67/108. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5221 — Allah's Ghira and Serious Warning
Al-Ghaira (i.e. honour, prestige or self-respect)
وَقَالَ وَرَّادٌ عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَالَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ لَوْ رَأَيْتُ رَجُلاً مَعَ امْرَأَتِي لَضَرَبْتُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ غَيْرَ مُصْفِحٍ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَتَعْجَبُونَ مِنْ غَيْرَةِ سَعْدٍ، لأَنَا أَغْيَرُ مِنْهُ وَاللَّهُ أَغْيَرُ مِنِّي».
Allah's Ghira Hadith: A Serious Warning Against Zina
Sahih Bukhari : 5221
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5221
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَا أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ مَا أَحَدٌ أَغْيَرَ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَنْ يَرَى عَبْدَهُ أَوْ أَمَتَهُ تَزْنِي يَا أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلاً وَلَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا ".
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O followers of Muhammad! There is none, who has a greater sense of Ghira (self-respect) than Allah, so He has forbidden that His slave commits illegal sexual intercourse or His slave girl commits illegal sexual intercourse. O followers of Muhammad! If you but knew what I know, you would laugh less and weep more!"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5221In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 154USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 148
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5221
This hadith about Allah's Ghira gives a strong warning to the followers of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) says that no one has greater Ghira than Allah. Because of this, Allah has forbidden that His male or female slave commits illegal sexual intercourse. The hadith then adds a powerful reminder: if people knew what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) knew, they would laugh less and weep more. The message is not about losing hope. It is about taking sin, modesty, and Allah's limits seriously. A believer should not treat zina or shameful actions as small matters. This hadith calls the heart to fear Allah, respect His commands, and remember that the unseen reality is greater than what people normally feel in daily life.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah's Ghira is greater than anyone's Ghira.
- Zina is forbidden and should not be treated lightly.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) reminded his Ummah to take accountability seriously.
- Knowing more about the unseen would make a person more serious and humble.
