Jabir reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The parable of myself and all of you is that of a man who kindled a fire and tried to stop insects and moths from falling into it. I keep holding you back from the fire, yet you slip from my hand.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2285
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim
عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُكُمْ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ أَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَجَعَلَ الْجَنَادِبُ وَالْفَرَاشُ يَقَعْنَ فِيهَا وَهُوَ يَذُبُّهُنَّ عَنْهَا وَأَنَا آخِذٌ بِحُجَزِكُمْ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأَنْتُمْ تَفَلَّتُونَ مِنْ يَدِي
2285 صحيح مسلم كتاب الفضائل باب شفقته صلى الله عليه وسلم على أمته
