1/68. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 150a — Muslim or Believer
Being kind to one for whose faith there is concern because it is weak; Prohibition of attributing Faith to someone without definitive evidence
Muslim or Believer Hadith: Careful Speech About Faith
Sahih Muslim : 150a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 150a
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَسَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَسْمًا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَعْطِ فُلاَنًا فَإِنَّهُ مُؤْمِنٌ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَوْ مُسْلِمٌ " أَقُولُهَا ثَلاَثًا . وَيُرَدِّدُهَا عَلَىَّ ثَلاَثًا " أَوْ مُسْلِمٌ " ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنِّي لأُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ وَغَيْرُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْهُ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَكُبَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي النَّارِ " .
Abi Waqqas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) distributed shares (of booty among his Companions). I said: Messenger of Allah! Give it to so and so, for verily he is a believer. Upon this the Messenger of Allah remarked: Or a Muslim. I (the narrator) repeated it (the word" believer" ) thrice and he (the Holy Prophet) turned his back upon me (and substituted the word)" Muslim," and then observed: I bestow it (this share) to a man out of apprehension lest Allah should throw him prostrate into the fire (of Hell) whereas in fact the other man is dearer to me than he.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 150aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 285USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 276
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 150a
This Muslim or believer hadith teaches careful speech about people’s inner state. Sa'd says the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) distributed shares, and Sa'd asked that a certain man be given because he was a believer. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) corrected the wording by saying, “Or a Muslim.” Sa'd repeated it three times, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) repeated the correction. Then he explained that he may give to one man out of fear that Allah may throw him into the Fire, while another man is dearer to him. The hadith shows that outward Islam and inward faith should not be spoken about carelessly. It also shows that giving or withholding was not always based on who was most beloved.
What we learn from this hadith
- One should be careful when declaring someone’s inner faith.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) distinguished between saying Muslim and believer in this situation.
- Giving a share did not necessarily mean someone was more beloved.
- The Prophet’s distribution considered the person’s condition and possible harm.
