Jabir reported that he went on a military expedition with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ toward Najd. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned, Jabir returned with him. The midday rest overtook them in a valley filled with thorny acacia trees. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ dismounted, and the people scattered among the trees seeking shade. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ settled beneath an acacia and hung his sword on it.Jabir said, "We slept for a while, then suddenly the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was calling us. We came to him and found a Bedouin sitting beside him."The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "This man drew my sword while I was asleep. I woke up to find it unsheathed in his hand, and he said to me, 'Who will protect you from me?' I answered, 'Allah.' And here he is, sitting."Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not punish him.
أنه غزا مع رسول الله ﷺ قبل نجد، فلما قفل رسول الله ﷺ قفل معه، فأدركتهم القائلة في واد كثيرالعضاء، فنزل رسول الله ﷺ، وتفرق الناس في العضاء يستظلون بالشجر، ونزل رسول الله ﷺ تحت سمرة، فعلق بها سيفه، قال جابر فنمنا نومة، ثم إذا رسول الله ﷺ يدعونا، فجلناه فإذا عنده أعرابي جالس، فقال رسول الله ﷺ: إن هذا اخترط سيفي، وأنا نائم فاستيقظت، وهو في يده صلنا، فقال لي من يمنعك مني؟ قلت: الله، فها هو ذا جالس. ثم لم يعاقبه رسول الله ﷺ.
Bukhari narrated it in the Book of Military Expeditions (4135) and Muslim in the Book of Virtues (13:843), both through the route of Zuhri, from Sinan bin Abu Sinan, from Jabir, and he related it.His saying, "the thorny trees" refers to every tree that has thorns.His saying, "and there was a bedouin sitting beside him" his name was Ghawrath bin Harith, as mentioned by Bukhari (4136) as a suspended narration.His saying, "Who will protect you from me? I said, Allah" it is mentioned in Sahih Muslim that he said this twice.