What is Sahih Muslim 6869 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of Characteristics of The Hypocrites And Rulings Concerning Them), narrated by Ibn Umar reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:, states: "The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a sheep which roams aimlessly between two flocks. She goes to one at one time and to the other at another time."

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 6869 in the Book of Characteristics of The Hypocrites And Rulings Concerning Them.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#6868

#6869

Sahih Muslim

#6870

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Sahih Muslim #6869

Characteristics of The Hypocrites And Rulings Concerning Them

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، - يَعْنِي الثَّقَفِيَّ - حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الشَّاةِ الْعَائِرَةِ بَيْنَ الْغَنَمَيْنِ تَعِيرُ إِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a sheep which roams aimlessly between two flocks. She goes to one at one time and to the other at another time.

Narrated by Ibn Umar reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:

Context

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) likened a hypocrite to a sheep that wanders between two flocks, indicating indecision and lack of commitment. This metaphor serves to highlight the dangers of hypocrisy and the importance of sincerity in faith.

Modern Application

In modern life, this can be a reminder to be true to one's beliefs and values rather than wavering based on convenience or social pressure. It encourages individuals to reflect on their commitments.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Hypocrisy and Moral Corruption because it illustrates the instability and lack of integrity associated with hypocritical behavior.

Hypocrisy Moral Corruption

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الحَشۡرِ

Al-Hashr (The Exile)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

كَمَثَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ ٱكْفُرْ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ قَالَ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّنكَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

[The hypocrites are] like the example of Satan when he says to man, "Disbelieve." But when he disbelieves, he says, "Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds."

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

ٱلْمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَٰفِقَٰتُ بَعْضُهُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ۚ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ هُمُ ٱلْفَٰسِقُونَ

The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient.

سُورَةُ الحَدِيدِ

Al-Hadid (The Iron)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

يَوْمَ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَٰفِقَٰتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱنظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ٱرْجِعُوا۟ وَرَآءَكُمْ فَٱلْتَمِسُوا۟ نُورًۭا فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍۢ لَّهُۥ بَابٌۢ بَاطِنُهُۥ فِيهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةُ وَظَٰهِرُهُۥ مِن قِبَلِهِ ٱلْعَذَابُ

On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light." And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَٰدِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا

Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little,

مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ لَآ إِلَىٰ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَلَآ إِلَىٰ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ سَبِيلًۭا

Wavering between them, [belonging] neither to the believers nor to the disbelievers. And whoever Allah leaves astray - never will you find for him a way.

Common Words

98 total80 unique13 repeated

ٱلله5x

من3x

إلى3x

قال2x

إنى2x

ٱلمنفقون2x

وٱلمنفقت2x

إن2x

ٱلمنفقين2x

له2x

قاموا2x

ولا2x

هؤلاء2x

كمثل1x

ٱلشيطن1x

إذ1x

للإنسن1x

ٱكفر1x

فلما1x

كفر1x

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About Sahih Muslim

This hadith is #6869 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of Characteristics of The Hypocrites And Rulings Concerning Them. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Ibn Umar reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:.

Browse all Sahih Muslim All Hadith Collections

Sahih Muslim #6869

Context

Modern Application

Topics

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Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sahih Muslim

About This Hadith