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 Sahih al-Bukhari, which contains 7,277 hadiths across 97 books. It is hadith number 2235 in the Book of Agriculture.

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

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

‹

#2234

#2235

Sahih al-Bukhari

#2236

›

Sahih al-Bukhari #2235

Q: What is Sahih al-Bukhari 2235 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Agriculture), narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "While a man was riding a cow, it turned towards him and said, 'I have not been created for this purpose (i.e. carrying), I have been created for ploughing." The Prophet (ﷺ) add…"

Agriculture

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَعْدٍ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ رَاكِبٌ عَلَى بَقَرَةٍ الْتَفَتَتْ إِلَيْهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ لَمْ أُخْلَقْ لِهَذَا، خُلِقْتُ لِلْحِرَاثَةِ، قَالَ آمَنْتُ بِهِ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، وَأَخَذَ الذِّئْبُ شَاةً فَتَبِعَهَا الرَّاعِي، فَقَالَ الذِّئْبُ مَنْ لَهَا يَوْمَ السَّبُعِ، يَوْمَ لاَ رَاعِيَ لَهَا غَيْرِي‏.‏ قَالَ آمَنْتُ بِهِ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ مَا هُمَا يَوْمَئِذٍ فِي الْقَوْمِ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "While a man was riding a cow, it turned towards him and said, 'I have not been created for this purpose (i.e. carrying), I have been created for ploughing." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "I, Abu Bakr and `Umar believe in the story." The Prophet (ﷺ) went on, "A wolf caught a sheep, and when the shepherd chased it, the wolf said, 'Who will be its guard on the day of wild beasts, when there will be no shepherd for it except me?' "After narrating it, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I, Abu Bakr and `Umar too believe it." Abu Salama (a sub-narrator) said, "Abu Bakr and `Umar were not present then."

Narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) narrates two remarkable incidents involving animals. The first is about a cow that expresses its purpose, emphasizing that it was created for ploughing, not for carrying burdens. The second incident involves a wolf that captures a sheep, highlighting the vulnerability of the sheep when there is no shepherd. The Prophet (ﷺ) affirmed his belief in these extraordinary occurrences, alongside Abu Bakr and Umar, showcasing the miraculous nature of creation.

Modern Application

This hadith reminds us of the importance of recognizing the purpose and rights of all creatures. In today's context, it encourages us to treat animals with respect and to understand their roles in our lives, whether as companions, workers, or sources of food. It promotes a compassionate approach towards all living beings.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct and Animals in the Quran because it illustrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) acknowledgment of the unique roles and voices of animals, reflecting a broader understanding of creation.

Prophetic Conduct Animals in the Quran

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Al-Baqara (The Cow)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌۭ لَّا ذَلُولٌۭ تُثِيرُ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَا تَسْقِى ٱلْحَرْثَ مُسَلَّمَةٌۭ لَّا شِيَةَ فِيهَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْـَٰٔنَ جِئْتَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ فَذَبَحُوهَا وَمَا كَادُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ

He said, "He says, 'It is a cow neither trained to plow the earth nor to irrigate the field, one free from fault with no spot upon her.' " They said, "Now you have come with the truth." So they slaughtered her, but they could hardly do it.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا۟ بَقَرَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًۭا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ

And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant."

سُورَةُ الأَنۡعَامِ

Al-An'aam (The Cattle)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

وَمِنَ ٱلْإِبِلِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ ٱلْبَقَرِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۗ قُلْ ءَآلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ أَمَّا ٱشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۖ أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَآءَ إِذْ وَصَّىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا ۚ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا لِّيُضِلَّ ٱلنَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

And of the camels, two and of the cattle, two. Say, "Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Or were you witnesses when Allah charged you with this? Then who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah to mislead the people by [something] other than knowledge? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people."

وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ حَمُولَةًۭ وَفَرْشًۭا ۚ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

And of the grazing livestock are carriers [of burdens] and those [too] small. Eat of what Allah has provided for you and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

سُورَةُ الشَّمۡسِ

Ash-Shams (The Sun)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا

And the messenger of Allah [Salih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] her drink."

Common Words

107 total86 unique13 repeated

ٱلله7x

قال3x

لا3x

ومن3x

إنه2x

بقرة2x

ولا2x

قالوا2x

إن2x

أن2x

ٱثنين2x

أم2x

ٱلأنثيين2x

يقول1x

إنها1x

ذلول1x

تثير1x

ٱلأرض1x

تسقى1x

ٱلحرث1x

Scroll to explore ayah details

Related Hadiths

About Sahih al-Bukhari

This hadith is #2235 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Agriculture. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:.

Browse all Sahih al-Bukhari All Hadith Collections

Sahih al-Bukhari #2235

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sahih al-Bukhari

About This Hadith