Sahih al-Bukhari 4189

Hadith text

Narrated Abu Wail:When Sahl bin Hunaif returned from (the battle of) Siffin, we went to ask him (as to why he had come back). He replied, "(You should not consider me a coward) but blame your opinions. I saw myself on the day of Abu Jandal (inclined to fight), and if I had the power of refusing the order of Allah's Apostle then, I would have refused it (and fought the infidels bravely). Allah and His Apostle know (what is convenient) better. Whenever we put our swords on our shoulders for any matter that terrified us, our swords led us to an easy agreeable solution before the present situation (of disagreement and dispute between the Muslims). When we mend the breach in one side, it opened in another, and we do not know what to do about it

Abu Wail bataate hain: Jab Sahl bin Hunaif (jung) Siffin se wapas aaye, hum unse (kyun woh wapas aaye) puchne gaye. Unhone jawab diya, "(Mujhe kaayar mat samjho, magar) apni hi rayon ko dosh do. Maine khud ko Abu Jandal ke din (jung karne ke liye jhukaav) dekha, aur agar us waqt mere paas Allah ke Rasool ke hukum ko radd karne ki taakat hoti, main use radd kar deta (aur kaafiron se bahaduri se jung karta). Allah aur uske Rasool behtar jaante hain (kya sahi hai). Jab bhi humne apni talwaren apne kandhon par rakhi kisi aisi cheez ke liye jo humein darati thi, humari talwaren humein aasaan, manya hal ki taraf le gaee isse pahle is aajkal ki (asahmati aur vivaad ki) sthiti se. Jab hum ek taraf ka chhed bharte hain, doosri taraf khul jata hai, aur humein nahi pata iske baare mein kya karna hai."

Sahih al-Bukhari 4189 · Book 64, Hadith 229