Sahih Muslim 2241a

Chapter: The Prohibition Of Killing Ants

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2241a

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَأَبِي، سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏

أَنَّ نَمْلَةً قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَفِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ ‏"

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

An ant had bitten a Prophet (one amongst the earlier Prophets) and he ordered that the colony of the ants should be burnt. And Allah revealed to him:" Because of an ant's bite you have burnt a community from amongst the communities which sings My glory."

Reported by Muslim (No. 2241a), Al-Bukhari (No. 3019), Abu Dawud (No. 5266), An-Nasa’i (No. 4358), Ibn Majah (No. 3225) and Ahmad (No. 8861).

Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَوْله صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( أَنَّ نَمْلَة قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنْ الْأَنْبِيَاء , فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْل فَأُحْرِقَتْ , فَأَوْحَى اللَّه إِلَيْهِ : فِي أَنَّ قَرْصَتك نَمْلَة أَهْلَكْت أُمَّة مِنْ الْأُمَم تُسَبِّح ) وَفِي رِوَايَة : ( فَهَلَّا نَمْلَة وَاحِدَة ) قَالَ الْعُلَمَاء : وَهَذَا الْحَدِيث مَحْمُول عَلَى أَنَّ شَرْع ذَلِكَ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ فِيهِ جَوَاز قَتْل النَّمْل , وَجَوَاز الْإِحْرَاق بِالنَّارِ , وَلَمْ يَعْتِب عَلَيْهِ فِي أَصْل الْقَتْل وَالْإِحْرَاق , بَلْ فِي الزِّيَادَة عَلَى نَمْلَة وَاحِدَة. وَأَمَّا فِي شَرْعنَا فَلَا يَجُوز الْإِحْرَاق بِالنَّارِ لِلْحَيَوَانِ إِلَّا إِذَا أَحْرَقَ إِنْسَانًا فَمَاتَ بِالْإِحْرَاق…

Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 3019

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "An ant bit a Prophet amongst the Prophets, and he ordered that the place of the ants be burnt. So, Allah inspired to him, 'It is because one ant bit you that you burnt a nation amongst the nations that glorify Allah?"

قَرَصَتْ نَمْلَةٌ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَحْرَقْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ اللَّهِ.‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Abu Dawud 5266

An ant stung a prophet. He ordered a colony of ants to be burned. Allah revealed to him : because an ant stung you, you have perished a community which glorifies Me.

نَّ نَمْلَةً قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ فِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 4358

"An ant bit one of the prophets, and he ordered that the ant nest be burned. Then Allah revealed to him: "One ant bit you, and you destroyed one of the nations that glorify Allah."

"‏ أَنَّ نَمْلَةً قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ قَدْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Ibn Majah 3225

“One of the Prophets was bitten by an ant, so he ordered that the ant colony be burned. Then Allah revealed to him: ‘Because one ant bit you, you destroy one of the nations that glorify Allah?’” Another chain reports a similar hadith.

"‏ إِنَّ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ قَرَصَتْهُ نَمْلَةٌ فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِ فِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 8861

حَدَّثَنَا عَتَّابٌ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah Arabic only

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Mishkat al-Masabih 4122

He reported God’s messenger as saying that when a prophet was stung by an ant he ordered a colony of ants to be burned, and God most high revealed to him, "Because an ant stung you you have burned a community which glorifies me." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

" قَرَصَتْ نَمْلَةٌ نَبِيًّا من الأنبياءِ فأمرَ بقربةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَيْهِ: أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَحْرَقْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الْأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ؟ "

Also reported by… (11)

