65/17.14. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4721 — The Spirit and Limited Knowledge
"And they ask you (O Muḥammad pbuh) concerning the Rūḥ (the Spirit)..." (V.17:85)
Hadith About the Spirit and Limited Knowledge
Sahih Bukhari : 4721
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4721
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ بَيْنَا أَنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَرْثٍ وَهْوَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى عَسِيبٍ إِذْ مَرَّ الْيَهُودُ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ سَلُوهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ، فَقَالَ مَا رَابَكُمْ إِلَيْهِ، وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَقْبِلُكُمْ بِشَىْءٍ تَكْرَهُونَهُ فَقَالُوا سَلُوهُ فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ فَأَمْسَكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ شَيْئًا، فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ، فَقُمْتُ مَقَامِي، فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ الْوَحْىُ قَالَ {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً}.
`Abdullah Narrated from:
While I was in the company of the Prophet (ﷺ) on a farm and he was reclining on a palm leave stalk, some Jews passed by. Some of them said to the others. "Ask him (the Prophet (ﷺ) about the spirit." Some of them said, "What urges you to ask him about it" Others said, "(Don't) lest he should give you a reply which you dislike." But they said, "Ask him." So they asked him about the Spirit. The Prophet (ﷺ) kept quiet and did not give them any answer. I knew that he was being divinely inspired so I stayed at my place. When the divine inspiration had been revealed, the Prophet (ﷺ) said."They ask you (O, Muhammad) concerning the Spirit, Say: "The spirit," its knowledge is with my Lord; and of knowledge you (mankind) have been given only a Little." (17.85)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4721In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 243USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 245
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4721
This hadith about the spirit, or ruh, teaches humility before Allah’s knowledge. Some Jews asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about the Spirit. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not answer right away. Abdullah understood that revelation was coming, so he stayed where he was. When the revelation came, the answer was that the Spirit is from the command of the Lord, and people have been given only a little knowledge. The hadith does not explain the exact nature of the Spirit in detail. Instead, it teaches that some matters belong to Allah’s knowledge. For searches like what is ruh in Islam or hadith about the soul, the key lesson is not guesswork. It is to accept the revealed answer and know the limits of human understanding.
What we learn from this hadith
- Some knowledge belongs to Allah and is not fully opened to people.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم waited for revelation before answering.
- Human knowledge is described as little in this matter.
- Questions about unseen matters should be handled with care.
