Sahih al-Bukhari #125
Knowledge
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، سُلَيْمَانُ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ بَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي، مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي خَرِبِ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَهُوَ يَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَى عَسِيبٍ مَعَهُ، فَمَرَّ بِنَفَرٍ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ سَلُوهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ تَسْأَلُوهُ لاَ يَجِيءُ فِيهِ بِشَىْءٍ تَكْرَهُونَهُ. فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَنَسْأَلَنَّهُ. فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ، مَا الرُّوحُ فَسَكَتَ. فَقُلْتُ إِنَّهُ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ. فَقُمْتُ، فَلَمَّا انْجَلَى عَنْهُ، قَالَ {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتُيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً}. قَالَ الأَعْمَشُ هَكَذَا فِي قِرَاءَتِنَا.
While I was going with the Prophet (ﷺ) through the ruins of Medina and he was reclining on a date-palm
leaf stalk, some Jews passed by. Some of them said to the others: Ask him (the Prophet) about the
spirit. Some of them said that they should not ask him that question as he might give a reply which
would displease them. But some of them insisted on asking, and so one of them stood up and asked,
"O Abul-Qasim ! What is the spirit?" The Prophet (ﷺ) remained quiet. I thought he was being inspired
Divinely. So I stayed till that state of the Prophet (while being inspired) was over. The Prophet (ﷺ) then
said, "And they ask you (O Muhammad) concerning the spirit --Say: The spirit -- its knowledge is
with my Lord. And of knowledge you (mankind) have been given only a little)." (17.85)
Narrated by Narrated `Abdullah:
Context
Ibn 'Abbas recounts a night spent with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), highlighting his practice of performing ablution and prayer. This narration illustrates the Prophet's dedication to worship and the importance of maintaining spiritual practices even in a relaxed setting.
Modern Application
This hadith encourages individuals to integrate acts of worship into their daily routines, showing that spirituality can coexist with everyday life. For example, one might establish a habit of performing prayers regularly, even amidst busy schedules.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Purification (Wudu/Taharah) because it emphasizes the significance of maintaining cleanliness and performing prayers regularly.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Al-Israa (The Night Journey)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا
And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."
سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ
Al-A'raaf (The Heights)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَىٰهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ ثَقُلَتْ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلَّا بَغْتَةًۭ ۗ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِىٌّ عَنْهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival? Say, "Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly." They ask you as if you are familiar with it. Say, "Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know."
سُورَةُ الأَحۡزَابِ
Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَسْـَٔلُكَ ٱلنَّاسُ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ تَكُونُ قَرِيبًا
People ask you concerning the Hour. Say," Knowledge of it is only with Allah. And what may make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near."
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 عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
Common Words
87 total59 unique16 repeated
قل4x
لا4x
ٱلله4x
عن3x
إلا3x
ٱلساعة3x
إنما3x
علمها3x
عند3x
ٱلروح2x
من2x
ربى2x
وما2x
يسـلونك2x
ٱلناس2x
علم2x
ويسـلونك1x
أمر1x
أوتيتم1x
ٱلعلم1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #125 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Knowledge. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated `Abdullah:.