55/11. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2997a — Bani Israil and Rats
Mice Are A Transformed Race
Hadith About Bani Israil and Rats
Sahih Muslim : 2997a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2997a
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى الْعَنَزِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الرُّزِّيُّ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ الثَّقَفِيِّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ، سِيرِينَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فُقِدَتْ أُمَّةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لاَ يُدْرَى مَا فَعَلَتْ وَلاَ أُرَاهَا إِلاَّ الْفَأْرَ أَلاَ تَرَوْنَهَا إِذَا وُضِعَ لَهَا أَلْبَانُ الإِبِلِ لَمْ تَشْرَبْهُ وَإِذَا وُضِعَ لَهَا أَلْبَانُ الشَّاءِ شَرِبَتْهُ " . قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَحَدَّثْتُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ كَعْبًا فَقَالَ آنْتَ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ نَعَمْ . قَالَ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا . قُلْتُ أَأَقْرَأُ التَّوْرَاةَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ " لاَ نَدْرِي مَا فَعَلَتْ " .
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: A group of Bani Isra'il was lost. I do not know what happened to it, but I think (that it 'underwent a process of metamorphosis) and assumed the shape of rats. Don't you see when the milk of the camel is placed before them, these do not drink and when the milk of goat is placed before them, these do drink. Abu Huraira said: I narrated this very hadith to Ka'b and he said: Did you hear this from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? I (Abu Huraira) said: Yes. He said this again and again, and I said: Have I read Torah? This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ishaq with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2997aIn-book reference : Book 55, Hadith 79USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 42, Hadith 7135
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2997a
This Hadith reports that Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) spoke about a group of Bani Israil that was lost. The wording says that he did not know what happened to it, but thought it had taken the shape of rats. The sign mentioned is that when camel milk is placed before rats, they do not drink it, but when goat milk is placed before them, they drink it. Abu Huraira later narrated this to Ka'b, who asked more than once whether he had heard it from Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Abu Huraira answered yes and responded by asking whether he had read the Torah. The explanation should stay within this report and avoid adding extra details.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith mentions a lost group from Bani Israil.
- The report connects rats with a sign involving camel milk and goat milk.
- Abu Huraira affirmed that he heard the report from Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
- A narrator may clarify the source of a report when questioned.
