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 3503 in the Book of Companions of the Prophet.

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.

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#3502

#3503

Sahih al-Bukhari

#3504

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Sahih al-Bukhari #3503

Q: What is Sahih al-Bukhari 3503 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Companions of the Prophet), narrated by Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im:, states: "A woman came to the Prophet (ﷺ) who ordered her to return to him again. She said, "What if I came and did not find you?" as if she wanted to say, "If I found you dead?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If you…"

Companions of the Prophet

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَتَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ‏.‏ قَالَتْ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ جِئْتُ وَلَمْ أَجِدْكَ كَأَنَّهَا تَقُولُ الْمَوْتَ‏.‏ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ‏ "‏ إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدِينِي فَأْتِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

A woman came to the Prophet (ﷺ) who ordered her to return to him again. She said, "What if I came and did not find you?" as if she wanted to say, "If I found you dead?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If you should not find me, go to Abu Bakr."

Narrated by Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im:

Context

In this hadith, a woman approaches the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) seeking guidance. She expresses concern about what to do if she cannot find him upon her return, implying the possibility of his death. The Prophet (ﷺ) reassures her by instructing her to go to Abu Bakr if she cannot find him, highlighting the importance of community leadership and support.

Modern Application

This hadith emphasizes the significance of community and having trusted leaders to turn to in times of uncertainty. In today's world, it encourages individuals to seek guidance from knowledgeable and reliable figures within their communities when faced with challenges.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Community and Respectful Communication because it illustrates the importance of seeking help from community leaders and the respectful manner in which the woman approached the Prophet (ﷺ).

Community Respectful Communication