Chapter on the Parable of the Prophet and his Ummah

In this chapter, the text explores the parable of the Prophet (peace be upon him), his Ummah, and what has come to them in terms of guidance and clarification. It mentions that the Prophet’s eyes used to sleep while his heart remained awake. The hadith narrates:

Hadith Narration

It was narrated that Jabir ibn Abdullah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "My example and your example is that of a man who kindled a fire and when it illuminated all around him, the moths and insects began to fall into it. He tried to push them away from it, but they overpowered him. I am there to hold you back from the Fire, but you are slipping from my hands." (Narrated by Muslim)

Additional Narration

Another version adds: "The example of me and the previous Prophets is like that of a man who built a house and perfected it." (Narrated by Muslim)

The Parable of Guidance and Knowledge

Abu Musa reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which has fertile soil that absorbed the water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. Another portion of it was hard and held the water so that Allah benefited the people seeing they drank from it, used it for watering animals, and irrigating the land. Some of it did not hold the water and in turn could not produce vegetation. This is the example of one who understands the religion of Allah and benefits from the knowledge which Allah has revealed through me. And the example of one who does not raise his head to it and does not accept the guidance of Allah which I am sent with."

Reference: Bukhari, Book of Knowledge, Chapter: The Virtue of the one who has knowledge and imparts it, Hadith 20, and Tuhfat al-Ashraf (2:184).

The Prophet's Parable on Following Guidance

Through this chain of transmission from Abu Musa to the Prophet, peace be upon him, he said: "My example and the example of what Allah, exalted is He, has sent me with is like a man who came to a people and said, 'O people, I have seen the enemy with my own eyes, and I am the naked warner. So save yourselves!' A group from his people obeyed him and left early, while others delayed. The saved ones were spared, but those who disobeyed and denied the truth perished. This is the likeness of those who obey me and follow the truth I bring, and the likeness of those who disobey me and deny the truth I bring."

Source: Recorded by Muslim in his book of virtues, Chapter on the Description of the Prophet's Mission with Guidance and Knowledge, Hadith 15, p. 1787. This narration was passed down through Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu 'Amr al-Ash'ari, and Muhammad ibn al-'Ala', via Abu Usamah, from Burayd.

Additional narration by Al-Nasa'i in Al-'Ilm Al-Kabir, from Al-Qasim ibn Zakariya al-Kufi, through Abu Usamah, in Tuhfat al-Ashraf, 6:438-439.

Explanation of terms: "Qawm" refers to "people," "nudhir al-'urayan" means "the naked warner," and "muhallihim" is "at their leisure."

Translation of a Classical Islamic Arabic Text

Hadith Narration

Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim in Sahih from Abu Kurayb.

Narrator Chain:

Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz informed us, saying: Abu At-Tayyib Tahir ibn Yahya Al-Bayhaqi narrated to us from the original book of his uncle. He said: My uncle, Al-Fadl ibn Muhammad Al-Bayhaqi, narrated to us, saying: Abdullah ibn Salih informed us, saying: Al-Layth narrated to me, saying: Khalid ibn Yazid narrated from Sa'id ibn Abi Hilal, saying: I heard Abu Ja'far, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Al-Husayn, reciting this verse: "And Allah invites to the Home of Peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path."

Prophet Muhammad's Vision

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, appeared to us one day and said: "I saw in a dream as if Gabriel and Michael were by my head and feet. One of them said to the other: 'Give him the parable.' He said: 'Listen, your hearing is attentive, and your heart is wise. Your example and that of your nation is like a king who built a house, furnished it, and then sent a messenger inviting people to his feast. Some responded to the messenger's call, while others turned away. Allah is the King, the home is Islam, and the house is Paradise. You, O Muhammad, are the messenger. Whoever follows you embraces Islam and whoever embraces Islam enters Paradise, eating from it."

Narrator Chain Continued:

Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah said: Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ya'qub, the Hafiz, dictated to us, saying: Ibrahim ibn Abdullah narrated to us.

Story of the Angels Visiting the Prophet

Yazid ibn Harun narrated: Salim ibn Hayyan told us that Saeed ibn Mina reported from Jabir ibn Abdullah, who said: Angels came to the Prophet of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was asleep. Some said to others: "He is asleep." And some said: "His eyes are asleep, but his heart is awake." They said: "His example is like a man who built a house, prepared a feast in it, and sent a caller. Whoever responded to the caller entered the house and ate from the feast, and whoever did not respond to the caller did not enter the house or eat from the feast." They said: "Give him some guidance." Some said: "He is asleep," and some said: "His eyes are asleep, but his heart is awake." They said: "The house is Jannah (Paradise), the caller is Muhammad. Whoever obeys Muhammad has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys Muhammad has disobeyed Allah. Muhammad makes distinction among people." This was narrated by Al-Bukhari in Sahih from Muhammad ibn Ubada, from Yazid ibn Harun.

Aisha Asking the Prophet About Sleeping Before Witr Prayer

Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz told us that Abu Al-Hasan Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abdus said that Uthman ibn Saeed reported to them from Al-Qa'nabi in what he recited to Malik from Sa'id ibn Abi Sa'id Al-Maqburi, from Abu Salama ibn Abdur-Rahman, from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before performing the Witr prayer?' He said: 'O Aisha, my eyes...'

The Importance of the Night Prayer (Tahajjud)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "My eyes sleep, but my heart does not." This is narrated by Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim from the chain of narrators including Yahya ibn Yahya and Malik.

Imam Al-Bukhari included this hadith in his collection in Kitab al-Taraweeh, Chapter of the Virtues of Standing in Prayer during Ramadan. Imam Muslim included it in his collection in Kitab al-Musafrin, Chapter of the Night Prayer, specifying the number of units of night prayer the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed (Hadith 125). Malik included it in his Muwatta in the Book of the Night Prayer, Chapter of the Prophet's Nightly Witr Prayer (Hadith 9).

Moreover, this hadith is also mentioned by Abu Dawood in his book on voluntary acts of worship, by At-Tirmidhi in his book on prayers, by An-Nasa'i in his book on the night prayer, and by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad.