عَنْ أَنَسٍ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخَذَ سَيْفًا يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ، فَقَالَ: «مَنْ يَأْخُذُ مِنِّي هَذَا؟» فَبَسَطُوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ، كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ مِنْهُمْ يَقُولُ: أَنَا أَنَا. قَالَ: «فَمَنْ يَأْخُذُهُ بِحَقِّهِ؟» فَأَحْجَمَ الْقَوْمُ، فَقَالَ أَبُو دُجَانَةَ رضي الله عنه: أَنَا آخُذُهُ بِحَقِّهِ، فَأَخَذَهُ، فَفَلَقَ بِهِ هَامَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ.
اسْمُ أَبِي دُجَانَةَ: سِمَاكُ بْنُ خَرْشَةَ.
Translation:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that on the day of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took up a sword and said: “Who will take this from me?” They stretched out their hands, each one of them saying, “Me, me!” He then said: “But who will take it with its right?” The people held back. Abu Dujanah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I will take it with its right.” So he took it, and with it he split the heads of the polytheists. (Muslim)
Abu Dujanah’s name was Simak ibn Kharshah. “The people held back” means they stopped and hesitated. “He split with it” means he cleaved through. “The heads of the polytheists” means their skulls.
1. Connection to the Chapter
This hadith belongs in the chapter on hastening to good deeds because it shows two levels of eagerness: the first, a rush for honor; the second, a willingness to bear the full cost of that honor. When the Prophet asked, “Who will take this sword?” the Companions immediately reached for it. But when he added the condition—“with its right”—the crowd fell silent. Only one man stepped forward.
Imam al-Nawawi places this narration here to teach that true hastening is not just about volunteering when the reward looks glorious; it is about saying “I will” when the price becomes clear. The chapter’s theme is not mere enthusiasm, but courageous commitment.
2. Key Concept Breakdown
- Who will take this from me? — The Prophet does not assign the sword; he invites volunteers. This turns the moment into a test of desire: who wants the honor of carrying this weapon in defense of Allah and His Messenger?
- They stretched out their hands… “Me, me!” — This is not showmanship; it is love. The Companions competed for proximity to the Prophet and for roles in jihad. Their eagerness reflects hearts that saw death in Allah’s cause as gain, not loss.
- Who will take it with its right? — Here the question changes. “Its right” means the full duty that comes with the sword: to stand firm, to fight without fleeing, to protect the Prophet even at the cost of one’s life. Suddenly the honor is tied to a heavy obligation.
- The people held back — They did not run away; they paused. When the condition was clarified, they reconsidered. This hesitation was not cowardice; it was reverence. They feared promising what they might not be able to fulfill in the presence of the Prophet.
- I will take it with its right — Abu Dujanah’s response is decisive. He does not say, “I will try,” or “Allah knows best.” He commits fully, knowing what the commitment demands.
- He split the heads of the polytheists — The outcome confirms the sincerity of his pledge. He did not just claim the right; he enacted it on the battlefield, striking through enemy lines with that very sword.
3. Hadith Lessons
- Eagerness must be matched by readiness to pay the price.
Many people want the honor of great deeds without their burden. The Companions initially reached for the sword’s glory; when the condition came, most held back out of awe for the responsibility. True hastening to good includes accepting the full cost, not just the visible reward. - Abu Dujanah’s courage was rooted in certainty, not recklessness.
He did not volunteer blindly. He understood what “taking the sword with its right” meant: unwavering stand, potential death, and total loyalty. His “I will” was a covenant, not a slogan. - The Prophet’s method drew out the right person for the right task.
By first inviting general volunteers, then specifying the condition, the Prophet allowed the most suitable companion to emerge. Abu Dujanah was known for his bravery; this moment matched his character to his role. Leadership is not only about giving orders; it is about creating spaces where the right people step forward. - Hesitation can be a sign of reverence, not weakness.
The Companions’ pause after the second question is explicitly noted in the commentary as piety, not fear. They respected the weight of a promise made to the Prophet. This teaches that not every hesitation is blameworthy; sometimes it reflects deep awareness of accountability.
4. Special Reflections: The Silence After “With Its Right”
The most powerful moment in this hadith is the silence that follows the Prophet’s second question. Imagine the scene: the battlefield is tense, the Prophet holds up a sword, and dozens of hands shoot up. Then he adds one phrase—“with its right”—and the hands slowly lower. The air changes.
That silence is where most of us live. We want the reward of prayer, but not the discipline of consistency. We want the honor of honesty, but not the cost of losing deals. We want the status of a defender of faith, but not the risk of being misunderstood, marginalized, or harmed for it.
Abu Dujanah’s voice breaks that silence. He is the one who says, in effect: “I know what this costs, and I am still willing.” That is the kind of hastening the chapter is calling for: not impulsive reaching, but informed, whole-hearted commitment.
For the modern reader, “the sword with its right” appears in many forms:
- Taking on a role in the mosque or community knowing it will cost time, reputation, and energy.
- Choosing halal income even when it means less money and slower progress.
- Standing by a principle at work or in family when silence would be safer.
In each case, the question is the same: “Who will take this with its right?”
5. Three Questions to Close With
- Where in your life have you reached for the “sword” of a noble deed when it looked honorable, but pulled back when you understood its full cost?
- What would it look like for you to say, like Abu Dujanah, “I will take this with its right” in one concrete area of your deen—prayer, income, family duty, or community responsibility?
- If the Prophet were to hold up a task today and ask, “Who will take this with its right?” what is the one role you fear most—but also know, deep down, you are most capable of fulfilling?