0/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 12 — Withholding Some Reports
The Prohibition of Narrating Everything One Hears
Hadith Narration Caution: Withhold Some of What You Hear
Sahih Muslim : 12
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 12
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ مَهْدِيٍّ، يَقُولُ لاَ يَكُونُ الرَّجُلُ إِمَامًا يُقْتَدَى بِهِ حَتَّى يُمْسِكَ عَنْ بَعْضِ مَا سَمِعَ .
Abd ar-Rahman bin Mahdī Narrated from:
A man cannot be an Imām whose example is followed until he withholds from some of what he hears’.
Reference : Sahih Muslim Introduction 12In-book reference : Introduction, Narration 11
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 12
This report gives a clear rule for someone who wants to be an Imam whose example is followed: he must withhold from some of what he hears. The core topic is restraint in narration. The statement does not mean hiding all knowledge. It means that a trusted person cannot pass on every report without judgment. Some reports may be weak, confusing, unsuitable, or not useful for the audience. The text itself focuses on holding back from some heard material. People searching for verify before sharing hadith can learn from this line. Being trusted is not only about speaking; it is also about knowing when not to speak.
What we learn from this hadith
- A followed Imam must not narrate everything he hears.
- Withholding some reports can be part of responsible speech.
- Trust grows when a person speaks with care.
- Not speaking can be the right choice in some cases.
