44/53. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2538c — Lifespan and the Century
The Meaning Of The Words Of The Prophet (SAW): "After One Hundred Years There Will Be No Soul Left Alive That Is Living Now"
Hadith About One Hundred Years and Lifespan
Sahih Muslim : 2538c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2538c
حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ الْمُعْتَمِرِ، قَالَ ابْنُ حَبِيبٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِشَهْرٍ أَوْ نَحْوِ ذَلِكَ " مَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ مَنْفُوسَةٍ الْيَوْمَ تَأْتِي عَلَيْهَا مِائَةُ سَنَةٍ وَهْىَ حَيَّةٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ " . وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، صَاحِبِ السِّقَايَةِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ وَفَسَّرَهَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ نَقْصُ الْعُمُرِ .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying one mouth before his death (or something like it): None amongst the created beings who had been living by that time (during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle).... 'Abd al-Rahman has interpreted these words of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as: The ages (of the people) would be diminished.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2538cIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 312USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6163
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2538c
This hadith about one hundred years reports a statement of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) shortly before his death, or near that time. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that no living soul who was alive on that day would still be alive after one hundred years. The report also mentions that Abd al-Rahman explained this as a decrease in ages. The meaning in the text is focused on the people living at that time, not every human being in all times. This makes the hadith a clear reminder of human lifespan, passing generations, and the short nature of life. It teaches people not to read the words loosely, but to understand them as they were explained in the narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- Human life is limited, and generations pass away.
- A prophetic statement should be understood with the explanation given in the narration.
- The hadith points to those who were alive at that time.
- Remembering the shortness of life can make a person more mindful.
