37/36. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4304 — The Vast Size of the Cistern
The Cistern
Size of the Prophet’s Cistern: A Hadith on Its Vast Distance
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4304
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4304
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَا بَيْنَ نَاحِيَتَىْ حَوْضِي كَمَا بَيْنَ صَنْعَاءَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ أَوْ كَمَا بَيْنَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَعَمَّانَ " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The distance between the two ends of my Cistern is like the distance between San’a and Al-Madinah,’ or ‘between Al-Madinah and ‘Amman.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4304In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 205English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4304
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4304
This short Hadith focuses on one main point: the great size of the Prophet’s Cistern. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says the distance between the two ends of his Cistern is like the distance between San’a and Al-Madinah, or between Al-Madinah and Amman. The wording gives a broad image of distance, not a small pool or ordinary water place. Since the Hadith only mentions the span between the two ends, the explanation should stay with that point. It teaches the reader to think about the Day of Resurrection and the special place of the Prophet’s Cistern. It also reminds us that some matters of the Hereafter are known through the Prophet’s words, not through our own guessing.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith describes the Cistern as very wide.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used known places to help listeners imagine the distance.
- The text points to belief in what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم reported about the Hereafter.
