12/49. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1068a — Recitation That Stays at the Throat
The Khawarij are the most evil of people and of all creation
Khawarij Hadith: Qur'an on the Tongue but Not in the Heart
Sahih Muslim : 1068a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1068a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ يُسَيْرِ بْنِ، عَمْرٍو قَالَ سَأَلْتُ سَهْلَ بْنَ حُنَيْفٍ هَلْ سَمِعْتَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَذْكُرُ الْخَوَارِجَ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ - وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ الْمَشْرِقِ " قَوْمٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ لاَ يَعْدُو تَرَاقِيَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ " .
Yusair b. 'Amr reported that he inquired of Sahl b. Hunaif: Did you hear the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) making a mention of the Khawarij? He said: I heard him say (and he pointed with his hand towards the east) that these would be a people who would recite the Qur'an with their tongues and it would not go beyond their collar bones. They would pass clean through their religion just as the arrow passes through the prey.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1068aIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 207USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2336
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1068a
This Khawarij hadith records a question from Yusair b. Amr to Sahl b. Hunaif. He asked whether Sahl had heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mention the Khawarij. Sahl answered that he heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم speak about people from the east who would recite the Qur'an with their tongues, but it would not go beyond their collar bones. The image is direct: words may be spoken, yet the Qur'an may not shape the person’s faith and conduct. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said they would pass through religion like an arrow passes through prey. This hadith teaches that religion is not just sound, speech, or display.
What we learn from this hadith
- Reciting the Qur'an with the tongue is not enough without true guidance.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم warned about people whose religion would not stay with them.
- The companion Sahl b. Hunaif clearly linked this description to the Khawarij.
- The hadith reminds Muslims to seek sincere understanding, not only outward speech.
