The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The example of the person abiding by Allah's orders and limits (or the one who abides by the limits and regulations prescribed by Allah) in comparison to the one who do wrong and violate Allah's limits and orders is like the example of people drawing lots for seats in a boat. Some of them got seats in the upper part while the others in the lower part ; those in the, lower part have to pass by those in the upper one to get water, and that troubled the latter. One of them (i.e. the people in the lower part) took an ax and started making a hole in the bottom of the boat. The people of the upper part came and asked him, (saying), 'What is wrong with you?' He replied, "You have been troubled much by my (coming up to you), and I have to get water.' Now if they prevent him from doing that they will save him and themselves, but if they leave him (to do what he wants), they will destroy him and themselves."
Exposition of the Hadith
This profound parable narrated by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Sahih al-Bukhari (2686) illustrates the delicate balance within the Muslim community and the consequences of violating divine boundaries.
The Boat Analogy Explained
The boat represents the Islamic community (Ummah) sailing through the sea of life. Those in the upper deck symbolize righteous Muslims who strictly observe Allah's commands, while those below represent those who are negligent in their religious duties.
The need for water signifies the essential worldly needs that even the righteous require. The disturbance caused reflects how the sins of some affect the entire community's spiritual peace.
Scholarly Interpretation
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that the ax represents major sins and innovations that threaten the foundation of Islam. The hole symbolizes the damage caused to the religion itself.
Imam al-Nawawi comments that this hadith establishes the obligation of commanding good and forbidding evil (al-amr bil-ma'ruf wan-nahy 'an al-munkar). The scholars agree that preventing religious corruption is a collective duty (fard kifayah).
Legal and Social Implications
This narration establishes that tolerating clear violations of Islamic law endangers the entire community. The scholars derive that Muslims must prevent public sins and innovations, as indifference leads to collective destruction.
The hadith also teaches that the Muslim community is interconnected - the actions of one group inevitably affect others, emphasizing collective responsibility in maintaining Islamic standards.