Sahih Muslim: Book 52, Hadith 21

Abu Huraira reported that Abu Jahl asked (people) whether Muhammad placed his face (on the ground) in their presence. It was said to him: Yes. He said: By Lat and `Uzza. If I were to see him do that, I would trample his neck, or I would smear his face with dust. He came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as he was engaged in prayer and thought of trampling his neck (and the people say) that he came near him but turned upon his heels and tried to repulse something with his hands. It was said to him: What is the matter with you? He said: There is between me and him a ditch of fire and terror and wings. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: If he were to come near me the angels would have torn him to pieces. Then Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse- (the narrator) said: We do not know whether it is the hadith transmitted by Abu Huraira or something conveyed to him from another source: “Nay, man is surely inordinate, because he looks upon himself as self-sufficient. Surely to thy Lord is the return. Hast thou seen him who forbids a servant when he prays? Seest thou if he is on the right way, or enjoins observance of piety? Seest thou if he denies and turns away? Knowest he not that Allah sees? Nay, if he desists not, We will seize him by the forelock-a lying, sinful forelock. Then let him summon his council. We will summon the guards of the Hell. Nay! Obey not thou him” (lcvi, 6-19). (Rather prostrate thyself.) Ubaidullah made this addition: It was after this that (prostration) was enjoined upon and Ibn Abd al-Ala made this addition that by “Nadiyah” he meant his people.

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى الْقَيْسِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ،
عَنْ أَبِيهِ، حَدَّثَنِي نُعَيْمُ بْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَهْلٍ هَلْ
يُعَفِّرُ مُحَمَّدٌ وَجْهَهُ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ قَالَ فَقِيلَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ وَاللاَّتِ وَالْعُزَّى لَئِنْ رَأَيْتُهُ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ
لأَطَأَنَّ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ أَوْ لأُعَفِّرَنَّ وَجْهَهُ فِي التُّرَابِ – قَالَ – فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه
وسلم وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي زَعَمَ لِيَطَأَ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ – قَالَ – فَمَا فَجِئَهُمْ مِنْهُ إِلاَّ وَهُوَ يَنْكِصُ عَلَى
عَقِبَيْهِ وَيَتَّقِي بِيَدَيْهِ – قَالَ – فَقِيلَ لَهُ مَا لَكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ لَخَنْدَقًا مِنْ نَارٍ وَهَوْلاً
وَأَجْنِحَةً ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ لَوْ دَنَا مِنِّي لاَخْتَطَفَتْهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عُضْوًا
عُضْوًا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لاَ نَدْرِي فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَوْ شَىْءٌ بَلَغَهُ ‏{‏ كَلاَّ
إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغَى * أَنْ رَآهُ اسْتَغْنَى * إِنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَى * أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يَنْهَى * عَبْدًا
إِذَا صَلَّى * أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدَى * أَوْ أَمَرَ بِالتَّقْوَى * أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى‏}‏ –
يَعْنِي أَبَا جَهْلٍ – ‏{‏ أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَى * كَلاَّ لَئِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ * نَاصِيَةٍ
كَاذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ * فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُ * سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ * كَلاَّ لاَ تُطِعْهُ‏}‏ زَادَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فِي حَدِيثِهِ
قَالَ وَأَمَرَهُ بِمَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ ‏.‏ وَزَادَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُ يَعْنِي قَوْمَهُ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim: Book 52, Hadith 21

 

The above hadith is from the Sahih Muslim collection of hadiths. Within Sunni Islam, the Sahih Muslim holds a position of immense reverence and trust. This significant body of work was collected and verified by the illustrious Imam Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj, with its completion dating back to approximately 875 CE. It is rightly considered one of the two most authentic collections, known as the Sahihayn, alongside Sahih al-Bukhari. As a pillar of the Kutub al-Sittah, the six canonical books, it provides indispensable guidance. The collection’s structure is defined by its 56 books, which contain a combined total of about 7,459 individual hadith narrations.

Use the tags to drill down deeper and find connections and new streams of information to help you fill gaps in knowledge and better connect the dots. Eman and Life is a growing database of knowledge with the mission to help further us in our pursuit of the best lifestyle through the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah.

 

For more Hadith in Book 52: Characteristics of the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell
 

Categories