44. Chapters on Parables

Narrated An-Nawwas bin Sam'an Al-Kilabi:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed Allah has made a parable of the straight path: At the sides of the path there are walls with open doors, each door having a curtain. There is a caller at the head of the path calling, and a caller above it calling. And Allah invites to the abode of peace…

Narrated Sa'eed bin Hilal:

that Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari said: "One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and said: "While I was sleeping I had a vision as if Jibra'il was at my feet. One of them said to his companion: 'Make a parable for him' so he said: 'Listen so that your ears may hear. Hearken so that your h…

Narrated Abu 'Uthman An-Nahdi:

from Ibn Mas'ud who said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed 'Isha, then he turned and took the hand of 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud until he went with him to the wide valley of Makkah. He sat him down, then he drew a line around him. Then he said: 'Do not go beyond your line, for indeed there shall come…

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The parable of myself and the Prophets is that of a man who constructed a house. He completed it and made it well, except for the space of one brick. So the people enter it and marvel at it saying: 'If not for the space of this brick.'"

Narrated Al-Harith Al-Ash'ari:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed Allah commanded Yahya bin Zakariyya with five commandments to abide by, and to command the Children of Isra'il to abide by them. But he was slow in doing so. So 'Eisa said: 'Indeed Allah commanded you with five commandments to abide by and to command the…

(Another chain) with similar in meaning.

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) narrated: "The parable of the believer who recites the Qur'an is that of a citron, its fragrance is nice and its taste is nice. The parable of the believer who does not recite the Qur'an is that of a date, it has no smell but its taste is sweet. The parable of the hyp…

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The parable of the believer is like the plant; the wind does not stop causing it to sway, and the believer does not stop suffering trials. The parable of the hypocrite is that of a cedar tree, it does not give in until it is cut down."

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed there is a tree that does not shed its foilage, and it is is similar to the believer. Can any of you tell me what it is?" 'Abdullah said: "The people started thinking about the trees of the desert. And it occurred to me that it may be the date-palm." The…

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Do you think that if there was a river by the gate of one of you, and he bathed in it five times each day that there would remain any filth on him?" They said: "No filth would stay on him." He said: "That is the parable of the five prayers, Allah wipes out the …

Another chain reports a similar narration.

Narrated Anas:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The parable of my Ummah is that of a rain; it is not known if its beginning is better or its end."

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Buraidah:

from his father that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Do you know what the parable of this and this is?" - and he tossed two pebbles. They said: "Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) know better." He said: "This (the farther) one is hope, and this (closer) one is death."

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Your period in comparison to the periods of the previous nations, is like the period between Salat Al-'Asr until sunset. And you are in comparison to the Jews and Christians, like a man who employeed some workers and he said: 'Who will work for me until Midday …

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "People are but like a hundred camels, a man can not find a mount (suitable to ride upon) among them."

Narrated (Another route) from Az-Zuhri:

with this chain, and it is similar, but he said: "You can find a mount among them." - from Salim, from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "People are but like one hundred camels, you can not find a mount among them - or he said - you can not find but one mount among them."

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The Parable of myself and that of my Ummah is that of a man who kindled a fire, and the flies and moths began flying into it - and I am trying to prevent you from diving into it."