53/13. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2856b — Bahira Saiba and Devoted Animals
The Arrogant Will Enter The Fire, And The Humble Will Enter Paradise
Bahira and Saiba Hadith Explained
Sahih Muslim : 2856b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2856b
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَحَسَنٌ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ عَبْدٌ أَخْبَرَنِي وَقَالَ، الآخَرَانِ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، شِهَابٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْبَحِيرَةَ الَّتِي يُمْنَعُ دَرُّهَا لِلطَّوَاغِيتِ فَلاَ يَحْلُبُهَا أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَأَمَّا السَّائِبَةُ الَّتِي كَانُوا يُسَيِّبُونَهَا لآلِهَتِهِمْ فَلاَ يُحْمَلُ عَلَيْهَا شَىْءٌ . وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " رَأَيْتُ عَمْرَو بْنَ عَامِرٍ الْخُزَاعِيَّ يَجُرُّ قُصْبَهُ فِي النَّارِ وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَيَّبَ السُّيُوبَ " .
Said ibn al-Musayyab Narrated from:
Sa'id b. Musayyib explained" al-bahira" as that animal which is not milked but for the idols. and none amongst the people milks them, and" as-sa'iba" as that animal which is let loose for the deities. Nothing is loaded over it, and Ibn Musayyib narrated that Abu Huraira stated that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I saw 'Amr b. 'Amir al-Khuzili dragging his intestines in fire and he was the first who devoted animals to deity.
[1] It is an explanation of Sûrat Al-Mâ‘idah 5:103.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2856bIn-book reference : Book 53, Hadith 62USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 40, Hadith 6839
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2856b
This Hadith about bahira and saiba gives more detail than the shorter report. Sa'id b. Musayyib explained that al-bahira was an animal whose milk was kept for idols, so people did not milk it. He explained as-sa'iba as an animal let loose for deities, with nothing loaded on it. Then Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said he saw Amr b. 'Amir al-Khuza'i dragging his intestines in the Fire, and that he was the first who devoted animals in that way. The main teaching is a warning against dedicating acts to false deities. The report ties a practice around animals to a severe outcome in the Fire.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report explains bahira as an animal whose milk was kept for idols.
- The report explains saiba as an animal let loose for deities.
- Amr ibn Amir is named as the first to devote such animals in this way.
- The Hadith warns against religious practices tied to false deities.
