What is Sunan Abu Dawud 4669 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)), narrated by Abu Sa’id reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying:, states: "In the event of the dissension among Muslims an emerging sect will emerge ; one of the two parties that is nearer to the truth will kill it."

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 Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 4669 in the Book of Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah).

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.

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#4668

#4669

Sunan Abu Dawud

#4670

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Sunan Abu Dawud #4669

Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ تَمْرُقُ مَارِقَةٌ عِنْدَ فُرْقَةٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَقْتُلُهَا أَوْلَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ بِالْحَقِّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

In the event of the dissension among Muslims an emerging sect will emerge ; one of the two parties that is nearer to the truth will kill it.

Narrated by Abu Sa’id reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying:

Context

This hadith discusses the emergence of sects within the Muslim community during times of discord. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) warns that one of the factions will be closer to the truth and will ultimately confront the other. This highlights the challenges faced by the community in maintaining unity and adhering to the truth amidst differing opinions.

Modern Application

In today's world, this principle serves as a reminder for Muslims to seek knowledge and understanding, especially during disagreements. It encourages unity and the pursuit of truth rather than division, fostering a more cohesive community.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Community and Warning because it addresses the potential for division within the Muslim community and serves as a caution against straying from the truth.

Community Warning