Jami' at-Tirmidhi — Hadith #27752

Ahmad bin Mani’ told us, Sufyan bin Uyaynah told us, on the authority of Abu Al-Zubayr, on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah, he said, “We did not pledge allegiance to the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace.” He greeted death. We only pledged our pledge not to flee. Abu Issa said: This is a good and authentic hadith. The meaning of both hadiths is It is true that some of his companions pledged their allegiance to him on the verge of death. They only said, “We will remain before you until we are killed.” Others pledged their allegiance to him and said, “We will not flee.”