What is Sahih Muslim 4679 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book on Government), narrated by It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir who said:, states: "If we had been a hundred thousand in number, it (the water) would have sufficed us, but actually we were fifteen hundred."

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 Muslim, which contains 7,459 hadiths across 57 books. It is hadith number 4679 in the Book of The Book on Government.

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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#4678

#4679

Sahih Muslim

#4680

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Sahih Muslim #4679

The Book on Government

Sahih

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

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا رِفَاعَةُ بْنُ الْهَيْثَمِ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، - يَعْنِي الطَّحَّانَ - كِلاَهُمَا يَقُولُ عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ لَوْ كُنَّا مِائَةَ أَلْفٍ لَكَفَانَا كُنَّا خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ مِائَةً ‏.‏

If we had been a hundred thousand in number, it (the water) would have sufficed us, but actually we were fifteen hundred.

Narrated by It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir who said:

Context

In this narration, Jabir reflects on a moment during an expedition where the number of companions was significantly lower than what they could have been. Despite being only fifteen hundred, he expresses confidence that even a larger number would have sufficed them. This illustrates the reliance on faith and divine support during challenging circumstances, emphasizing that strength comes not just from numbers but from unity and purpose.

Modern Application

In contemporary settings, this principle can be applied to teamwork and collaboration. Organizations often face challenges that may seem overwhelming, but a united and determined team can achieve remarkable results, regardless of size. This encourages individuals to focus on collective efforts rather than just numerical strength.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Historical Prophetic Events because it recounts a significant moment in the early Islamic community's history, illustrating their reliance on faith and unity.

Historical Prophetic Events