Al-Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib reported God’s messenger as saying, “I have indeed been brought the Qur’an and something like it along with it, yet the time is coming when a man replete on his couch will say, ‘Keep to this Qur’an; what you find in it to be permissible treat as permissible, and what you find in it to be prohibited treat as prohibited.’ But what God’s messenger has prohibited is like what God has prohibited. The domestic ass, beasts of prey with fangs, a find belonging to a confederate, unless its owner does not want it, are not permissible to you. If anyone comes to some people they must entertain him, but if they do not, he has a right to mulct them to an amount equivalent to his entertainment.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted something similar. Ibn Majah transmitted the same up to “like what God has prohibited.”
The Authority of Prophetic Guidance
This profound narration from Mishkat al-Masabih 163 establishes the fundamental principle that the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) constitutes divine revelation alongside the Qur'an. The phrase "something like it" refers to the Prophetic traditions which elucidate, clarify, and supplement the Qur'anic teachings.
Warning Against Selective Adherence
The hadith warns against those who would restrict religious authority to the Qur'an alone while neglecting the Prophetic guidance. Such individuals, described as "replete on their couches," represent those who approach religion with comfort and convenience rather than complete submission.
This attitude contradicts the divine command: "Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it" (Qur'an 59:7). The Prophet's prohibitions carry the same weight as divine prohibitions.
Specific Prohibitions Clarified
The narration specifies three categories of prohibited items: domestic donkeys (due to their impurity), beasts of prey with fangs (due to their harmful nature), and property belonging to allies (which cannot be taken without permission). These rulings demonstrate how the Sunnah provides specific legislation not explicitly detailed in the Qur'an.
The Duty of Hospitality
The final portion establishes the Islamic ethic of hospitality, making it a communal obligation. If hosts neglect this duty, the guest has the right to compensation equivalent to customary hospitality standards, emphasizing the importance of social responsibilities in Islamic law.