What is Sunan Abu Dawud 4920 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)), narrated by Narrated AbuHurayrah:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The believer is the believer's mirror, and the believer is the believer's brother who guards him against loss and protects him when he is absent."

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 4920 in the Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab).

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

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#4919

#4920

Sunan Abu Dawud

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Sunan Abu Dawud #4920

General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بِلاَلٍ - عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْمُؤْمِنُ مِرْآةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ أَخُو الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكُفُّ عَلَيْهِ ضَيْعَتَهُ وَيَحُوطُهُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The believer is the believer's mirror, and the believer is the believer's brother who guards him against loss and protects him when he is absent.

Narrated by Narrated AbuHurayrah:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasizes the importance of mutual support and reflection among believers. He likens a believer to a mirror for another believer, suggesting that they should help each other recognize their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, he highlights the bond of brotherhood, where believers protect one another's interests, especially in their absence, fostering a sense of community and trust.

Modern Application

In today's society, this principle manifests in friendships and community relationships where individuals look out for one another. For example, friends may provide honest feedback to help each other grow, and neighbors might keep an eye on each other's homes when someone is away, reinforcing the idea of mutual support and protection.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Community and Brotherhood because it illustrates the supportive relationship that believers should have with one another, acting as mirrors and protectors.

Community Brotherhood

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ

Al-Hujuraat (The Inner Apartments)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌۭ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.

سُورَةُ الأَحۡزَابِ

Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍۢ فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًۭا

The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allah than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book inscribed.

سُورَةُ النُّورِ

An-Noor (The Light)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَإِذَا كَانُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍۢ جَامِعٍۢ لَّمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُوهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُونَكَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأْذَن لِّمَن شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission, [O Muhammad] - those are the ones who believe in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission for something of their affairs, then give permission to whom you will among them and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ

The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ

Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَسْبُكَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

O Prophet, sufficient for you is Allah and for whoever follows you of the believers.

Common Words

110 total86 unique14 repeated

ٱلله8x

من3x

ٱلذين3x

ورسوله3x

إن3x

إنما2x

ٱلمؤمنون2x

ٱلنبى2x

أولى2x

بعضهم2x

فى2x

ٱلمؤمنين2x

بٱلله2x

أولئك2x

إخوة1x

فأصلحوا1x

بين1x

أخويكم1x

وٱتقوا1x

لعلكم1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #4920 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated AbuHurayrah:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #4920

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith