37/34. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4283 — Half of the People of Paradise
Description of the Nation of Muhammad (saws)
Hadith About the Ummah Being Half of Paradise
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4283
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4283
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي قُبَّةٍ فَقَالَ " أَتَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا رُبُعَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ " . قُلْنَا بَلَى . قَالَ " أَتَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا ثُلُثَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ " . قُلْنَا نَعَمْ . قَالَ " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا نِصْفَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ لاَ يَدْخُلُهَا إِلاَّ نَفْسٌ مُسْلِمَةٌ وَمَا أَنْتُمْ فِي أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ إِلاَّ كَالشَّعَرَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ فِي جِلْدِ الثَّوْرِ الأَسْوَدِ أَوْ كَالشَّعَرَةِ السَّوْدَاءِ فِي جِلْدِ الثَّوْرِ الأَحْمَرِ " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in a tent, and he said: ‘Will it not please you to be one quarter of the people of Paradise?’ We said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Will it not please you to be one third of the people of Paradise?’ We said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise. For no one will enter Paradise but a Muslim soul, and among the people of polytheism you are like a white hair on the hide of a black bull, or like a black hair on the hide of a red bull.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4283In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 184English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4283
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4283
This Hadith gives a strong message of hope for the Muslim ummah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked his companions if they would be pleased to be one quarter of the people of Paradise, then one third. Then he said, by the One in Whose Hand is his soul, that he hoped they would be half of the people of Paradise. He also stated that only a Muslim soul will enter Paradise. The Hadith uses a clear image to show that the Muslims would be few compared with the people of polytheism, like a single hair on the hide of a bull. This Hadith about Paradise should build gratitude and hope, while reminding us that entry into Paradise is tied to being a Muslim soul.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave his companions hope about the large share of his nation in Paradise.
- The Hadith connects entry into Paradise with being a Muslim soul.
- The small number image reminds believers not to judge truth by numbers alone.
- Hope in Paradise should lead to gratitude, not carelessness.
