4/33. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 450a — The Night of the Jinn and Their Provision
Reciting Out Aloud In As-Subh And Reciting To The Jinn
Night of Jinn Hadith: Qur’an, Provision, and Cleanliness
Sahih Muslim : 450a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 450a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ دَاوُدَ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَلْقَمَةَ هَلْ كَانَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ شَهِدَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةَ الْجِنِّ قَالَ فَقَالَ عَلْقَمَةُ أَنَا سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ شَهِدَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةَ الْجِنِّ قَالَ لاَ وَلَكِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَفَقَدْنَاهُ فَالْتَمَسْنَاهُ فِي الأَوْدِيَةِ وَالشِّعَابِ فَقُلْنَا اسْتُطِيرَ أَوِ اغْتِيلَ - قَالَ - فَبِتْنَا بِشَرِّ لَيْلَةٍ بَاتَ بِهَا قَوْمٌ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْنَا إِذَا هُوَ جَاءٍ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِرَاءٍ - قَالَ - فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَدْنَاكَ فَطَلَبْنَاكَ فَلَمْ نَجِدْكَ فَبِتْنَا بِشَرِّ لَيْلَةٍ بَاتَ بِهَا قَوْمٌ . فَقَالَ " أَتَانِي دَاعِي الْجِنِّ فَذَهَبْتُ مَعَهُ فَقَرَأْتُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقُرْآنَ " . قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ بِنَا فَأَرَانَا آثَارَهُمْ وَآثَارَ نِيرَانِهِمْ وَسَأَلُوهُ الزَّادَ فَقَالَ " لَكُمْ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَقَعُ فِي أَيْدِيكُمْ أَوْفَرَ مَا يَكُونُ لَحْمًا وَكُلُّ بَعَرَةٍ عَلَفٌ لِدَوَابِّكُمْ " . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَلاَ تَسْتَنْجُوا بِهِمَا فَإِنَّهُمَا طَعَامُ إِخْوَانِكُمْ " .
'Amir Narrated from:
I asked 'Alqama if Ibn Mas'ud was present with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the night of the Jinn (the night when the Prophet met them). He (Ibn Mas'uad) said: No, but we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) one night and we missed him. We searched for him in the valleys and the hills and said. He has either been taken away (by jinn) or has been secretly killed. He (the narrator) said. We spent the worst night which people could ever spend.When it was dawn we saw him coming from the side of Hiri'. He (the narrator) reported. We said: Messenger of Allah, we missed you and searched for you, but we could not find you and we spent the worst night which people could ever spend. He (the Holy Prophet) said: There came to me an inviter on behalf of the Jinn and I went along with him and recited to them the Qur'an.He (the narrator) said: He then went along with us and showed us their traces and traces of their embers. They (the Jinn) asked him (the Holy Prophet) about their provision and he said: Every bone on which the name of Allah is recited is your provision. The time it will fall in your hand it would be covered with flesh, and the dung of (the camels) is fodder for your animals. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Don't perform istinja with these (things) for these are the food of your brothers (Jinn).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 450aIn-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 169USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 903
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 450a
This night of jinn hadith gives several clear points. Ibn Mas'ud was asked whether he was present with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم on the night of the Jinn, and he said no. The Companions missed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم one night and searched for him, spending a very hard night. At dawn he returned from the side of Hira and told them that an inviter from the Jinn had come to him. He went with him and recited the Qur’an to them. He later showed the Companions their traces and embers. The Jinn asked about provision, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned every bone over which Allah’s name is recited and dung as fodder for their animals. He then said not to perform istinja with them because they are the food of their brothers, the Jinn.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم recited the Qur’an to the Jinn when their inviter came to him.
- The Companions cared deeply when they missed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم at night.
- Bones and dung should not be used for istinja, as stated in this hadith.
