44/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2388a — The Speaking Ox and Wolf
The Virtues Of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA)
Hadith About the Speaking Ox and Wolf and Strong Faith
Sahih Muslim : 2388a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2388a
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ وَحَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّهُمَا سَمِعَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَسُوقُ بَقَرَةً لَهُ قَدْ حَمَلَ عَلَيْهَا الْتَفَتَتْ إِلَيْهِ الْبَقَرَةُ فَقَالَتْ إِنِّي لَمْ أُخْلَقْ لِهَذَا وَلَكِنِّي إِنَّمَا خُلِقْتُ لِلْحَرْثِ " . فَقَالَ النَّاسُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ . تَعَجُّبًا وَفَزَعًا . أَبَقَرَةٌ تَكَلَّمُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَإِنِّي أُومِنُ بِهِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ " . قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بَيْنَا رَاعٍ فِي غَنَمِهِ عَدَا عَلَيْهِ الذِّئْبُ فَأَخَذَ مِنْهَا شَاةً فَطَلَبَهُ الرَّاعِي حَتَّى اسْتَنْقَذَهَا مِنْهُ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ الذِّئْبُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَنْ لَهَا يَوْمَ السَّبُعِ يَوْمَ لَيْسَ لَهَا رَاعٍ غَيْرِي " . فَقَالَ النَّاسُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَإِنِّي أُومِنُ بِذَلِكَ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: A person had been driving an ox loaded with luggage. The ox looked towards him and said: I have not been created for this but for lands (i. e. for ploughing the land and for drawing out water from the wells for the purpose of irrigating the lands). The people said with surprise and awe: Hallowed be Allah, does the ox speak? Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I believe it and so do Abu Bakr and 'Umar.Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: A shepherd was tending the flock when a wolf came there and took away one goat. Tile shepherd pursued it (the wolf) and rescued it (the goat) from that (wolf). The wolf looked towards him and said: Who would save it on the day when there will be no shepherd except me? Thereupon people said: Hallowed be Allah I Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I believe in it and so do Abu Bakr and Umar believe.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2388aIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 14USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 5881
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2388a
This hadith about the speaking ox and wolf presents two unusual reports told by Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. In the first, an ox carrying luggage turns and says it was created for land work, not for that load. In the second, a wolf takes a goat, the shepherd rescues it, and the wolf speaks about a day when there will be no shepherd except itself. The people react with surprise and say, Subhan Allah. The main teaching is the Prophet’s firm belief in what he reported. He also mentions Abu Bakr and Umar as believers in it. The focus is faith in the Prophet’s truthful words, even when the event feels strange.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم affirmed what he reported, even when people were surprised.
- The ox’s words point to using an animal according to its created purpose.
- Abu Bakr and Umar are mentioned with belief in the Prophet’s report.
