What is Sahih al-Bukhari 3384 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions), narrated by Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "My similitude in comparison with the other prophets is that of a man who has built a house completely and excellently except for a place of one brick. When the people enter the…"

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 3384 in the Book of Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions.

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

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#3383

#3384

Sahih al-Bukhari

#3385

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Sahih al-Bukhari #3384

Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions

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 سِنَانٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَلِيمٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مِينَاءَ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ كَرَجُلٍ بَنَى دَارًا فَأَكْمَلَهَا وَأَحْسَنَهَا، إِلاَّ مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ، فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَيَتَعَجَّبُونَ، وَيَقُولُونَ لَوْلاَ مَوْضِعُ اللَّبِنَةِ ‏"‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "My similitude in comparison with the other prophets is that of a man who has built a house completely and excellently except for a place of one brick. When the people enter the house, they admire its beauty and say: 'But for the place of this brick (how splendid the house will be)!"

Narrated by Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) compares his role among the prophets to a man who has built a beautiful house, but with one missing brick. This analogy emphasizes the completeness of his mission while acknowledging that he is the final messenger, completing the line of prophets. The takeaway is that while the house is magnificent, the absence of that one brick signifies the need for the final piece to complete the divine message.

Modern Application

This hadith highlights the importance of recognizing the contributions of those who came before us, as well as the significance of our own roles in continuing their legacies. In everyday life, we can reflect on how our actions contribute to a greater purpose, reminding ourselves that every effort counts towards a larger goal.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophet Muhammad and Prophetic Authority because it illustrates the unique status of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as the final messenger in a long line of prophets.

Prophet Muhammad Prophetic Authority