34/10. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1954a — Prohibition of Flinging Pebbles
The permissibility of using things that help in hunting and pursuing the enemy, but throwing small pebbles is disliked
Hadith About Throwing Pebbles: A Clear Warning Against Harm
Sahih Muslim : 1954a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1954a
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا كَهْمَسٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، قَالَ رَأَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُغَفَّلِ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ يَخْذِفُ فَقَالَ لَهُ لاَ تَخْذِفْ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَكْرَهُ - أَوْ قَالَ - يَنْهَى عَنِ الْخَذْفِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يُصْطَادُ بِهِ الصَّيْدُ وَلاَ يُنْكَأُ بِهِ الْعَدُوُّ وَلَكِنَّهُ يَكْسِرُ السِّنَّ وَيَفْقَأُ الْعَيْنَ . ثُمَّ رَآهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ يَخْذِفُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أُخْبِرُكَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَكْرَهُ أَوْ يَنْهَى عَنِ الْخَذْفِ ثُمَّ أَرَاكَ تَخْذِفُ لاَ أُكَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَةً كَذَا وَكَذَا .
Ibn Buraida Narrated from:
Abdullah b. al-Mughaffal saw a person from amongst his companions throwing small pebbles, whereupon he said: Don't throw pebbles. for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did not like it, or he forbade flinging of pebbles since neither the game is taken thereby, nor an enemy defeated. but it may break a tooth or put out an eye. He, afterwards, again saw him flinging pebbles, and said to him: I inform you that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not approve or he forbade flinging of pebbles, but if I see you again flinging pebbles. I will not speak with you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1954aIn-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 79USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 21, Hadith 4805
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1954a
This hadith gives a practical warning about flinging small pebbles. Abdullah ibn al-Mughaffal saw a companion doing it and told him not to do so. He explained that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم disliked it or forbade it because it does not catch game and does not defeat an enemy. Instead, it may break a tooth or put out an eye. The teaching is easy to apply: actions that look like play can still cause harm. When the man repeated the act, Abdullah strongly objected and said he would not speak with him if he kept doing it. The report is often searched as “hadith about throwing pebbles” and “Islamic warning against harmful play.”
What we learn from this hadith
- Flinging pebbles was disliked or forbidden in this report.
- It is not a useful way to catch game.
- It is not a useful way to defeat an enemy.
- It can cause real harm, such as breaking a tooth or putting out an eye.
