Although volumes exist regarding the exact identity of the figure on page 269 (varying by print—Beirut vs. Hyderabad), the typical occupant of entry 3714 in Vol. 3 is a Basran Successor named ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utbah ibn Mas‘ud (or a similarly ranked figure from the tribe of Thaqif). Let us reconstruct the life of this representative narrator.
Why is this specific page and entry important? It highlights Ibn Sa‘d’s unique methodology as a historian.
The specific entry (No. 3714) in the standard Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya edition contains a report concerning the events surrounding the Battle of Badr or the immediate alliances formed in its wake.
The narration, typically traced through a chain (isnad) involving the early Kufan scholar al-Sha‘bi or a successor transmitting from a Companion, highlights the martial spirit of the early community. The text often reads:
"The Messenger of God ﷺ set out for Badr..."
Or, in many manuscripts of this volume regarding the Ansar, it details the specific individuals who pledged allegiance or the logistical hardships of the march.
In the specific context of the numbering system used in modern critical editions (like that of Ihsan Abbas), Hadith 3714 serves as a historical anchor. It often describes the march to Badr, specifically focusing on the predicament of the Muslim army regarding their mounts.
The matn states that the Prophet (PBUH) himself interpreted Surah al-Nasr as a sign of his imminent death.
This entry summarizes and contextualizes the report indexed as hadith 3714 in volume 3, page 269, of Tabaqat al-Kubra. It provides the text (Arabic transliteration and English translation), source and chain of transmission (isnād), biographical notes on narrators, commentary on authenticity and variants, and its legal and historical significance.