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 6598 in the Book of The Book of Destiny.

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.

‹

#6597

#6598

Sahih Muslim

#6599

›

Sahih Muslim #6598

Q: What is Sahih Muslim 6598 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Destiny), narrated by Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about the children of the polytheists, whereupon he said:, states: "It is Allah Who knows best what they would be doing."

The Book of Destiny

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، وَيُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ، شِهَابٍ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُئِلَ عَنْ أَوْلاَدِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It is Allah Who knows best what they would be doing.

Narrated by Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about the children of the polytheists, whereupon he said:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is asked about the fate of the children of polytheists. His response emphasizes that only Allah knows their actions and destinies. This statement reflects the broader theme of divine knowledge and justice, underscoring the limitations of human understanding in matters of the afterlife. The takeaway is the importance of humility in our judgments and the belief in Allah's ultimate wisdom.

Modern Application

In contemporary life, this principle encourages individuals to refrain from making definitive judgments about others, especially regarding their faith or afterlife. It promotes a mindset of compassion and understanding, recognizing that only Allah knows the true intentions and actions of individuals.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Afterlife because it addresses the fate of individuals in the hereafter, emphasizing Allah's exclusive knowledge of their deeds.

Afterlife