36/23. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4029 — Counting Muslims and Being Tested
Patience at the time of calamity
Hadith About Community Testing and Hidden Prayer
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4029
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4029
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " أَحْصُوا لِي كُلَّ مَنْ تَلَفَّظَ بِالإِسْلاَمِ " . قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَخَافُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ مَا بَيْنَ السِّتِّمِائَةِ إِلَى السَّبْعِمِائَةِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنَّكُمْ لاَ تَدْرُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ أَنْ تُبْتَلَوْا " . قَالَ فَابْتُلِينَا حَتَّى جَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا مَا يُصَلِّي إِلاَّ سِرًّا .
Hudhaifa Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Count for me all those who have uttered (the word of) Islam.” We said: “O Messenger of Allah, do you fear for us when we number between six and seven hundred?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “You do not know, perhaps you will be tested.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4029In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 104English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4029
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4029
This hadith about community tests begins with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asking the Companions to count everyone who had uttered Islam. They felt safe because they numbered between six and seven hundred. But the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered, “You do not know, perhaps you will be tested.” The report then says they were tested until a man among them would not pray except secretly. The message is direct. Numbers alone do not remove the possibility of trial. A community may look strong, yet still face pressure, fear, or hardship. For readers searching for a hadith about Muslims being tested, this narration teaches humility. It also shows that faith may sometimes be protected quietly during times of danger.
What we learn from this hadith
- Large numbers do not mean a community is free from tests.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم warned them that they might be tested despite their number.
- The report mentions a time when some prayed secretly because of the test.
- Believers should not rely only on outward strength.
