1/95. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 221a — Half of the People of Paradise
Clarifying that this ummah will form half of the People of Paradise
Hadith About the Ummah: Half of the Inhabitants of Paradise
Sahih Muslim : 221a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 221a
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمَا تَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا رُبُعَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ " قَالَ فَكَبَّرْنَا . ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَمَا تَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا ثُلُثَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ " قَالَ فَكَبَّرْنَا . ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا شَطْرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَسَأُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ مَا الْمُسْلِمُونَ فِي الْكُفَّارِ إِلاَّ كَشَعْرَةٍ بَيْضَاءَ فِي ثَوْرٍ أَسْوَدَ أَوْ كَشَعْرَةٍ سَوْدَاءَ فِي ثَوْرٍ أَبْيَضَ " .
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressing us said: Aren't you pleased that you should constitute one-fourth of the inhabitants of Paradise? He (the narrator) said: We glorified (our Lord, i. e. we called aloud Allah-o Akbar, Allah is the Greatest).He, then, again said: Aren't you pleased that you should constitute one-third of the inhabitants of Paradise? He (the narrator) said: We glorified (our Lord) and he (the Holy Prophet) then again said: I hope that you would constitute half of the inhabitants of Paradise and I shall explain to you its (reason). The believers among the unbelievers would not be more than a white hair on (the body of a) black ox or a black hair on (the body of a) white ox.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 221aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 435USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 427
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 221a
This hadith gives a hopeful message to the Companions. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked whether they would be pleased to be one-fourth of the people of Paradise. They glorified Allah. Then he asked about one-third, and they glorified Allah again. Then he said he hoped they would be half of the inhabitants of Paradise. The hadith about half of Paradise also gives a comparison: believers among unbelievers would be like a white hair on a black ox or a black hair on a white ox. The point is not to become proud, but to feel gratitude and hope. The Companions answered this good news with takbir, showing that such glad tidings should lead to praise of Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) gave his Companions hope about the Ummah's place in Paradise.
- Good news about Paradise led the Companions to glorify Allah.
- The hadith uses a clear image to show the believers' number compared with others.
