Are there any Sahih Hadith about archery?

Unfortunately, there are many dubious Hadith narrated about archery. This is due to a lack of care when narrating Hadith. However, there are Sahih Hadith narrations about archery too.

سَلَمَةَ بْنَ الأَكْوَعِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى نَفَرٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ يَنْتَضِلُونَ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ارْمُوا بَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ، فَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ كَانَ رَامِيًا ارْمُوا، وَأَنَا مَعَ بَنِي فُلاَنٍ» قَالَ: فَأَمْسَكَ أَحَدُ الفَرِيقَيْنِ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا لَكُمْ لاَ تَرْمُونَ؟»، قَالُوا: كَيْفَ نَرْمِي وَأَنْتَ مَعَهُمْ؟ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ارْمُوا فَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ كُلِّكُمْ

Salamah bin al-Akwa` (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) said, the Prophet ﷺ passed by some people from the tribe of Bani Aslam who were competing in archery. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘O Bani Ismail, shoot! For indeed your father Ismail was an archer. Shoot and I am with Bani so-and-so.’ So one of the two teams ceased shooting. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘What is the matter? Why are you not shooting?’ They replied, ‘How can we shoot while you are with them (i.e. on their side)?’ So the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Shoot, and I am with all of you.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2899).

The Hadith above is Sahih without doubt. Since, it has been narrated as a Musnad Hadith in the Sahih of Imam al-Bukhari. All such Hadith are certainly Sahih. Not only does the Hadith above establish the fact that archery is Sunnah, but it also demonstrates the great Adab and love the Sahabah had for the blessed Prophet ﷺ.

عُقْبَةَ بْنَ عَامِرٍ، يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، يَقُولُ: {وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ} [الأنفال: 60]، أَلَا إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ، أَلَا إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ، أَلَا إِنَّ الْقُوَّةَ الرَّمْيُ

Uqbah Ibn Amir (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ whilst he ﷺ was upon the pulpit, he ﷺ recited: Prepare against them as much strength as you are able. (Surah Anfal, 60). (Then the Prophet ﷺ said): ‘Indeed, strength is in archery. Indeed, strength is in archery. Indeed, strength is in archery.’ (Sahih Muslim, 1917 – 167).

As well as the above narrations, there are numerous other Sahih Hadith related to archery. Despite this, many people narrate dubious and even fabricated hadith about archery. They usually do not know that these narrations are dubious because they do not take the time to check their authenticity. This is a grave error. A person must check to make sure that anything he says about the Deen of Allah (Most High) is sound. This is even more important when it comes to Hadith.

We should not need to remind Muslims about this with such regularity. It is actually an obvious statement. People should know that you cannot attribute words to the blessed Prophet ﷺ without confirming authenticity. Our great love for our blessed Prophet ﷺ should be more than sufficient to make us cautious when attributing Hadith to him ﷺ.

And Allah Most High Knows Best

-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (20.05.2022)

See also:
Are all Hadith in Bukhari and Muslim Sahih?
Referencing Hadith correctly

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