What is Sunan Ibn Majah 3687 about?

This hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah (Book of Tribulations), narrated by Anas bin Malik said:, states: "“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘My nation will not unite on misguidance, so if you see them differing, follow the great majority.’”"

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 Ibn Majah, which contains 4,345 hadiths across 38 books. It is hadith number 3687 in the Book of Tribulations.

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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#3686

#3687

Sunan Ibn Majah

#3688

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Sunan Ibn Majah #3687

Tribulations

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَانُ بْنُ رِفَاعَةَ السَّلاَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو خَلَفٍ الأَعْمَى، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ أُمَّتِي لَنْ تَجْتَمِعَ عَلَى ضَلاَلَةٍ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ اخْتِلاَفًا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالسَّوَادِ الأَعْظَمِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘My nation will not unite on misguidance, so if you see them differing, follow the great majority.’”

Narrated by Anas bin Malik said:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) reassures his followers that the Muslim community will not collectively stray into misguidance. He advises that in the face of differing opinions, one should adhere to the majority. This highlights the importance of unity and collective guidance within the Muslim Ummah.

Modern Application

This principle is relevant today as it encourages individuals to seek consensus and unity in their communities. By valuing the perspectives of the majority, people can work together towards common goals, fostering collaboration and understanding.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Community and Guidance because it emphasizes the significance of unity among Muslims and the importance of following the majority for guidance.

Community Guidance