Sahih al-Bukhari

Sahih al-Bukhari 2493

Arabic hadith text

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَامِرًا، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ مَثَلُ الْقَائِمِ عَلَى حُدُودِ اللَّهِ وَالْوَاقِعِ فِيهَا كَمَثَلِ قَوْمٍ اسْتَهَمُوا عَلَى سَفِينَةٍ، فَأَصَابَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَعْلاَهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَسْفَلَهَا، فَكَانَ الَّذِينَ فِي أَسْفَلِهَا إِذَا اسْتَقَوْا مِنَ الْمَاءِ مَرُّوا عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَهُمْ فَقَالُوا لَوْ أَنَّا خَرَقْنَا فِي نَصِيبِنَا خَرْقًا، وَلَمْ نُؤْذِ مَنْ فَوْقَنَا‏.‏ فَإِنْ يَتْرُكُوهُمْ وَمَا أَرَادُوا هَلَكُوا جَمِيعًا، وَإِنْ أَخَذُوا عَلَى أَيْدِيهِمْ نَجَوْا وَنَجَوْا جَمِيعًا ‏"‏‏.‏

Translation

Abu Nu'aym narrated to us: Zakariyya narrated to us, saying: I heard Amir say: I heard al-Nu'man ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrate from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: ‘The example of those who uphold Allah’s limits and those who transgress them is like a group of people who drew lots for places on a ship. Some got the upper deck and some the lower. When those below needed water, they had to pass by those above them. They said, “If we make a hole in our part, we will not trouble those above us.” If the others leave them to do what they intend, they will all perish; but if they restrain them, they will be saved, and all will be saved.’