Sahih Muslim #909
The Book of Prayers
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ دَاوُدَ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَلْقَمَةَ هَلْ كَانَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ شَهِدَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةَ الْجِنِّ قَالَ فَقَالَ عَلْقَمَةُ أَنَا سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ شَهِدَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةَ الْجِنِّ قَالَ لاَ وَلَكِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَفَقَدْنَاهُ فَالْتَمَسْنَاهُ فِي الأَوْدِيَةِ وَالشِّعَابِ فَقُلْنَا اسْتُطِيرَ أَوِ اغْتِيلَ - قَالَ - فَبِتْنَا بِشَرِّ لَيْلَةٍ بَاتَ بِهَا قَوْمٌ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْنَا إِذَا هُوَ جَاءٍ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِرَاءٍ - قَالَ - فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَدْنَاكَ فَطَلَبْنَاكَ فَلَمْ نَجِدْكَ فَبِتْنَا بِشَرِّ لَيْلَةٍ بَاتَ بِهَا قَوْمٌ . فَقَالَ " أَتَانِي دَاعِي الْجِنِّ فَذَهَبْتُ مَعَهُ فَقَرَأْتُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقُرْآنَ " . قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ بِنَا فَأَرَانَا آثَارَهُمْ وَآثَارَ نِيرَانِهِمْ وَسَأَلُوهُ الزَّادَ فَقَالَ " لَكُمْ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَقَعُ فِي أَيْدِيكُمْ أَوْفَرَ مَا يَكُونُ لَحْمًا وَكُلُّ بَعَرَةٍ عَلَفٌ لِدَوَابِّكُمْ " . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَلاَ تَسْتَنْجُوا بِهِمَا فَإِنَّهُمَا طَعَامُ إِخْوَانِكُمْ " .
I asked 'Alqama if Ibn Mas'ud was present with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the night of the Jinn (the night when the Prophet met them). He (Ibn Mas'uad) said: No, but we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) one night and we missed him. We searched for him in the valleys and the hills and said. He has either been taken away (by jinn) or has been secretly killed. He (the narrator) said. We spent the worst night which people could ever spend. When it was dawn we saw him coming from the side of Hiri'. He (the narrator) reported. We said: Messenger of Allah, we missed you and searched for you, but we could not find you and we spent the worst night which people could ever spend. He (the Holy Prophet) said: There came to me an inviter on behalf of the Jinn and I went along with him and recited to them the Qur'an. He (the narrator) said: He then went along with us and showed us their traces and traces of their embers. They (the Jinn) asked him (the Holy Prophet) about their provision and he said: Every bone on which the name of Allah is recited is your provision. The time it will fall in your hand it would be covered with flesh, and the dung of (the camels) is fodder for your animals. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Don't perform istinja with these (things) for these are the food of your brothers (Jinn).
Narrated by Dawud reported from 'Amir who said:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was temporarily lost, leading his companions to fear for his safety. They searched for him throughout the night, fearing he had been harmed. Upon his return, he explained that he had been invited by the Jinn to recite the Quran to them. This event highlights the unique experiences of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the importance of the Quran as a source of guidance even for supernatural beings.
Modern Application
In today's context, this hadith emphasizes the significance of reciting the Quran and seeking knowledge. Many Muslims engage in reading and reflecting on the Quran, understanding its teachings as a means of spiritual nourishment and guidance in their daily lives.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Experience and Divine Revelation because it illustrates a unique encounter of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) with the Jinn and emphasizes the importance of the Quran as a divine message.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الأَحۡقَافِ
Al-Ahqaf (The Dunes)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنصِتُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوْا۟ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ
And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur'an. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen quietly." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners.
سُورَةُ الأَنۡعَامِ
Al-An'aam (The Cattle)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًۭا يَٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ قَدِ ٱسْتَكْثَرْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ ۖ وَقَالَ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ رَبَّنَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ بَعْضُنَا بِبَعْضٍۢ وَبَلَغْنَآ أَجَلَنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَجَّلْتَ لَنَا ۚ قَالَ ٱلنَّارُ مَثْوَىٰكُمْ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌۭ
And [mention, O Muhammad], the Day when He will gather them together [and say], "O company of jinn, you have [misled] many of mankind." And their allies among mankind will say, "Our Lord, some of us made use of others, and we have [now] reached our term, which you appointed for us." He will say, "The Fire is your residence, wherein you will abide eternally, except for what Allah wills. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing."
يَٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌۭ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَٰتِى وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ شَهِدْنَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِنَا ۖ وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَشَهِدُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَٰفِرِينَ
"O company of jinn and mankind, did there not come to you messengers from among you, relating to you My verses and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "We bear witness against ourselves"; and the worldly life had deluded them, and they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
سُورَةُ الجِنِّ
Al-Jinn (The Jinn)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ ٱسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْءَانًا عَجَبًۭا
Say, [O Muhammad], "It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, 'Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur'an.
سُورَةُ النَّاسِ
An-Naas (Mankind)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ
From among the jinn and mankind."
Common Words
100 total86 unique9 repeated
من5x
ٱلجن4x
فلما2x
قالوا2x
إلى2x
يمعشر2x
ٱلإنس2x
ٱلله2x
على2x
وإذ1x
صرفنا1x
إليك1x
نفرا1x
يستمعون1x
ٱلقرءان1x
حضروه1x
أنصتوا1x
قضى1x
ولوا1x
قومهم1x
Related Hadiths
About Sahih Muslim
This hadith is #909 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Prayers. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Dawud reported from 'Amir who said:.