41/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2256c — True Poetry and Faith
Chapter
True Poetry and Faith: Labid’s Verse in Sahih Muslim
Sahih Muslim : 2256c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2256c
وَحَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَصْدَقُ بَيْتٍ قَالَهُ الشَّاعِرُ أَلاَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ مَا خَلاَ اللَّهَ بَاطِلٌ وَكَادَ ابْنُ أَبِي الصَّلْتِ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The truest verse recited by a poet is: "Behold! apart from Allah everything is vain," and Ibn Abu Salt was almost a Muslim.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2256cIn-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 28, Hadith 5606
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2256c
This Hadith about the truest verse recited by a poet is another wording of the report about Labid. Abu Huraira says that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم named the verse: “Behold! apart from Allah everything is vain.” The narration also says that Ibn Abu Salt was almost a Muslim. The lesson is not about praising every poem or every poet. It is about recognizing truth when it appears in words. A short verse can remind a person that nothing deserves the heart’s full reliance except Allah. For users searching Sahih Muslim 2256c, the key point is clear: poetry is not judged only by style. Its meaning matters, and truth about Allah is the highest value mentioned in this report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith points to a verse that speaks truth about Allah.
- It mentions Ibn Abu Salt as almost Muslim.
- Poetic speech should be weighed by its meaning.
- The line reminds the listener not to attach the heart to what is vain.
