Shu’bah narrated to us, on authority of Khubayb bin Abd ir-Rahman, on authority of Hafs bin Āsim, on authority of Abī Hurayrah, he said, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said: ‘It is enough of a lie for a man to narrate everything he hears’.
Introduction - Sahih Muslim 5
Shuʿbah narrated to us, on authority of Khubayb bin ʿAbd ir-Raḥmān, on authority of Ḥafṣ bin Āṣim, on authority of Abī Hurayrah, he said, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said: 'It is enough of a lie for a man to narrate everything he hears'.
Commentary on the Narration
This profound ḥadīth establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic scholarship: the prohibition against transmitting every report one hears without verification. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ characterized such behavior as sufficient falsehood, indicating its grave spiritual and communal consequences.
Scholars explain that narrating everything heard constitutes lying because it inevitably includes transmitting false or unverified information. The truthful Muslim must exercise discernment, investigating reports before conveying them. This protects the community from misinformation and preserves the integrity of religious knowledge.
Scholarly Interpretation
Imam an-Nawawī comments that this ḥadīth obligates verifying narrations and refraining from transmitting doubtful reports. It applies particularly to religious matters but extends to all speech. The phrase "enough of a lie" indicates the severity - even if not intentional, careless transmission bears the weight of falsehood.
Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī elaborates that this principle formed the basis of ḥadīth criticism (ʿilm al-ḥadīth). Scholars developed rigorous methodologies to verify chains of transmission and content, ensuring only authentic reports entered Islamic tradition.
Practical Application
This teaching demands careful speech in daily life. Before sharing news, rumors, or religious information, Muslims must verify its authenticity. The prohibition protects individual spirituality and communal harmony, preventing discord born of misinformation.
Contemporary scholars emphasize this ḥadīth's relevance in the digital age, where unverified information spreads rapidly. Muslims must apply this prophetic guidance to social media and digital communication, upholding truthfulness in all forms of narration.