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 5803 in the Book of The Book of Virtues.

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

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Sahih Muslim #5803

Q: What is Sahih Muslim 5803 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Virtues), narrated by Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:, states: "The similitude of mine and of that with which Allah sent me is that of a person who came to us and said: O people, I have seen an army with my eyes and I am a plain warner (and issue you warning) that…"

The Book of Virtues

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بَرَّادٍ الأَشْعَرِيُّ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي كُرَيْبٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ مَثَلِي وَمَثَلَ مَا بَعَثَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِهِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ أَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ الْجَيْشَ بِعَيْنَىَّ وَإِنِّي أَنَا النَّذِيرُ الْعُرْيَانُ فَالنَّجَاءَ ‏.‏ فَأَطَاعَهُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ فَأَدْلَجُوا فَانْطَلَقُوا عَلَى مُهْلَتِهِمْ وَكَذَّبَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا مَكَانَهُمْ فَصَبَّحَهُمُ الْجَيْشُ فَأَهْلَكَهُمْ وَاجْتَاحَهُمْ فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي وَاتَّبَعَ مَا جِئْتُ بِهِ وَمَثَلُ مَنْ عَصَانِي وَكَذَّبَ مَا جِئْتُ بِهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The similitude of mine and of that with which Allah sent me is that of a person who came to us and said: O people, I have seen an army with my eyes and I am a plain warner (and issue you warning) that you should immediately manage to find an escape. A group of people from amongst them paying heed (to his warning) fled to a place of protection and a group amongst them belied him and the morning overtook them in their houses and the army attacked them and killed them and they were routed. And that is the similitude of the one who obeyed me, followed with which I had been sent and the similitude of the other is of one who disobeyed and belied me and the Truth with which I have been sent.

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

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ uses a metaphor to illustrate the importance of heeding his message. He compares himself to a warner who alerts his people of impending danger, emphasizing the consequences of belief and disbelief in his teachings.

Modern Application

This principle resonates today as it highlights the importance of listening to guidance and being aware of the consequences of our choices. It encourages individuals to reflect on the teachings they encounter and to act wisely in their lives.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Universal Message and Prophetic Warning because it conveys the significance of following the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the consequences of ignoring such warnings.

Universal Message Prophetic Warning