Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, which contains 4,053 hadiths across 49 books. It is hadith number 2957 in the Book of Chapters on Parables.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#2956

#2957

Jami` at-Tirmidhi

#2958

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Jami` at-Tirmidhi #2957

Q: What is Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2957 about?

This hadith from Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Book of Chapters on Parables), narrated by Narrated Abu Hurairah:, states: "that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The Parable of myself and that of my Ummah is that of a man who kindled a fire, and the flies and moths began flying into it - and I am trying to prevent you fro…"

Chapters on Parables

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ‏ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ أُمَّتِي كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَجَعَلَتِ الذُّبَابُ وَالْفَرَاشُ يَقَعْنَ فِيهَا وَأَنَا آخُذُ بِحُجَزِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَقَحَّمُونَ فِيهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ ‏.‏

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The Parable of myself and that of my Ummah is that of a man who kindled a fire, and the flies and moths began flying into it - and I am trying to prevent you from diving into it."

Narrated by Narrated Abu Hurairah:

Context

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) uses a metaphor to illustrate his relationship with his Ummah, comparing it to a man trying to protect others from a fire. This hadith serves as a warning against harmful actions and emphasizes the Prophet's role in guiding his followers away from danger.

Modern Application

In modern contexts, this metaphor can remind individuals to seek guidance from knowledgeable sources and to be cautious about actions that may lead to negative consequences. It encourages proactive behavior in avoiding harm.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Warning and Prophetic Teachings because it serves as a cautionary message about the dangers of certain behaviors and highlights the Prophet's protective role over his community.

Warning Prophetic Teachings