What is Sahih Muslim 5738 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Poetry), narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:, states: "The truest word uttered by a poet is this verse of Labid: "Behold! apart from Allah everything is vain," and Umayya b. Abu Salt was almost a Muslim."

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 5738 in the Book of The Book of Poetry.

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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#5737

#5738

Sahih Muslim

#5739

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Sahih Muslim #5738

The Book of Poetry

Sahih

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

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَصْدَقُ كَلِمَةٍ قَالَهَا شَاعِرٌ كَلِمَةُ لَبِيدٍ أَلاَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ مَا خَلاَ اللَّهَ بَاطِلٌ وَكَادَ أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ أَبِي الصَّلْتِ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The truest word uttered by a poet is this verse of Labid: "Behold! apart from Allah everything is vain," and Umayya b. Abu Salt was almost a Muslim.

Narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Context

In this narration, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ references a line from a famous poet, Labid, which states that everything besides Allah is vain. This statement underscores the transient nature of worldly pursuits and the ultimate truth of monotheism. The Prophet's ﷺ acknowledgment of this poetic truth reflects the value of wisdom found in various forms of expression and the importance of recognizing the supremacy of Allah.

Modern Application

In contemporary life, this principle encourages individuals to reflect on their priorities and the significance of their actions. By recognizing the fleeting nature of worldly achievements, people can focus on spiritual growth and meaningful contributions to society, aligning their lives with values that endure.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Teachings because it highlights the wisdom of a poet that resonates with the core message of Islam regarding the nature of existence.

Prophetic Teachings