Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3411
Chapters on Tafsir
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مُجَالِدٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ نَاسٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ لأُنَاسٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم هَلْ يَعْلَمُ نَبِيُّكُمْ كَمْ عَدَدُ خَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ قَالُوا لاَ نَدْرِي حَتَّى نَسْأَلَ نَبِيَّنَا . فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ غُلِبَ أَصْحَابُكَ الْيَوْمَ . قَالَ " وَبِمَ غُلِبُوا " . قَالَ سَأَلَهُمْ يَهُودُ هَلْ يَعْلَمُ نَبِيُّكُمْ كَمْ عَدَدُ خَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ قَالَ " فَمَا قَالُوا " . قَالَ قَالُوا لاَ نَدْرِي حَتَّى نَسْأَلَ نَبِيَّنَا . قَالَ " أَفَغُلِبَ قَوْمٌ سُئِلُوا عَمَّا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ فَقَالُوا لاَ نَعْلَمُ حَتَّى نَسْأَلَ نَبِيَّنَا لَكِنَّهُمْ قَدْ سَأَلُوا نَبِيَّهُمْ فَقَالُوا أَرِنَا اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً عَلَىَّ بِأَعْدَاءِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي سَائِلُهُمْ عَنْ تُرْبَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَهِيَ الدَّرْمَكُ " . فَلَمَّا جَاءُوا قَالُوا يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ كَمْ عَدَدُ خَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ قَالَ " هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا " . فِي مَرَّةٍ عَشْرَةٌ وَفِي مَرَّةٍ تِسْعٌ . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا تُرْبَةُ الْجَنَّةِ " . قَالَ فَسَكَتُوا هُنَيْهَةً ثُمَّ قَالُوا خُبْزَةٌ يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْخُبْزُ مِنَ الدَّرْمَكِ " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ إِنَّمَا نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مُجَالِدٍ .
“Some people from the Jews said to some people among the Companions of the Prophet: ‘Does your Prophet know how many keepers are there in Jahannam?’ They said: ‘We do not know until we ask our Prophet and said: ‘O Muhammad! Your Companions were defeated today.’ He said: ‘In what were they defeated?’ He said: ‘Some Jews asked them if their Prophet knew how many keepers are there in Jahannam.’ He said: ‘So what did they say?’ He said: ‘They said: “We do not know until we ask our Prophet.” He said: ‘Are a people defeated who are asked about something that they do not know, merely because they said, “We do not know until we ask our Prophet?” Rather, there (people) did ask their Prophet, they said: “Show us Allah plainly.” I should ask the enemies of Allah about the Darmak.’ So when they came to him they said: ‘O Abul-Qasim! How many keepers are there in Jahannum?’ He said: ‘This and that many.’ One time ten, and one time nine. They said: ‘Yes.’ He said to them: ‘What is the dirt of Paradise?’” He said: “They were silent for a while, then they said: ‘Is it bread O Abul-Qasim?’ So the Prophet said: ‘The bread is made of Ad-Darmak.’”
Narrated by Jabir said:
Context
In this hadith, a conversation takes place between some Jews and the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding the knowledge of the Prophet about the keepers of Jahannam. The companions admit their lack of knowledge and decide to ask the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) responds by highlighting the importance of acknowledging what one does not know and contrasts it with the audacity of those who demanded to see Allah directly. This illustrates the significance of humility in knowledge.
Modern Application
In today's world, acknowledging our limitations is crucial in various fields, whether in academics, professions, or personal matters. This hadith encourages individuals to seek knowledge and guidance rather than pretending to know everything, fostering a culture of learning and humility.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Authority because it emphasizes the Prophet's (ﷺ) role as a source of knowledge and guidance.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ
Al-Kahf (The Cave)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَٰثَةٌۭ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌۭ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌۭ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌۭ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءًۭ ظَٰهِرًۭا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًۭا
They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone."
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ مَن يُحَادِدِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَأَنَّ لَهُۥ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدًۭا فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْخِزْىُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - that for him is the fire of Hell, wherein he will abide eternally? That is the great disgrace.
سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ
Al-A'raaf (The Heights)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّۭا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّۭا ۖ قَالُوا۟ نَعَمْ ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن لَّعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, "We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?" They will say, "Yes." Then an announcer will announce among them, "The curse of Allah shall be upon the wrongdoers."
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
[Be warned of] the Day when Allah will assemble the messengers and say, "What was the response you received?" They will say, "We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen"
سُورَةُ المُدَّثِّرِ
Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِى سَقَرَ
[And asking them], "What put you into Saqar?"
Common Words
96 total81 unique11 repeated
ما4x
كلبهم3x
ٱلله3x
ويقولون2x
إلا2x
فيهم2x
أصحب2x
أن2x
حقا2x
قالوا2x
علم2x
سيقولون1x
ثلثة1x
رابعهم1x
خمسة1x
سادسهم1x
رجما1x
بٱلغيب1x
سبعة1x
وثامنهم1x
Related Hadiths
About Jami` at-Tirmidhi
This hadith is #3411 from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, in the Book of Chapters on Tafsir. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Jabir said:.