Is this narration authentic?
رواها الحافظ أبو القاسم الطبراني بإسناده ، اختصارها أن جريرا: أمر مولاه أن يشتري له فرسا بثلثمائة درهم ، وجاء به وبصاحبه لينقده الثمن ، فقال جريرلصاحب الفرس : فرسك خير من ثلاثمائة درهم أتبيعه بأربعمائة ؟ قال ذلك إليك يا أبا عبد الله ، فقال فرسك خير من ذلك أتبيعه بخمسمائة ، ثم لم يزل يزيده مائة فمائة وصاحبه يرضى وجرير يقول فرسك خير إلى أن بلغ ثمانمائة درهم فاشتراه بها ، فقيل له في ذلك ، فقال إني بايعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على النصح لكل مسلم
Answer
The version that you have cited is actually a summarized version taken from ‘Allamah Nawawi’s commentary on Sahih Muslim.
(Al-Minhaj, commentary of Hadith: 197)
Translation of this version:
‘It is reported about Sayyiduna Jarir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) that he ordered his slave to buy a horse for 300 dirhams, the slave came with the owner of the horse to discuss the price. Sayyiduna Jarir (radiyallahu’anhu) said to the owner of the horse, your horse is worth more than 300 dirhams, will you sell it to me for 400. He said you can have it, O Abu Abdir Rahman. Then Sayyiduna Jarir said it is worth more than that, sell it for 500. In this manner he continued increasing the offer by 100 and the owner was happily agreeing until it reached 800 dirhams, upon which the deal was concluded. Sayyiduna Jarir (radiyallahu’anhu) was asked about this to which he said: I pledged allegiance to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) to be wishing well for every Muslim.’
The full version
The following is the full version of this incident as appears in the source that ‘Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah) has referenced to.
Sayyiduna Jarir’s (radiyallahu’anhu) son reports that his father went one morning to purchase an animal and his slave was with. He stopped at the market area where the animals were passing by. A horse passed by which he liked, so he told his slave: ‘Go purchase that horse’. His slave went and offered the owner 300 dirhams, the owner refused to sell it so he started negotiating but the owner refused to sell so the slave said: ‘Do you want to go to our companion (my master) who is at the side area of the market?’ He replied: ‘I have no problem with that.’ When they came to the master (Sayyiduna Jarir), the slave said to him: ‘I offered him 300 dirhams for his horse but he refused, and he says it is valued more than that.’ The owner of the horse said: ‘He is correct, may Allah keep you well, do you feel that is a suitable price?’ Sayyiduna Jarir said: ‘Your horse is valued higher than that, sell it for 500 and this went on until the price reached 700 or 800 dirhams.
When the man left, Sayyiduna Jarir (radiyallahu’anhu) turned to his slave and said: May mercy be shown to you, I sent you to purchase an animal for me which I liked, and you came with a Muslim who was pulling it along saying what do you feel? what do you feel?
Certainly I have pledged allegiance to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) to be well wishing towards every Muslim.
(Al-Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 2395)
This incident is suitable to quote. It displays the exemplary character of Sayyiduna Jarir ibn ‘Abdillah Al-Bajaly (radiyallahu’anhu).
See a similar incident about another Sahabi (radiyallahu’anhu) here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar