Sunan Abi Dawud, 2934

Narrated Ghalib al-Qattan: Ghalib quoted a man who stated on the authority of his father that his grandfather reported: They lived at one of the springs. When Islam reached them, the master of the spring offered his people one hundred camels if they embraced Islam. So they embraced Islam, and he distributed the camels among them. But it occurred to him that he should take the camels back from them. He sent his son to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said to him: Go to the Prophet (ﷺ) and tell him: My father extends his greetings to you. He asked his people to give them one hundred camels if they embraced Islam, and they embraced Islam. He divided the camels among them. But it occurred to him then that he should withdraw his camels from them. Is he more entitled to them or we? If he says: Yes or no, then tell him: My father is an old man, and he is the chief of the people living at the water. He has requested you to make me chief after him. He came to him and said: My father has extended his greetings to you. He replied: On you and you father be peace. He said: My father asked his people to give them one hundred camels if they embraced Islam. So they embraced Islam, and their belief in Islam is good. Then it occurred to him that he should take his camels back from them. Is he more entitled to them or are they? He said: If he likes to give them the camels, he may give them; and if he likes to take them back, he is more entitled to them than his people. If they embraced Islam, then for them is their Islam. If they do not embrace Islam, they will be fought against in the cause of Islam. He said: My father is an old man; he is the chief of the people living at the spring. He has asked you to appoint me chief after him. He replied: The office of a chief is necessary, for people must have chiefs, but the chiefs will go to Hell

Rapporté par Ghalib al-Qattan : Ghalib a rapporté d’un homme qui tenait cela de son père, que son grand-père a raconté : Ils vivaient près d’une source. Quand l’Islam leur est parvenu, le maître de la source a promis à son peuple cent chameaux s’ils acceptaient l’Islam. Ils ont accepté l’Islam et il a réparti les chameaux entre eux. Mais il a ensuite pensé à les reprendre. Il a envoyé son fils voir le Prophète ﷺ et lui a dit : « Va voir le Prophète ﷺ et dis-lui : “Mon père te salue. Il a promis à son peuple cent chameaux s’ils acceptaient l’Islam, ils l’ont fait, et il les a partagés entre eux. Mais il pense maintenant à les reprendre. Qui y a le plus droit, lui ou nous ?” S’il répond oui ou non, dis-lui : “Mon père est un vieil homme, il est le chef des gens de la source. Il te demande de me nommer chef après lui.” » Il est allé voir le Prophète ﷺ et a dit : « Mon père te salue. » Il a répondu : « Que la paix soit sur toi et ton père. » Il a expliqué la situation des chameaux, et le Prophète ﷺ a dit : « S’il veut donner les chameaux, qu’il les donne ; s’il veut les reprendre, il y a plus droit que son peuple. S’ils ont accepté l’Islam, alors l’Islam leur appartient. S’ils ne l’acceptent pas, ils seront combattus pour la cause de l’Islam. » Il a ajouté : « Mon père est un vieil homme, il est le chef des gens de la source. Il te demande de me nommer chef après lui. » Le Prophète ﷺ a répondu : « Il faut un chef, car les gens ont besoin de chefs, mais les chefs iront en Enfer. »