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السنن الكبرى للبيهقي (9330)النَّمْلَةَ قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ , فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ : أَفِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ ؟
السنن الكبرى للنسائي (4736)نَمْلَةً قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ ، فَأُحْرِقَتْ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِ : أَنْ قَدْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةٌ مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ
تاريخ دمشق لابن عساكر (41722)نَمْلَةً قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ : أَنَّ فِي قَرْصَةِ نَمْلَةٍ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ
جزء الحسن بن رشيق (50)قَرَصَتْ نَمْلَةٌ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِ : فِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُنِي
صحيح ابن حبان (5730)نَمْلَةً قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ ، فَأُحْرِقَتْ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ : أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ
مسند أبي يعلى الموصلي (5800)قَرَصَتْ نَمْلَةٌ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ : فِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أَمَةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ ؟
مسند أبي يعلى الموصلي (5803)قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ نَمْلَةٌ ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ : أَفِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَحْرَقْتَ أَمَةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ اللَّهَ ؟
مسند أبي يعلى الموصلي (5980)قَرَصَتْ نَمْلَةٌ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ : أَفِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أَمَةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ
مسند عبد الله بن المبارك (199)قَرَصَتْ نَمْلَةٌ نَبِيًّا ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ , فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ لِلنَّبِيِّ أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَهْلَكْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ
مشكل الآثار للطحاوي (735)نَمْلَةً قَرَصَتْ نَبِيًّا مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَرْيَةِ النَّمْلِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إلَيْهِ : أَفِي أَنْ قَرَصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ حَرَقْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ ؟

On the same subject

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Abu Dawud 5265

A prophet got down beneath a tree and he was stung by an ant. He ordered regarding the baggage and it was removed from beneath it. He then ordered regarding it and it was burnt. Allah then revealed to him : why not (just) one ant?

نَزَلَ نَبِيٌّ مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ فَلَدَغَتْهُ نَمْلَةٌ فَأَمَرَ بِجَهَازِهِ فَأُخْرِجَ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهَا فَأُحْرِقَتْ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ فَهَلاَّ نَمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 7 other versions

Sahih Muslim 2241a

Classical commentary

Scholars’ grades

Other versions

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "An ant bit a Prophet amongst the Prophets, and he ordered that the place of the ants be burnt. So, Allah inspired to him, 'It is because one ant bit you that you burnt a nation amongst the nations that glorify Allah?"

An ant stung a prophet. He ordered a colony of ants to be burned. Allah revealed to him : because an ant stung you, you have perished a community which glorifies Me.

"An ant bit one of the prophets, and he ordered that the ant nest be burned. Then Allah revealed to him: "One ant bit you, and you destroyed one of the nations that glorify Allah."

“One of the Prophets was bitten by an ant, so he ordered that the ant colony be burned. Then Allah revealed to him: ‘Because one ant bit you, you destroy one of the nations that glorify Allah?’” Another chain reports a similar hadith.

He reported God’s messenger as saying that when a prophet was stung by an ant he ordered a colony of ants to be burned, and God most high revealed to him, "Because an ant stung you you have burned a community which glorifies me." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

On the same subject

A prophet got down beneath a tree and he was stung by an ant. He ordered regarding the baggage and it was removed from beneath it. He then ordered regarding it and it was burnt. Allah then revealed to him : why not (just) one ant?

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Classical commentary

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I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "An ant bit a Prophet amongst the Prophets, and he ordered that the place of the ants be burnt. So, Allah inspired to him, 'It is because one ant bit you that you burnt a nation amongst the nations that glorify Allah?"

An ant stung a prophet. He ordered a colony of ants to be burned. Allah revealed to him : because an ant stung you, you have perished a community which glorifies Me.

"An ant bit one of the prophets, and he ordered that the ant nest be burned. Then Allah revealed to him: "One ant bit you, and you destroyed one of the nations that glorify Allah."

“One of the Prophets was bitten by an ant, so he ordered that the ant colony be burned. Then Allah revealed to him: ‘Because one ant bit you, you destroy one of the nations that glorify Allah?’” Another chain reports a similar hadith.

He reported God’s messenger as saying that when a prophet was stung by an ant he ordered a colony of ants to be burned, and God most high revealed to him, "Because an ant stung you you have burned a community which glorifies me." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

On the same subject

A prophet got down beneath a tree and he was stung by an ant. He ordered regarding the baggage and it was removed from beneath it. He then ordered regarding it and it was burnt. Allah then revealed to him : why not (just) one ant?

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