65/7.1. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4637 — Public and Hidden Sins
The Statement of Allah: "Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): '(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawãhish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse) whether committed openly or secretly."' (V.7:33)
(7) Surat al-A’raf (The Heights) (7) سورة الأَعْرَافِ
Hadith About Public and Hidden Shameful Sins
Sahih Bukhari : 4637
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4637
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَنْتَ سَمِعْتَ هَذَا مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ، وَرَفَعَهُ. قَالَ " لاَ أَحَدَ أَغْيَرُ مِنَ اللَّهِ، فَلِذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، وَلاَ أَحَدَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ الْمِدْحَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ، فَلِذَلِكَ مَدَحَ نَفْسَهُ ".
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "None has more sense of ghaira than Allah, and for this He has forbidden shameful sins whether committed openly or secretly, and none loves to be praised more than Allah does, and this is why He Praises Himself."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4637In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 159USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 161
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4637
This hadith about public and hidden sins teaches the believer to respect Allah’s limits in every situation. Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said that none has more ghaira than Allah, and because of this He has forbidden shameful sins, whether they are done openly or secretly. The hadith also says that none loves praise more than Allah, and this is why He praises Himself. The meaning is plain: Islam does not only judge what appears in front of people. What is hidden also matters. A believer should not make private sins feel safe just because they are unseen by others. Allah’s knowledge covers both the open and the hidden.
What we learn from this hadith
- Open and secret shameful sins are both forbidden.
- Allah’s knowledge covers what people hide and reveal.
- A believer should guard their private life as well as public conduct.
- All perfect praise belongs to Allah.
