Sahih Muslim #5401
The Book of Clothes and Adornment
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَأَلْفَاظُهُمْ
مُتَقَارِبَةٌ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ
فِي دَارِ مَرْوَانَ فَرَأَى فِيهَا تَصَاوِيرَ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ
" قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذَهَبَ يَخْلُقُ خَلْقًا كَخَلْقِي فَلْيَخْلُقُوا ذَرَّةً أَوْ لِيَخْلُقُوا حَبَّةً
أَوْ لِيَخْلُقُوا شَعِيرَةً " .
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ
أَنَا وَأَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ دَارًا تُبْنَى بِالْمَدِينَةِ لِسَعِيدٍ أَوْ لِمَرْوَانَ . قَالَ فَرَأَى مُصَوِّرًا يُصَوِّرُ فِي الدَّارِ
فَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ " أَوْ لِيَخْلُقُوا شَعِيرَةً " .
I visited the house of Marwan in the company of Abu Huraira and he found pictures there. whereupon he said: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, said: Who is a more wrongdoer than one who tries to create creation like Mine creation. Let him create an atom or a grain of wheat or that of barley. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Zur'a and he said: Abu Huraira went to the house of Sa'ld or Marwan which they had built in Medina and he (Abu Huraira) saw a painter who had been painting pictures in his house, whereupon he told that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had said like this, but he made no mention of the words:" Let him create the grain of barley."
Narrated by Abu Zur'a reported:
Context
Abu Huraira reported witnessing the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ express disapproval of creating images, stating that Allah has warned against those who attempt to replicate His creation. This hadith reflects a broader theme of respecting the uniqueness of creation and the divine authority of Allah. The takeaway is a caution against overstepping boundaries in creative expression.
Modern Application
In modern times, this principle can be seen in discussions about the ethics of art and representation. Many artists and creators reflect on the impact of their work and the importance of respecting the essence of life and creation in their artistic endeavors.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Warning and Image-Making because it serves as a caution against imitating divine creation, emphasizing the sanctity of Allah's unique creations.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ لُقۡمَانَ
Luqman (Luqman)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
هَٰذَا خَلْقُ ٱللَّهِ فَأَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦ ۚ بَلِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
This is the creation of Allah. So show Me what those other than Him have created. Rather, the wrongdoers are in clear error.
سُورَةُ الأَحۡزَابِ
Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَٰظِرِينَ إِنَىٰهُ وَلَٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوا۟ فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ وَلَا مُسْتَـْٔنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى ٱلنَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَٰعًۭا فَسْـَٔلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَآءِ حِجَابٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُؤْذُوا۟ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَن تَنكِحُوٓا۟ أَزْوَٰجَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمًا
O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity.
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَمَنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
And whoever invents about Allah untruth after that - then those are [truly] the wrongdoers.
سُورَةُ الأَحۡقَافِ
Al-Ahqaf (The Dunes)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌۭ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ۖ ٱئْتُونِى بِكِتَٰبٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِ هَٰذَآ أَوْ أَثَٰرَةٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ
Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful."
سُورَةُ الحِجۡرِ
Al-Hijr (The Rock)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن صَلْصَٰلٍۢ مِّنْ حَمَإٍۢ مَّسْنُونٍۢ
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.
Common Words
135 total102 unique16 repeated
من11x
ٱلله5x
خلق3x
أن3x
إن3x
ذلكم3x
كان3x
هذا2x
ماذا2x
ٱلذين2x
ٱلظلمون2x
فى2x
لا2x
ٱلنبى2x
لكم2x
ولا2x
فأرونى1x
دونه1x
بل1x
ضلل1x
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About Sahih Muslim
This hadith is #5401 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Clothes and Adornment. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Abu Zur'a reported:.