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 2538 in the Book of Witnesses.

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#2537

#2538

Sahih al-Bukhari

#2539

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Sahih al-Bukhari #2538

Q: What is Sahih al-Bukhari 2538 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Witnesses), narrated by Narrated Abu Al-Aswad:, states: "Once I went to Medina where there was an outbreak of disease and the people were dying rapidly. I was sitting with `Umar and a funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. `Umar sa…"

Witnesses

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي الْفُرَاتِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَقَدْ وَقَعَ بِهَا مَرَضٌ، وَهُمْ يَمُوتُونَ مَوْتًا ذَرِيعًا، فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَمَرَّتْ جِنَازَةٌ فَأُثْنِيَ خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ‏.‏ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ خَيْرًا فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ‏.‏ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِالثَّالِثَةِ فَأُثْنِيَ شَرًّا، فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ مَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْنَا وَثَلاَثَةٌ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَثَلاَثَةٌ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَاثْنَانِ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ‏.‏

Once I went to Medina where there was an outbreak of disease and the people were dying rapidly. I was sitting with `Umar and a funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. `Umar said, "It has been affirmed" (Paradise). Then another funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. `Umar said, "It has been affirmed." (Paradise). Then another funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. `Umar said, "It has been affirmed (Paradise)." Then a third funeral procession passed by and the people talked badly of the deceased. `Umar said, "It has been affirmed (Hell)." I asked `Umar, "O chief of the believers! What has been affirmed?" He said, "I have said what the Prophet (ﷺ) said. He said, 'Allah will admit into paradise any Muslim whose good character is attested by four persons.' We asked the Prophet, 'If there were three witnesses only?' He said, 'Even three.' We asked, 'If there were two only?' He said, 'Even two.' But we did not ask him about one witness."

Narrated by Narrated Abu Al-Aswad:

Context

In a time of great distress due to a disease outbreak in Medina, `Umar ibn Al-Khattab was observing funeral processions. As people praised the deceased, he affirmed their good character based on the Prophet's (ﷺ) teaching that a Muslim whose goodness is attested by four witnesses will enter Paradise. This hadith highlights the importance of community recognition of virtue and the consequences of one's character.

Modern Application

Today, this principle encourages us to speak well of others and recognize their good deeds. In our communities, acknowledging the positive contributions of individuals fosters a supportive environment and strengthens bonds among members, promoting a culture of appreciation and respect.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Day of Judgment and Funeral Rites because it discusses the recognition of a person's character and the implications for their afterlife based on community testimony.

Day of Judgment Funeral Rites

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ

Al-Maaida (The Table)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ شَهَٰدَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ حِينَ ٱلْوَصِيَّةِ ٱثْنَانِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ أَوْ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصَٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ لَا نَشْتَرِى بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۙ وَلَا نَكْتُمُ شَهَٰدَةَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّمِنَ ٱلْءَاثِمِينَ

O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you or two others from outside if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allah if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange our oath for a price, even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of Allah. Indeed, we would then be of the sinful."

قَالَ ٱللَّهُ هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتٌۭ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۚ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

Allah will say, "This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness." For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment.

سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ

Al-Waaqia (The Inevitable)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah,

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًۭا

And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.

سُورَةُ يسٓ

Yaseen (Yaseen)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

قِيلَ ٱدْخُلِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ ۖ قَالَ يَٰلَيْتَ قَوْمِى يَعْلَمُونَ

It was said, "Enter Paradise." He said, "I wish my people could know

Common Words

105 total89 unique9 repeated

من5x

ٱلله5x

إن3x

ٱلذين2x

شهدة2x

إذا2x

ٱلموت2x

كان2x

قال2x

يأيها1x

ءامنوا1x

بينكم1x

حضر1x

أحدكم1x

حين1x

ٱلوصية1x

ٱثنان1x

ذوا1x

عدل1x

منكم1x

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About Sahih al-Bukhari

This hadith is #2538 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Witnesses. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Al-Aswad:.

Browse all Sahih al-Bukhari All Hadith Collections

Sahih al-Bukhari #2538

Context

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Common Words

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About Sahih al-Bukhari

About This Hadith