39/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2234a — Snake in the Cave
Killing Snakes Etc.
Hadith About the Snake in the Cave and Allah’s Protection
Sahih Muslim : 2234a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2234a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى - قَالَ يَحْيَى وَإِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَارٍ وَقَدْ أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ { وَالْمُرْسَلاَتِ عُرْفًا} . فَنَحْنُ نَأْخُذُهَا مِنْ فِيهِ رَطْبَةً إِذْ خَرَجَتْ عَلَيْنَا حَيَّةٌ فَقَالَ " اقْتُلُوهَا " . فَابْتَدَرْنَاهَا لِنَقْتُلَهَا فَسَبَقَتْنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَقَاهَا اللَّهُ شَرَّكُمْ كَمَا وَقَاكُمْ شَرَّهَا " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
We were with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in a cave when there was revealed to him (the Sura al-Mursalat, i. e. Sura lxxvii.:" By those sent forth to spread goodness") and we had just heard (it) from his lips that there appeared before us a snake. He said: Kill it. We hastened to kill it, but it slipped away from us, thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Allah saved it from your harm just as he saved you from its evil.
[1] Al-Mursalât 77.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2234aIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 186USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5553
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2234a
Core Topic: Divine Protection. This Hadith is often searched as “snake in the cave hadith.” Abdullah reports that they were with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in a cave when Surah al-Mursalat had just been revealed, and they were hearing it fresh from his lips. A snake then appeared before them. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Kill it.” They rushed to kill it, but it escaped. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said that Allah saved it from their harm just as He saved them from its evil. The main lesson is not only about a snake. It also points to Allah’s protection. The wording keeps both sides together: they were protected from the snake, and the snake escaped them by Allah’s will.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told the Companions to kill the snake when it appeared.
- The Companions acted quickly on the instruction.
- The snake escaped, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم linked that escape to Allah’s protection.
- The Hadith mentions protection from harm on both sides.
