44/76. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2859 — Parable of the Straight Path
What Has Been Related About Allah's Parable for His Slaves
Parable of the Straight Path Hadith Explained
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2859
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2859
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، عَنْ بَحِيرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَعْدَانَ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، عَنِ النَّوَّاسِ بْنِ سَمْعَانَ الْكِلاَبِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ ضَرَبَ مَثَلاً صِرَاطًا مُسْتَقِيمًا عَلَى كَنَفَىِ الصِّرَاطِ سُورَانِ لَهُمَا أَبْوَابٌ مُفَتَّحَةٌ عَلَى الأَبْوَابِ سُتُورٌ وَدَاعٍ يَدْعُو عَلَى رَأْسِ الصِّرَاطِ وَدَاعٍ يَدْعُو فَوْقَهُ: (وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى دَارِ السَّلاَمِ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ) وَالأَبْوَابُ الَّتِي عَلَى كَنَفَىِ الصِّرَاطِ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلاَ يَقَعُ أَحَدٌ فِي حُدُودِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يُكْشَفَ السِّتْرُ وَالَّذِي يَدْعُو مِنْ فَوْقِهِ وَاعِظُ رَبِّهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ زَكَرِيَّا بْنَ عَدِيٍّ يَقُولُ قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْفَزَارِيُّ خُذُوا عَنْ بَقِيَّةَ مَا حَدَّثَكُمْ عَنِ الثِّقَاتِ وَلاَ تَأْخُذُوا عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ عَيَّاشٍ مَا حَدَّثَكُمْ عَنِ الثِّقَاتِ وَلاَ غَيْرِ الثِّقَاتِ .
An-Nawwas bin Sam'an Al-Kilabi Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Indeed Allah Has Made A Parable Of The Straight Path: At The Sides Of The Path There Are Walls With Open Doors, Each Door Having A Curtain. There Is A Caller At The Head Of The Path Calling, And A Caller Above It Calling. And Allah Invites To The Abode Of Peace And Guides Whomever He Wills To The Straight Path. The Doors Which Are On The Sides Of The Path Are The Hudud (Legal Limitations) Of Allah; No One Breaches The Hudud Of Allah Except That Curtain Is Lifted, And The One Calling From Above It Is His Lord."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2859In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 1English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2859
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2859
This parable of the straight path hadith uses a clear image to explain guidance and Allah’s limits. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) described a straight path with walls on both sides. The walls have open doors, and each door has a curtain. A caller stands at the head of the path, and another caller is above it. The doors on the sides are the Hudud of Allah, meaning Allah’s legal limits in this narration. No one breaches those limits except that the curtain is lifted. The caller from above is described as the admonisher of his Lord. The hadith teaches staying on the path and being alert to the boundaries set by Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The straight path is described through a vivid parable.
- The doors on the sides represent Allah’s limits in the narration.
- Crossing the limits is pictured as lifting a curtain and entering danger.
- The hadith reminds the listener to respond to guidance and stay on the path.
