We find within ourselves thoughts that one of us would find too grave to talk about." He said: "Have you experienced that?" They said: 'Yes'. He said: "That is the clear faith
Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some of the Prophet's Companions came to him and said: "We find within ourselves thoughts that one of us would find too grave to talk about." He said: "Have you experienced that?" They said: 'Yes'. He said: "That is the clear faith."- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Narrated by Muslim
- Source entry
- HadeethEnc · 65011 ↗
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قال: جَاءَ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَسَأَلُوهُ: إِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا مَا يَتَعَاظَمُ أَحَدُنَا أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ، قَالَ: «وَقَدْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ؟» قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: «ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الْإِيمَانِ».Understand this hadith
A group of the Prophet's Companions came and asked him about thoughts that came to their minds, and they found it too grave to utter them due to their ugliness and repulsiveness. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: This which you experienced is the clear faith and certitude that prompts you to stave off what Satan throws into your hearts and to refrain from uttering it because you consider it to be too serious. As such, Satan could not dominate your hearts, unlike others whose hearts have been overcome by Satan, and he faces no pushback and resistance from them.
Lessons from the hadith
- The Hadīth highlights the weakness of Satan towards the believers, as he is unable to do anything except a whisper.
- We should not believe or accept the bad thoughts coming to our minds, for these are whisperings from Satan.
- Satan's whisperings do not harm the believer; however, he should seek refuge with Allah from his whisperings and desist from going too far with them.
- A Muslim should not remain silent about things confusing to him regarding his religion. He should ask about them.
References (original Arabic)
صحيح مسلم (1/ 119) (132)، معالم السنن (4/174)، المفهم للقرطبي (1/344)، شرح النووي على مسلم (2/154)، البحر المحيط الثجاج (3/622).