1/52. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 119a — Respecting the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and Fear for Deeds
The believer's fear that his good deeds may be lost
Hadith About Respecting the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and Fear of Lost Deeds
Sahih Muslim : 119a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 119a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ جَلَسَ ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَقَالَ أَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ . وَاحْتَبَسَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَعْدَ بْنَ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ " يَا أَبَا عَمْرٍو مَا شَأْنُ ثَابِتٍ أَشْتَكَى " . قَالَ سَعْدٌ إِنَّهُ لَجَارِي وَمَا عَلِمْتُ لَهُ بِشَكْوَى . قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ سَعْدٌ فَذَكَرَ لَهُ قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ثَابِتٌ أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنِّي مِنْ أَرْفَعِكُمْ صَوْتًا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ . فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ سَعْدٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بَلْ هُوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ " .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
When this verse:" O ye who believe I raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor shout loud unto him in discourse, as ye shout loud unto one another, lest your deeds should become null and void, while you perceive not" (xlix. 2-5), was revealed. Thabit b. Qais confined himself in his house and said: I am one of the denizens of Fire, and he deliberately avoided coming to the Apostle (ﷺ). The Apostle (ﷺ) asked Sa'd b, Mu'adh about him and said, Abu Amr, how is Thabit? Has he fallen sick? Sa'd said: He is my neighbour, but I do not know of his illness. Sa'd came to him (Thabit), and conveyed to him the message of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Upon this Thabit said: This verse was revealed, and you are well aware of the fact that, amongst all of you, mine is the voice louder than that of the Messenger of Allah, and so I am one amongst the denizens of Fire, Sa'd Informed the Prophet about it. Upon this the Messenger of Allah observed: (Nay, not so) but he (Thabit) is one of the dwellers of Paradise.
[1] Al-Hujurât 49:2.Reference : Sahih Muslim 119aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 221USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 214
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 119a
This Hadith shows deep reverence for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and a believer’s fear for his deeds. When the verse warning believers not to raise their voices above the voice of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was revealed, Thabit ibn Qais stayed home and thought he was among the people of Fire because his voice was naturally loud. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed his absence and asked about him. When Thabit’s concern was brought to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, he said that Thabit was among the people of Paradise. The Hadith teaches respect in speech, care for the Prophet’s command, and the danger of assuming despair for oneself. It also shows the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم checking on someone who was absent.
What we learn from this hadith
- Respecting the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم includes care in speech and manners.
- A believer may fear for his deeds when hearing a warning from Allah.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed when a companion was absent.
- Fear of sin should not turn into despair when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gives reassurance.
