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu)

Please quote the Hadith wherein Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) had made a comment against one of the idols of the Quraysh at Hudaybiyyah.

Answer

This is part of a lengthy narration which discusses the incident when Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the Sahabah were prevented from performing ‘Umrah.

During the negotiations, ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ud made a statement which implied that the Sahabah would flee and desert Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in the event of a defeat. When Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) heard this he became enraged and said, ‘Umsus bazral Lat‘ [Suck on the ‘bazr‘ of Lat], Do you think we would flee from him and desert him?’

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 2731,2732)

Explanation 

The Arabic word ‘bazr‘ generally refers to the private parts of a woman. If this meaning is taken the translation will be as follows:

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) rebukingly said to him, ‘Suck on the private part of the idol Lat, do you think we would desert Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)?’

The commentators explain that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) would have uttered this out of utter disgust and he wished to emphasize his disapproval of ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ud’s claim.

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 2731, vol. 5 pg. 340)

Another explanation

The Arabic word ‘bazr‘ has two possible meanings:

1) Private part

2) A person’s upper lip (Refer: Al Mu’jamul Wasit and Al Qamusul Wahid of Moulana Wahiduz Zaman Kiranwi, pg. 171)

My respected Bukhari teacher, Mufti Rida Ul Haq (May Allah Ta’ala protect him) prefers the second meaning for the following reasons:

1) Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) used the words ‘lick/suck’. Lips are sucked on, not private parts.

2) This lengthy Hadith further mentions, ‘Urwah then began to scan the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum). He says, By Allah, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would not blow/clean his nose but that the mucus landed in the palm of one of the Sahabah and he would rub his face and skin with [the blessed mucus/saliva of Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). If he gave a command, they hastened to do it…”

Therefore, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) meant, You continue sucking the saliva of the idol Lat, we will smear the blessed saliva of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) on our faces.

3) ‘Urwah did not accuse Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) of swearing and being vulgar. This indicates that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was not being vulgar.

4) Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was the most senior companion of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). His status demands that we adopt this explanation of the word ‘bazr‘.

(Fatawa Darul ‘Ulum Zakariyya, vol. 1 pg. 467/468)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

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