65/34.2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4801 — The Prophet’s Public Warning
"...He (Muḥammad pbuh) is only a warner to you in face of a severe torment." (V.34:46)
Hadith About the Prophet’s Warning on Mount Safa
Sahih Bukhari : 4801
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4801
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَازِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ صَعِدَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الصَّفَا ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ " يَا صَبَاحَاهْ " فَاجْتَمَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ قُرَيْشٌ قَالُوا مَا لَكَ قَالَ " أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنَّ الْعَدُوَّ يُصَبِّحُكُمْ أَوْ يُمَسِّيكُمْ أَمَا كُنْتُمْ تُصَدِّقُونِي ". قَالُوا بَلَى. قَالَ " فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ ". فَقَالَ أَبُو لَهَبٍ تَبًّا لَكَ أَلِهَذَا جَمَعْتَنَا فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ}.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
One day the Prophet (ﷺ) ascended Safa mountain and said, "Oh Sabah! " All the Quraish gathered round him and said, "What is the matter?" He said, Look, if I told you that an enemy is going to attack you in the morning or in the evening, would you not believe me?" They said, "Yes, we will believe you." He said, "I am a warner to you in face of a terrible punishment." On that Abu Lahab said, "May you perish ! Is it for this thing that you have gathered us?"So Allah revealed: 'Perish the hands of Abu Lahab!...' (111.1)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4801In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 323USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 325
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4801
This Hadith shows the clear way the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) called people to truth. He climbed Mount Safa and called Quraish together. Before warning them, he asked a simple question: would they believe him if he warned them of an enemy attack? They answered yes, showing that they knew his honesty. Then he told them that he was a warner before a severe punishment. The Hadith about Mount Safa teaches that the message was delivered openly and plainly. Abu Lahab rejected the call and spoke harshly, and the verse about him was revealed. The focus here is warning, truthfulness, and refusing the message after knowing the messenger’s honesty.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) delivered Allah’s warning clearly and publicly.
- Quraish recognized the Prophet’s honesty before rejecting his message.
- A truthful warning should be taken seriously.
- Harsh rejection of the truth is shown in Abu Lahab’s response.
