Sahih al-Bukhari - Book 34, Hadith 50
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Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) in a Ghazwa (Military Expedition) and my camel was slow and exhausted. The Prophet came up to me and said, "O Jabir."
I replied, "Yes?" He said, "What is the matter with you?" I replied, "My camel is slow and tired, so I am left behind." So, he got down and poked the camel with his stick and then ordered me to ride.
I rode the camel and it became so fast that I had to hold it from going ahead of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . He then asked me, have you got married?" I replied in the affirmative.
He asked, "A virgin or a matron?" I replied, "I m…Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) in a Ghazwa (Military Expedition) and my camel was slow and exhausted. The Prophet came up to me and said, "O Jabir."
I replied, "Yes?" He said, "What is the matter with you?" I replied, "My camel is slow and tired, so I am left behind." So, he got down and poked the camel with his stick and then ordered me to ride.
I rode the camel and it became so fast that I had to hold it from going ahead of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . He then asked me, have you got married?" I replied in the affirmative.
He asked, "A virgin or a matron?" I replied, "I married a matron." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Why have you not married a virgin, so that you may play with her and she may play with you?"
Jabir replied, "I have sisters (young in age) so I liked to marry a matron who could collect them all and comb their hair and look after them." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will reach, so when you have arrived (at home), I advise you to associate with your wife (that you may have an intelligent son)."
Then he asked me, "Would you like to sell your camel?" I replied in the affirmative and the Prophet (ﷺ) purchased it for one Uqiya of gold. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) reached before me and I reached in the morning, and when I went to the mosque, I found him at the door of the mosque.
He asked me, "Have you arrived just now?" I replied in the affirmative. He said, "Leave your camel and come into (the mosque) and pray two rak`at." I entered and offered the prayer.
He told Bilal to weigh and give me one Uqiya of gold. So Bilal weighed for me fairly and I went away. The Prophet (ﷺ) sent for me and I thought that he would return to me my camel which I hated more than anything else.
But the Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, "Take your camel as well as its price."
I replied, "Yes?" He said, "What is the matter with you?" I replied, "My camel is slow and tired, so I am left behind." So, he got down and poked the camel with his stick and then ordered me to ride.
I rode the camel and it became so fast that I had to hold it from going ahead of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . He then asked me, have you got married?" I replied in the affirmative.
He asked, "A virgin or a matron?" I replied, "I married a matron." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Why have you not married a virgin, so that you may play with her and she may play with you?"
Jabir replied, "I have sisters (young in age) so I liked to marry a matron who could collect them all and comb their hair and look after them." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will reach, so when you have arrived (at home), I advise you to associate with your wife (that you may have an intelligent son)."
Then he asked me, "Would you like to sell your camel?" I replied in the affirmative and the Prophet (ﷺ) purchased it for one Uqiya of gold. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) reached before me and I reached in the morning, and when I went to the mosque, I found him at the door of the mosque.
He asked me, "Have you arrived just now?" I replied in the affirmative. He said, "Leave your camel and come into (the mosque) and pray two rak`at." I entered and offered the prayer.
He told Bilal to weigh and give me one Uqiya of gold. So Bilal weighed for me fairly and I went away. The Prophet (ﷺ) sent for me and I thought that he would return to me my camel which I hated more than anything else.
But the Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, "Take your camel as well as its price."
How the Prophet ﷺ modelled 3 behaviours here
Leadership Direction
“he got down and poked the camel with his stick and then ordered me to ride.”
Acting with decisiveness to provide clear direction and stability rather than passively waiting; confident decision-making and taking initiative
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This hadith also models: Communication Expression Joy Fun Connection
Communication Expression
“Why have you not married a virgin, so that you may play with her and she may play with you?”
Open, honest, and authentic communication; active listening; clarity in dialogue; emotional disclosure
More on Communication Expression →
This hadith also models: Leadership Direction Joy Fun Connection
Joy Fun Connection
“Why not a virgin so that you could play with her and she with you?”
Playfulness; creating positive experiences; laughter; lightness; maintaining excitement; enjoying togetherness
This hadith also models: Leadership Direction Communication Expression