Do you think I bargained with you to take your camel? Take your camel and your dirhams; these are yours
Authentic hadithعن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما : «أنه كان يسير على جمل فأعيا، فأراد أن يُسَيِّبَهُ. فلحقني النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فدعا لي، وضربه، فسار سيرا لم يَسِرْ مثله. ثم قال: بِعْنِيهِ بأُوقية. قلتُ: لا. ثم قال: بِعْنِيه. فَبِعْتُهُ بأوقية، واستثنيت حُمْلَانَهُ إلى أهلي. فلما بلغت: أتيته بالجمل. فنقدني ثمنه. ثم رجعت. فأرسل في إثري. فقال: أتَرَانِي مَاكستُكَ لآخذ جملك؟ خذ جملك ودراهمك، فهو لك».
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was traveling on a camel and it got exhausted, and I decided to release it. However, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) caught up with me, supplicated for me, and struck it. Thereupon, it started to walk like never before. Then, he said: "Sell it to me for an ounce." I said: ‘No.’ He again said: "Sell it to me." So, I sold it to him for an ounce, but made the stipulation that I should be allowed to ride it back to my family. Then, when I reached home, I took the camel to him and he paid me its price on the spot. As I went back, he sent someone after me and said: "Do you think I bargained with you to take your camel? Take your camel and your dirhams; these are yours."
Explanation
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) was with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in one of his battles. He was riding a camel that became too fatigued to keep up with the rest of the army. Jābir decided to release it and let it run away, given its lack of usefulness. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) out of his mercy towards his Companions and followers, used to walk at the rear of the army, so as to care for those who are weak, helpless, or stranded. So, he reached Jābir while he was still on his exhausted camel. He supplicated for him and tapped his camel. Thereupon, his mild and merciful strike turned into power and support for the weak animal, and it started to walk faster and more vigorously than ever before. Then, seeking to make Jābir pleased and content and to engage him in a talk that would make the journey easier for him, the kind and gentle Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: “Sell it to me for an ounce.” Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) desired more of the bounty of Allah, knowing that he would not be sinful if he refused to sell the camel to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as this does not fall under the obligatory obedience to him. Nonetheless, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) repeated his request, and so Jābir sold it to him for an ounce on condition that he should ride it back to Madīnah. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) accepted his condition. When they arrived, Jābir took the camel to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and gave it to him for the price they had agreed upon. When Jābir went away, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent someone to call him back. He returned to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who said: “Do you think I bargained with you to take your camel? Take your camel and your dirhams; these are yours", meaning: both are for you. This act should not be regarded as strange, as it came from the generous, well-mannered, and gentle Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
Source · Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).