What is Sahih Muslim 4751 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book on Government), narrated by It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that a man came to the Prophet (may peace he upon him) and said:, states: "Who is the best of men? He replied: A man who fights in the way of Allah spending his wealth and staking his life. The man then asked: Who is next to him (in excellence)? He said: Next to him is a bel…"

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 4751 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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Sahih Muslim #4751

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.

حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورُ بْنُ أَبِي مُزَاحِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمْزَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ رَجُلٌ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِمَالِهِ وَنَفْسِهِ ‏"‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ مُؤْمِنٌ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَيَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Who is the best of men? He replied: A man who fights in the way of Allah spending his wealth and staking his life. The man then asked: Who is next to him (in excellence)? He said: Next to him is a believer who lives in a mountain gorge worshipping hid Lord and sparing men from his mischief.

Narrated by It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that a man came to the Prophet (may peace he upon him) and said:

Context

In this narration, a man inquires of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) about the best of people. The Prophet responds that the best is a man who strives in the path of Allah with his wealth and life, followed by a believer who worships Allah in solitude, avoiding harm to others. This highlights the value of both active engagement in faith and personal devotion.

Modern Application

Today, this hadith encourages individuals to contribute positively to society while also nurturing their personal spiritual practices. It serves as a reminder that both community involvement and personal faith are essential aspects of a fulfilling life.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Good Deeds and Martyrdom because it emphasizes the importance of striving in the path of Allah and the honor associated with such efforts.

Good Deeds Martyrdom

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

3 ayahs

لَّا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْقَٰعِدُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُو۟لِى ٱلضَّرَرِ وَٱلْمُجَٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُجَٰهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى ٱلْقَٰعِدِينَ دَرَجَةًۭ ۚ وَكُلًّۭا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَفَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُجَٰهِدِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقَٰعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا

Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward -

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًۭا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌۭ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًۭا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًۭا

And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.

۞ فَلْيُقَٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَن يُقَٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيُقْتَلْ أَوْ يَغْلِبْ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا

So let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And he who fights in the cause of Allah and is killed or achieves victory - We will bestow upon him a great reward.

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَآئِزُونَ

The ones who have believed, emigrated and striven in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah. And it is those who are the attainers [of success].

سُورَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ

Fussilat (Explained in detail)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًۭا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."

Common Words

100 total68 unique17 repeated

ٱلله10x

فى4x

سبيل4x

بأمولهم3x

وأنفسهم3x

ومن3x

من2x

ٱلمجهدين2x

على2x

ٱلقعدين2x

درجة2x

أجرا2x

عظيما2x

أحسن2x

ممن2x

إبرهيم2x

ٱلذين2x

لا1x

يستوى1x

ٱلقعدون1x

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About Sahih Muslim

This hadith is #4751 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book on Government. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that a man came to the Prophet (may peace he upon him) and said:.

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