52/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2794a — The Soul Is by Allah’s Command
The Jews' Asking The Prophet (SAW) About The Soul, And The Words Of Allah: "And They Ask You Concerning The Ruh (The Spirit)"
Hadith About the Soul and Limited Knowledge
Sahih Muslim : 2794a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2794a
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا أَمْشِي، مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَرْثٍ وَهُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى عَسِيبٍ إِذْ مَرَّ بِنَفَرٍ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ سَلُوهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ فَقَالُوا مَا رَابَكُمْ إِلَيْهِ لاَ يَسْتَقْبِلُكُمْ بِشَىْءٍ تَكْرَهُونَهُ . فَقَالُوا سَلُوهُ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ بَعْضُهُمْ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ - قَالَ - فَأَسْكَتَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ - قَالَ - فَقُمْتُ مَكَانِي فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ الْوَحْىُ قَالَ { وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً}
`Abdullah Narrated from:
As I was going along with Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) in a cultivable land and he (the Holy Prophet) was walking with the support of a wood, a group of Jews happened to meet him. Some of them said to the others: Ask him about the Soul. They said: What is your doubt about it? There is a possibility that you may ask him about anything (the answer of) which you may not like. They said: Ask him. So one amongst them asked him about the Soul.Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kept quiet and he gave no reply and I came to know that revelation was being sent to him, so I stood at my place and thus this revelation descended upon him:" They ask thee about the Soul. Say: The Soul is by the Commandment of my Lord, and of Knowledge you are given but a little" (xvii. 58).
[1] Al-Isrâ' 17:85. [1] Al-Isrâ' 17:85.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2794aIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6712
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2794a
This hadith about the soul records Abdullah b. Mas’ud walking with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when a group of Jews asked about the soul. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stayed silent and gave no reply. Abdullah understood that revelation was coming, so he stood in his place. Then the verse was revealed: “They ask thee about the Soul. Say: The Soul is by the Commandment of my Lord, and of Knowledge you are given but a little.” The lesson is clear and balanced. Not every unseen matter is explained in detail to people. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered only when revelation came. The hadith teaches humility in knowledge and respect for what Allah has chosen to reveal.
What we learn from this hadith
- The reality of the soul is tied here to Allah’s command.
- Human knowledge is described as little.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم waited for revelation before answering.
- A believer should be humble about unseen matters.
