15/70. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1333k — Hijr, Ladder, and People’s Hearts
The wall and the door of the Ka'bah
Hadith About Hijr, the Ladder, and Wisdom
Sahih Muslim : 1333k
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1333k
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُوسَى - حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ أَشْعَثَ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّعْثَاءِ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْحِجْرِ . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ وَقَالَ فِيهِ فَقُلْتُ فَمَا شَأْنُ بَابِهِ مُرْتَفِعًا لاَ يُصْعَدُ إِلَيْهِ إِلاَّ بِسُلَّمٍ وَقَالَ " مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تَنْفِرَ قُلُوبُهُمْ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about Hijr, and the rest of the hadith is the same. I also said: Why is it that the door has been made on a higher level, and one cannot (get into it) but with the help of a ladder? The rest of the hadith is the same as reported above and the concluding words are: (I do not change it) out of the apprehension that their hearts may disapprove of it."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1333kIn-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 454USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 7, Hadith 3088
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1333k
This hadith is a variant of Aisha’s report about the Hijr and the raised door of the Ka‘bah. She asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about Hijr, and the narration says the rest is like the previous report. It adds her wording about the door being so high that one could only reach it with a ladder. The ending also stresses that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not change it because he feared people’s hearts might disapprove. This Sahih Muslim 1333k explanation should stay close to the text: the focus is on the Hijr, the raised door, and the Prophet’s wise restraint when a change could disturb people.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration supports Aisha’s report through another route.
- The raised door is described as needing a ladder to reach it.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم considered how people might receive a change.
- Religious teaching can include wisdom in timing and public response.
