1/10. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 33a — Sincere Shahadah and Fair Judgment
The evidence that one who dies believing in tawhid will definitely enter paradise
Sincere Shahadah Hadith: Do Not Rush to Judge Hearts
Sahih Muslim : 33a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 33a
حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْمُغِيرَةِ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَحْمُودُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ، عَنْ عِتْبَانَ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَلَقِيتُ عِتْبَانَ فَقُلْتُ حَدِيثٌ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكَ قَالَ أَصَابَنِي فِي بَصَرِي بَعْضُ الشَّىْءِ فَبَعَثْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنِي فَتُصَلِّيَ فِي مَنْزِلِي فَأَتَّخِذَهُ مُصَلًّى - قَالَ - فَأَتَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَدَخَلَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فِي مَنْزِلِي وَأَصْحَابُهُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ أَسْنَدُوا عُظْمَ ذَلِكَ وَكِبْرَهُ إِلَى مَالِكِ بْنِ دُخْشُمٍ قَالُوا وَدُّوا أَنَّهُ دَعَا عَلَيْهِ فَهَلَكَ وَوَدُّوا أَنَّهُ أَصَابَهُ شَرٌّ . فَقَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الصَّلاَةَ وَقَالَ " أَلَيْسَ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " . قَالُوا إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ وَمَا هُوَ فِي قَلْبِهِ . قَالَ " لاَ يَشْهَدُ أَحَدٌ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَيَدْخُلَ النَّارَ أَوْ تَطْعَمَهُ " . قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَأَعْجَبَنِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ فَقُلْتُ لاِبْنِي اكْتُبْهُ فَكَتَبَهُ .
`Itban bin Malik Narrated from:
It is narrated on the authority of 'Itban b. Malik that he came to Medina and said: Something had gone wrong with my eyesight. I, therefore, sent (a message to the Holy Prophet): Verily it is my ardent desire that you should kindly grace my house with your presence and observe prayer there so, that I should make that corner a place of worship.He said: The Prophet (ﷺ) came there, and those amongst the Companions whom Allah willed also accompanied him. He entered (my place) and offered prayer at my residence and his Companions began to talk amongst themselves (and this conversation centered round hypocrites), and then the conspicuous one, Malik b. Dukhshum was made the target and they wished that he (the Holy Prophet) should curse him and he should die or he should meet some calamity.In the meanwhile the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) completed his prayer and said: Does Malik b. Dukhshum not testify the fact that there is no god but Allah and verily I am the messenger of Allah. They replied: He makes a profession of it (no doubt) but does not do it out of (sincere) heart. He (the Holy Prophet) said: He who testifies that there is no god but Allah and I am the messenger of Allah would not enter Hell or its (flames) would not consume him.Anas said: This hadith impressed me very much and I told my son to write it down.
[1] Anas bin Mâlik narrated the Hadîth from Mahmûd.Reference : Sahih Muslim 33aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 56USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 52
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 33a
This hadith about sincere Shahadah begins with 'Itban b. Malik asking the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to pray in his house so he could make that place a prayer area. During the visit, some Companions spoke about Malik b. Dukhshum and wished harm for him. After finishing prayer, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked whether Malik testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. They replied that he said it but claimed it was not in his heart. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) answered with a strong teaching: one who testifies to this would not enter Hell or its flames would not consume him. The hadith warns us not to speak with certainty about hidden hearts.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) responded when people spoke harshly about Malik b. Dukhshum.
- The testimony of faith is treated with great weight in this narration.
- People should be careful about judging what is inside another person’s heart.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed in 'Itban’s house so he could take that place as a prayer area.
