54/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2886c — Take Refuge When Fitnah Appears
Onset Of Tribulations Like Rainfall
Hadith About Taking Shelter from Fitnah
Sahih Muslim : 2886c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2886c
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَكُونُ فِتْنَةٌ النَّائِمُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَقْظَانِ وَالْيَقْظَانُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْقَائِمِ وَالْقَائِمُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ السَّاعِي فَمَنْ وَجَدَ مَلْجَأً أَوْ مَعَاذًا فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: There would be turmoil and the one who would sleep would be better than who would be awake and the one who would be awake would be better than one who would stand and one who would stand would be better than one who would run. So he who finds refuge or shelter should take that refuge or shelter.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2886cIn-book reference : Book 54, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 41, Hadith 6895
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2886c
This hadith about fitnah uses another clear ladder of safety. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that during turmoil, the sleeping person is better than the awake person, the awake person is better than the standing person, and the standing person is better than the one running. The message is not about laziness in normal life. It is about staying away from destructive turmoil when involvement brings harm. The final instruction is the main practical point: whoever finds a refuge or shelter should take that refuge or shelter. The hadith teaches a calm response when fitnah spreads. It praises distance from harmful conflict and warns against rushing toward it.
What we learn from this hadith
- During destructive turmoil, less involvement can be safer.
- The hadith warns against running toward fitnah.
- A person should take refuge when a safe way is available.
- Not every public conflict is something a believer should enter.
