What is Sahih Muslim 5804 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Virtues), narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:, states: "The similitude of mine and that of my Umma is that of a person who lit fire and there began to fall into it insects and moths. And I am there to hold you back, but you plunge into it."

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 5804 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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#5803

#5804

Sahih Muslim

#5805

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Sahih Muslim #5804

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.

وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْقُرَشِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ أُمَّتِي كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَجَعَلَتِ الدَّوَابُّ وَالْفَرَاشُ يَقَعْنَ فِيهِ فَأَنَا آخِذٌ بِحُجَزِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَقَحَّمُونَ فِيهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The similitude of mine and that of my Umma is that of a person who lit fire and there began to fall into it insects and moths. And I am there to hold you back, but you plunge into it.

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

Context

In this narration, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ compares himself and his Ummah to a man who lights a fire, with people inadvertently falling into it. He expresses his role in trying to save them from harm, illustrating his concern for the well-being of his followers.

Modern Application

This metaphor can resonate with individuals today, reminding them of the importance of guidance and support in their communities. It encourages people to seek help and to be vigilant about the choices they make in life.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Warning and Divine Revelation because it conveys a significant warning about the consequences of actions and the Prophet's ﷺ role in guiding his followers.

Prophetic Warning Divine Revelation