92/11. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7084 — Hold to the Muslim Community
If there is no righteous group of Muslims
Hadith About Holding to the Muslim Community During Fitnah
Sahih Bukhari : 7084
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7084
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جَابِرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي بُسْرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَضْرَمِيُّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا إِدْرِيسَ الْخَوْلاَنِيَّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ الْيَمَانِ، يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْخَيْرِ، وَكُنْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ، مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا فِي جَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَشَرٍّ فَجَاءَنَا اللَّهُ بِهَذَا الْخَيْرِ، فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ " نَعَمْ ". قُلْتُ وَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّرِّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ قَالَ " نَعَمْ، وَفِيهِ دَخَنٌ ". قُلْتُ وَمَا دَخَنُهُ قَالَ " قَوْمٌ يَهْدُونَ بِغَيْرِ هَدْىٍ، تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُ ". قُلْتُ فَهَلْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْخَيْرِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَالَ " نَعَمْ، دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ جَهَنَّمَ، مَنْ أَجَابَهُمْ إِلَيْهَا قَذَفُوهُ فِيهَا ". قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صِفْهُمْ لَنَا. قَالَ " هُمْ مِنْ جِلْدَتِنَا، وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا ". قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ " تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ ". قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ " فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا، وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ، حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ".
Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman Narrated from:
The people used to ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the good but I used to ask him about the evil lest I should be overtaken by them. So I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We were living in ignorance and in an (extremely) worst atmosphere, then Allah brought to us this good (i.e., Islam); will there be any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes."I said, 'Will there be any good after that evil?" He replied, "Yes, but it will be tainted (not pure.)'' I asked, "What will be its taint?" He replied, "(There will be) some people who will guide others not according to my tradition? You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of some others."I asked, "Will there be any evil after that good?" He replied, "Yes, (there will be) some people calling at the gates of the (Hell) Fire, and whoever will respond to their call, will be thrown by them into the (Hell) Fire." I said, "O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them to us?" He said, "They will be from our own people and will speak our language."I said, "What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?" He said, "Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam (ruler)." I said, "If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam (ruler)?" He said, "Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7084In-book reference : Book 92, Hadith 35USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 88, Hadith 206
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7084
This hadith about guidance during fitnah records Hudhaifa asking the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) about evil so he would not be overtaken by it. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) described stages of good and evil, including people who guide not according to his tradition, and callers at the gates of Hell-Fire. Hudhaifa asked what to do if he reached that time. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told him to stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam. If there is no group and no Imam, he told him to turn away from all those sects, even if he had to endure hardship until death. The hadith teaches caution, loyalty to sound Muslim unity, and avoiding dangerous calls.
What we learn from this hadith
- Asking about evil can help a person avoid it.
- Not every caller who speaks our language is safe to follow.
- In fitnah, one should stick to the Muslims and their Imam when they exist.
- If there is no group or Imam, avoiding all factions is instructed in the text.
