The companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Some men from my companions will come to my Lake-Fount and they will be driven away from it, and I will say, 'O Lord, my companions!' It will be said, 'You have no knowledge of what they innovated after you left: they turned apostate as renegades (reverted from Islam).
Hadith Context and Significance
This profound narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 6586 in the Book "To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)" serves as a grave warning about religious innovation (bid'ah) and apostasy. The Prophet's intercession for his companions being rejected demonstrates the severity of deviating from the pure teachings of Islam after his death.
Scholarly Commentary on the Lake-Fount
Al-Hawd (the Lake-Fount) is a specific reservoir in Paradise from which the believers will drink before entering Paradise proper. Its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey, with drinking vessels as numerous as the stars. This blessed provision is exclusively for the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ).
The scholars explain that being driven away from the Hawd indicates complete exclusion from the Prophet's intercession on the Day of Judgment, which is the most severe form of deprivation for those who claimed to follow him.
The Nature of the Deviation
The phrase "they innovated after you left" refers to introducing new matters into the religion that Allah and His Messenger did not sanction. This includes both beliefs and practices that contradict the pure Sunnah.
"They turned apostate as renegades" indicates these individuals abandoned Islam through major innovations that constitute kufr (disbelief), whether through heretical beliefs, rejecting established Islamic principles, or following desires that lead outside the fold of Islam.
Scholarly Warnings and Lessons
Imam al-Nawawi comments that this hadith proves some companions will apostatize after the Prophet's death, and that mere companionship does not guarantee salvation without maintaining correct belief and practice.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani emphasizes that this serves as a warning against all forms of religious innovation and highlights the importance of adhering strictly to the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
The scholars stress that this narration should increase our vigilance in learning authentic Islamic knowledge and protecting our faith from deviations that could lead to such a terrible fate.