Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

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This hadith is from Sahih Muslim, which contains 7,459 hadiths across 57 books. It is hadith number 6631 in the Book of The Book of Knowledge.

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#6630

#6631

Sahih Muslim

#6632

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Sahih Muslim #6631

Q: What is Sahih Muslim 6631 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Knowledge), narrated by 'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:, states: "Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars, so that when He leaves no learned person, people turn to the ignoran…"

The Book of Knowledge

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ، اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ انْتِزَاعًا يَنْتَزِعُهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلَكِنْ يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ بِقَبْضِ الْعُلَمَاءِ حَتَّى إِذَا لَمْ يَتْرُكْ عَالِمًا اتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ رُءُوسًا جُهَّالاً فَسُئِلُوا فَأَفْتَوْا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ فَضَلُّوا وَأَضَلُّوا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars, so that when He leaves no learned person, people turn to the ignorant as their leaders; then they are asked to deliver religious verdicts and they deliver them without knowledge, they go astray, and lead others astray.

Narrated by 'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Context

This hadith addresses the preservation of knowledge and the consequences of its loss. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explains that knowledge will fade as scholars pass away, leading people to seek guidance from the ignorant. This serves as a warning about the importance of valuing and preserving knowledge within the community.

Modern Application

In contemporary society, this principle highlights the need for continuous education and mentorship. It encourages individuals to seek knowledge actively and to support the education of future generations to ensure informed decision-making.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Knowledge and Warning because it warns against the dangers of ignorance and emphasizes the importance of knowledgeable leadership.

Knowledge Warning

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوْمًۢا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَىٰهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُبَيِّنَ لَهُم مَّا يَتَّقُونَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

And Allah would not let a people stray after He has guided them until He makes clear to them what they should avoid. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of all things.

سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ

Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِمَن تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْهُدَىٰ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ أَن يُؤْتَىٰٓ أَحَدٌۭ مِّثْلَ مَآ أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَآجُّوكُمْ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ

And do not trust except those who follow your religion." Say, "Indeed, the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allah. [Do you fear] lest someone be given [knowledge] like you were given or that they would [thereby] argue with you before your Lord?" Say, "Indeed, [all] bounty is in the hand of Allah - He grants it to whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Wise."

مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا۟ عِبَادًۭا لِّى مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَٰكِن كُونُوا۟ رَبَّٰنِيِّۦنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ

It is not for a human [prophet] that Allah should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allah," but [instead, he would say], "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied."

سُورَةُ الرُّومِ

Ar-Room (The Romans)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Thus does Allah seal the hearts of those who do not know.

سُورَةُ الحَجِّ

Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ وَلَا هُدًۭى وَلَا كِتَٰبٍۢ مُّنِيرٍۢ

And of the people is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening book [from Him],

Common Words

99 total75 unique14 repeated

ٱلله8x

ما3x

إن3x

ولا3x

من3x

كان2x

عليم2x

قل2x

هدى2x

أن2x

يؤتيه2x

ٱلكتب2x

كونوا2x

كنتم2x

وما1x

ليضل1x

قوما1x

بعد1x

إذ1x

هدىهم1x

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About Sahih Muslim

This hadith is #6631 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Knowledge. It is graded Sahih and narrated by 'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:.

Browse all Sahih Muslim All Hadith Collections

Sahih Muslim #6631

Context

Modern Application

Topics

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Common Words

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About Sahih Muslim

About This Hadith