Hadith on Parables: The Prophet is like warning of an enemy

Abu Musa reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the parable of what Allah has sent to me is that of a man who came to his people and he said, ‘O people! I have seen an army with my own eyes, and I give you a clear warning that you should flee to safety!’ A group among his people obeyed and fled to a place of safety. A group among them denied him and remained in their place. When morning came, the army attacked and destroyed them. That is the parable of one who obeys me and follows what I have been sent with, and one who disobeys me and denies the truth I have been sent with.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7283, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2283

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ مَثَلِي وَمَثَلَ مَا بَعَثَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِهِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ أَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ الْجَيْشَ بِعَيْنَيَّ وَإِنِّي أَنَا النَّذِيرُ الْعُرْيَانُ فَالنَّجَاءَ فَأَطَاعَهُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ فَأَدْلَجُوا فَانْطَلَقُوا عَلَى مُهْلَتِهِمْ وَكَذَّبَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا مَكَانَهُمْ فَصَبَّحَهُمْ الْجَيْشُ فَأَهْلَكَهُمْ وَاجْتَاحَهُمْ فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي وَاتَّبَعَ مَا جِئْتُ بِهِ وَمَثَلُ مَنْ عَصَانِي وَكَذَّبَ مَا جِئْتُ بِهِ مِنْ الْحَقِّ

7283 صحيح البخاري كتاب الاعتصام بالكتاب والسنة باب الاقتداء بسنن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

2283 صحيح مسلم كتاب الفضائل باب شفقته صلى الله عليه وسلم على أمته ومبالغته في تحذيرهم مما يضرهم

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Abu Amina Elias
Abu Amina Elias (Justin Parrott) is an academic librarian, researcher, and translator specializing in the Quran, Hadith, and their commentaries. He is a former instructor of Islamic Creed for Mishkah University.
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