Sahih Muslim #5989
The Book of Virtues
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، عَنْ
أَيُّوبَ السَّخْتِيَانِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
قَالَ " لَمْ يَكْذِبْ إِبْرَاهِيمُ النَّبِيُّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَطُّ إِلاَّ ثَلاَثَ كَذَبَاتٍ ثِنْتَيْنِ فِي ذَاتِ اللَّهِ قَوْلُهُ
{ إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ} . وَقَوْلُهُ { بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا} وَوَاحِدَةً فِي شَأْنِ سَارَةَ فَإِنَّهُ قَدِمَ أَرْضَ
جَبَّارٍ وَمَعَهُ سَارَةُ وَكَانَتْ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ لَهَا إِنَّ هَذَا الْجَبَّارَ إِنْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّكِ امْرَأَتِي
يَغْلِبْنِي عَلَيْكِ فَإِنْ سَأَلَكِ فَأَخْبِرِيهِ أَنَّكِ أُخْتِي فَإِنَّكِ أُخْتِي فِي الإِسْلاَمِ فَإِنِّي لاَ أَعْلَمُ فِي
الأَرْضِ مُسْلِمًا غَيْرِي وَغَيْرَكِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ أَرْضَهُ رَآهَا بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْجَبَّارِ أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ
لَقَدْ قَدِمَ أَرْضَكَ امْرَأَةٌ لاَ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تَكُونَ إِلاَّ لَكَ . فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهَا فَأُتِيَ بِهَا فَقَامَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ
عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ لَمْ يَتَمَالَكْ أَنْ بَسَطَ يَدَهُ إِلَيْهَا فَقُبِضَتْ يَدُهُ قَبْضَةً
شَدِيدَةً فَقَالَ لَهَا ادْعِي اللَّهَ أَنْ يُطْلِقَ يَدِي وَلاَ أَضُرُّكِ . فَفَعَلَتْ فَعَادَ فَقُبِضَتْ أَشَدَّ مِنَ الْقَبْضَةِ
الأُولَى فَقَالَ لَهَا مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَفَعَلَتْ فَعَادَ فَقُبِضَتْ أَشَدَّ مِنَ الْقَبْضَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ فَقَالَ ادْعِي
اللَّهَ أَنْ يُطْلِقَ يَدِي فَلَكِ اللَّهَ أَنْ لاَ أَضُرَّكِ . فَفَعَلَتْ وَأُطْلِقَتْ يَدُهُ وَدَعَا الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهَا فَقَالَ
لَهُ إِنَّكَ إِنَّمَا أَتَيْتَنِي بِشَيْطَانٍ وَلَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِإِنْسَانٍ فَأَخْرِجْهَا مِنْ أَرْضِي وَأَعْطِهَا هَاجَرَ .
قَالَ فَأَقْبَلَتْ تَمْشِي فَلَمَّا رَآهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ لَهَا مَهْيَمْ قَالَتْ خَيْرًا
كَفَّ اللَّهُ يَدَ الْفَاجِرِ وَأَخْدَمَ خَادِمًا . قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَتِلْكَ أُمُّكُمْ يَا بَنِي مَاءِ السَّمَاءِ .
Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) never told a lie but only thrice: two times for the sake of Allah (for example, his words): "I am sick," and his words: "But it was the big one amongst them which has done that" and because of Sara (his wife). He had come in a land inhabited by haughty and cruel men along with Sara. She was very good-looking amongst the people, so he said to her: If these people were to know that you are my wife they would snatch you away from me, so if they ask you tell them that you are my sister and in fact you are my sister in Islam, and I do not know of any other Muslim in this land besides I and you. And when they entered that land the tyrants came to see her and said to him (the king): 'There comes to your land a woman, whom you alone deserve to possess', so he (the king) sent someone (towards her) and she was brought to him, and Ibrahim (peace be upon him) stood in prayer. When she visited him (the tyrant king came) he could help but stretch his hand towards her and his hand was tied up. He said: 'Supplicate to Allah so that He may release my hand and I will do no harm to you.' She did that and the man repeated (the same highhandedness) and his hand was again tied up more tightly than on the first occasion. He said the same thing to her again, and she again did that (supplicated), but he repeated (the same highhandedness and his hands were tied up more tightly than on the previous occasion). He then again said: 'Supplicate your Lord so that He may set my hand free; by Allah I shall do no harm to you.' She did and his hand was freed. Then he called the person who had brought her and said to him: 'You have brought to me the satan and you have not brought to me a human being, so turn them out from my land,' and he gave Hajar as a gift to her. She returned (along with Hajar) and when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) saw her, he said: 'How have you returned?' She said: 'With full safety (have I returned). Allah held the hand of that debauch and he gave me a maid-servant.' Abu Huraira said: 'O sons of the rain of the sky, she is your mother.'
Narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Context
In this hadith, Abu Huraira narrates that Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) only lied three times, and two of these instances were for the sake of Allah. This account highlights the significance of honesty and the context in which one might find it permissible to withhold the truth. It serves as a lesson on the complexities of moral conduct.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this principle can encourage individuals to reflect on the importance of honesty while also understanding the nuances of ethical dilemmas. It promotes a thoughtful approach to truth-telling in challenging situations.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct and Prophetic Teachings because it illustrates the moral complexities faced by Prophets and provides insights into ethical behavior.
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سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
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وَمَا كَانَ ٱسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍۢ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥٓ أَنَّهُۥ عَدُوٌّۭ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَأَوَّٰهٌ حَلِيمٌۭ
And the request of forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Abraham that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Abraham compassionate and patient.
سُورَةُ الذَّارِيَاتِ
Adh-Dhaariyat (The Winnowing Winds)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ
Has there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham? -
سُورَةُ النَّحۡلِ
An-Nahl (The Bee)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةًۭ قَانِتًۭا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًۭا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah.
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ وَإِذِ ٱبْتَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِۦمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَٰتٍۢ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّى جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًۭا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."
سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ
Maryam (Mary)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صِدِّيقًۭا نَّبِيًّا
And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.
Common Words
66 total56 unique5 repeated
إبرهيم5x
كان3x
قال3x
لله2x
إن2x
وما1x
ٱستغفار1x
لأبيه1x
إلا1x
عن1x
موعدة1x
وعدها1x
إياه1x
فلما1x
تبين1x
له1x
أنه1x
عدو1x
تبرأ1x
منه1x
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About Sahih Muslim
This hadith is #5989 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Virtues. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:.