36/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2014b — Pestilence and Covered Vessels
It is recommended to cover vessels, tie up waterskins, close doors and mention the name of Allah over them, extinguish lamps and fires when going to sleep, and keep children and animals in after maghrib
Covering Vessels Hadith: A Wording Variant About Pestilence
Sahih Muslim : 2014b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2014b
وَحَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . بِمِثْلِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " فَإِنَّ فِي السَّنَةِ يَوْمًا يَنْزِلُ فِيهِ وَبَاءٌ " . وَزَادَ فِي آخِرِ الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ اللَّيْثُ فَالأَعَاجِمُ عِنْدَنَا يَتَّقُونَ ذَلِكَ فِي كَانُونَ الأَوَّلِ .
Laith b. Sa'd Narrated from:
This hadith is reported on the authority of Laith b. Sa'd with the same chain of transmitters, but with a slight variation in wording (and that is that) he (the Holy Prophet) said: There is a day in a year when descends the pestilence; at the end of the hadith Laith said that the non Arabs save themselves from it in Kanun Awwal (this is the month of December).
[1] It is a reference to a Roman month, it is said it is the third on their calendar, and that it begins sometime in December, or, that it is December, which is more popular now.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2014bIn-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 130USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 23, Hadith 5001
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2014b
This narration reports the same teaching with a slight wording change. It says there is a day in the year when pestilence descends. At the end, Laith added that non-Arabs known to him took care regarding this in Kanun Awwal, which is December. The main teaching from the Prophetic wording remains covering vessels and tying waterskins. This Hadith is often searched as the Hadith about pestilence descending into uncovered vessels. The wording reminds readers not to be careless with open containers. It is better to cover food and drink and tie waterskins. The report also shows that small wording differences, such as night and day, were recorded rather than hidden.
What we learn from this hadith
- Covering vessels and tying waterskins remain the main practice taught.
- The narration preserves a wording difference about the time of pestilence.
- Leaving vessels open is discouraged by the meaning of this report.
