1/95. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 221c — Faith and the Hope of Paradise
Clarifying that this ummah will form half of the People of Paradise
Hadith About Faith: Only a Muslim Soul Enters Paradise
Sahih Muslim : 221c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 221c
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، - وَهْوَ ابْنُ مِغْوَلٍ - عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ خَطَبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَسْنَدَ ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى قُبَّةِ أَدَمٍ فَقَالَ " أَلاَ لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلاَّ نَفْسٌ مُسْلِمَةٌ اللَّهُمَّ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ . أَتُحِبُّونَ أَنَّكُمْ رُبُعُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ " . فَقُلْنَا نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ " أَتُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا ثُلُثَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ " . قَالُوا نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " إِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا شَطْرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ مَا أَنْتُمْ فِي سِوَاكُمْ مِنَ الأُمَمِ إِلاَّ كَالشَّعْرَةِ السَّوْدَاءِ فِي الثَّوْرِ الأَبْيَضِ أَوْ كَالشَّعْرَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ فِي الثَّوْرِ الأَسْوَدِ " .
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed us and then supported his back (by reclining) against a leather tent and said: Behold, no one but a believing person would enter Paradise. O Allah, (see) have I conveyed (it not)? 0 Allah, be witness (to it that I have conveyed it). (Then addressing the companions) he said: Don't you like that you should constitute one-fourth of the inhabitants of Paradise? We said: Yes, Messenger of Allah.He again said: Don't you like that you should constitute one-third of the inhabitants of Paradise? They said: Yes, Messenger of Allah. He said: I hope that you would constitute one- half of the inhabitants of Paradise and you would be among the peoples of the world, like a black hair on (the body of) a white ox or like a white hair on the body of a black ox.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 221cIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 437USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 429
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 221c
This hadith begins with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) addressing the people while leaning against a leather tent. He clearly said that no one but a Muslim soul would enter Paradise, then called Allah to witness that he had conveyed the message. After that, he asked if they would like to be one-fourth of the people of Paradise, then one-third, and then he said he hoped they would be half. The hadith about faith and Paradise ties hope to the message of Islam. It also shows the Prophet's care in conveying the truth clearly. The image of a black hair on a white ox or a white hair on a black ox gives a simple way to understand the comparison between this Ummah and other peoples.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) clearly conveyed that Paradise is for a Muslim soul.
- He called Allah as witness that he had delivered the message.
- The hadith gives hope that the Ummah would form a large share of Paradise's people.
