45/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2586a — Believers Are Like One Body
The Mutual Mercy, Compassion And Support Of The Believers
Hadith About Believers Being Like One Body
Sahih Muslim : 2586a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2586a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ مَثَلُ الْجَسَدِ إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالسَّهَرِ وَالْحُمَّى " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
Nu'man b. Bashir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2586aIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 84USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6258
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2586a
This Hadith about believers being like one body teaches deep care within the Muslim community. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم compared believers in their mutual love, affection, and fellow-feeling to a single body. When one limb aches, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever. This image is powerful because it shows that the pain of one believer should not be treated as something far away or unimportant. The Hadith does not call for empty slogans. It calls for real concern, mercy, and emotional connection. When another believer suffers, the rest of the community should feel moved to care. The lesson is balanced: shared faith should produce shared compassion.
What we learn from this hadith
- Believers should care about one another’s pain.
- Mutual love and mercy are part of healthy Muslim brotherhood.
- A community should not ignore the suffering of its members.
- The Hadith teaches fellow-feeling through the image of one body.
