Strange and questionable narration on the Night of the Jinn
[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ followed me and said, "So we set off until I reached a certain place, and he drew a line for me and told me to stay within it. He said, 'Do not leave this area, for if you do, you will perish.' So I stayed within it. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went away for a while, or seemingly went far away.
Then he returned and mentioned Haneen, as if they were zutt (locusts). (Affan said, or as Affan said if Allah wills), they had no clothes on, and I did not see their private parts at all. They had very little flesh. Then they came and started riding on the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Prophet of Allah ﷺ began reciting to them. They came to me and it seemed as if they were flooding around me and attempting to interpose themselves. Abdullah said, "I was terrified of them more severely than I was the first time." A'rif said in his narration, "Then he sat down or as he said." Then when the dawn broke, they left, or as he said. Then indeed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned very weary and exhausted, or almost exhausted due to what he had ridden. He said, "I feel heavy, or as he said." So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ rested his head on me, or as he said. Then the Haneen came to them wearing long white clothes, or as he said. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell into a trance." Abdullah said, "I was terrified of them more severely than the first time." A'rim said in his narration, or as they said, "Some of them said to others, 'Indeed, this servant has received something good,' or as they said, 'His eyes are sleeping, or he said his eye, and his heart is awake.' Then A'rim said, "Some of them said to others, 'Come, let us strike a similitude for him,' or as they said, 'Let us strike a similitude for him and let us interpret it ourselves, or you interpret and we will interpret and you interpret, or as they said.' Then some of them said to others, 'His similitude is like the similitude of a master who built a strong edifice and then sent food to the people. So whoever did not come to his food, or he said whoever did not follow him, he would severely punish him, or as they said.' Others said, 'As for the master, he is the Lord of the Worlds, and as for the edifice, it is Islam, and the food is Paradise, and he is the inviter. So whoever follows him will be in Paradise,' A'rim said in his narration, or as they said. 'And whoever does not follow him will be punished severely,' or as they said.
Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ awoke and said, 'What have you seen, O son of Umm 'Abd?' 'Abdullah said, 'I saw such and such.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'There is nothing they said that is hidden from me.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'They are a group of angels, or he said they are from the angels, or as Allah wills.' "
اسْتَتبْعَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ مَكَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَخَطَّ لِي خِطَّةً فَقَالَ لِي كُنْ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَيْ هَذِهِ لَا تَخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ خَرَجْتَ هَلَكْتَ قَالَ فَكُنْتُ فِيهَا قَالَ فَمَضَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حَذَفَةً أَوْ أَبْعَدَ شَيْئًا أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ
ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ ذَكَرَ هَنِينًا كَأَنَّهُمْ الزُّطُّ (قَالَ عَفَّانُ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ عَفَّانُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ) لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِمْ ثِيَابٌ وَلَا أَرَى سَوْآتِهِمْ طِوَالًا قَلِيلٌ لَحْمُهُمْ قَالَ فَأَتَوْا فَجَعَلُوا يَرْكَبُونَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ وَجَعَلَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ وَجَعَلُوا يَأْتُونِي فَيُخَيِّلُونَ أَوْ يَمِيلُونَ حَوْلِي وَيَعْتَرِضُونَ لِي قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ فَأُرْعِبْتُ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا شَدِيدًا قَالَ فَجَلَسْتُ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ قَالَ فَلَمَّا انْشَقَّ عَمُودُ الصُّبْحِ جَعَلُوا يَذْهَبُونَ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ قَالَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ جَاءَ ثَقِيلًا وَجِعًا أَوْ يَكَادُ أَنْ يَكُونَ وَجِعًا مِمَّا رَكِبُوهُ قَالَ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُنِي ثَقِيلًا أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ رَأْسَهُ فِي حِجْرِي أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ قَالَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ هَنِين أَتَوْا عَلَيْهِمْ ثِيَابٌ بِيضٌ طِوَالٌ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ وَقَدْ أَغْفَى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ فَأُرْعِبْتُ مِنْهُمْ أَشَدَّ مِمَّا أُرْعِبْتُ الْمَرَّةَ الْأُولَى قَالَ عَارِمٌ فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيَ هَذَا الْعَبْدُ خَيْرًا أَوْ كَمَا قَالُوا إِنَّ عَيْنَيْهِ نَائِمَتَانِ أَوْ قَالَ عَيْنَهُ أَوْ كَمَا قَالُوا وَقَلْبَهُ يَقْظَانُ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ عَارِمٌ وَعَفَّانُ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ هَلُمَّ فَلْنَضْرِبْ لَهُ مَثَلًا أَوْ كَمَا قَالُوا قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ اضْرِبُوا لَهُ مَثَلًا وَنُؤَوِّلُ نَحْنُ أَوْ نَضْرِبُ نَحْنُ وَتُؤَوِّلُونَ أَنْتُمْ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ مَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ سَيِّدٍ ابْتَنَى بُنْيَانًا حَصِينًا ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى النَّاسِ بِطَعَامٍ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِ طَعَامَهُ أَوْ قَالَ لَمْ يَتْبَعْهُ عَذَّبَهُ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا أَوْ كَمَا قَالُوا قَالَ الْآخَرُونَ أَمَّا السَّيِّدُ فَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَأَمَّا الْبُنْيَانُ فَهُوَ الْإِسْلَامُ وَالطَّعَامُ الْجَنَّةُ وَهُوَ الدَّاعِي فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ كَانَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ قَالَ عَارِمٌ فِي حَدِيثِهِ أَوْ كَمَا قَالُوا وَمَنْ لَمْ يَتَّبِعْهُ عُذِّبَ أَوْ كَمَا
قَالَ
ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَقَالَ مَا رَأَيْتَ يَا ابْنَ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ؟ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ رَأَيْتُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَا خَفِيَ عَلَيَّ مِمَّا قَالُوا شَيْءٌ قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ﷺ هُمْ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَوْ قَالَ هُمْ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَوْ كَمَا شَاءَ اللهُ
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Regarding the word yarkabūn, it does not mean what you think Or claimed. It has different meanings. For example, in the book Al-Nihayah fi Gharīb al-Hadith wa al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 227, it says:
In the Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: “Umar Rakibani” (comes from the word Yarkab or Yarkabūn). The word Yarkab here means “he followed” or “came after his footsteps,” because the Raakib (follower) takes the same path as Al-Markoob (the one being followed). As the saying goes: “I followed (Rakibtu, Yarkabūn) his footsteps and his path when I followed (Tabitahu) him in quickness.”
So in this case, the word does not mean what you think or claimed but It means the jinn followed him, not what you assume or claim.
Also, consider this example from Hudhayfah bin al-Yamaan. He was asked:
"What is the worst trial?"
Hudhayfah replied:
"The worst trial is that good and evil are presented before you while you do not know which one to follow."
(The word used here is Tarkab, which comes from Yarkabūn – Hilyat al-Awliyaa, 7/271.)
So it is clear: you do not “ride” the truth or falsehood physically. Rather, you follow (Tarkab or Yarkabūn) either the truth or falsehood.
first of all, from our authentic Hadith in Sahih Muslim 450a, Ibn Mas‘ud himself said that he was not with the Prophet ﷺ during that night, and that he was searching for the Prophet. He was not watching the Prophet, as this fabricated Hadith claims.
As for the Hadith from Musnad Ahmad 3788, no, my friend—it is not authentic. In fact, it is very weak
First of all, it contradicts more authentic Hadith, such as the one in Sahih Muslim 450a.
This Hadith contains a chain of narrator that includes Imam al-Bakali, who is weak. And Our great scholar Imam al-Bukhari himself said that al-Bakali (or ‘Amr) never heard this from Ibn Mas‘ud. He only claimed to have heard it, but in reality, he did not. This is mentioned in al-Tarikh al-Saghir, vol. 1, p. 234, by Imam al-Bukhari.
Scholars such as Ibn Kathir said that this chain of narration is very strange (weak)—he mentioned this in his Tafsir on Sūrah Al-Ahqaf, verse 29.
Other versions of this Hadith, or versions with different chains of narration, exist—such as Tirmidhi 2861. However, these Hadiths do not mention Al-Zutt or Zinn doing anything with the Prophet, and they do not support the claim in any way. Moreover, this Tirmidhi Hadith is also weak.
Regarding the word yarkabūn, it does not mean what you think Or claimed. It has different meanings. For example, in the book Al-Nihayah fi Gharīb al-Hadith wa al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 227, it says:
In the Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: “Umar Rakibani” (comes from the word Yarkab or Yarkabūn). The word Yarkab here means “he followed” or “came after his footsteps,” because the Raakib (follower) takes the same path as Al-Markoob (the one being followed). As the saying goes: “I followed (Rakibtu, Yarkabūn) his footsteps and his path when I followed (Tabitahu) him in quickness.”
Am I to believe that Momo was indeed a homo?
Regarding the word yarkabūn, it does not mean what you think Or claimed. It has different meanings. For example, in the book Al-Nihayah fi Gharīb al-Hadith wa al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 227, it says:
In the Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: “Umar Rakibani” (comes from the word Yarkab or Yarkabūn). The word Yarkab here means “he followed” or “came after his footsteps,” because the Raakib (follower) takes the same path as Al-Markoob (the one being followed). As the saying goes: “I followed (Rakibtu, Yarkabūn) his footsteps and his path when I followed (Tabitahu) him in quickness.”
So in this case, the word does not mean what you think or claimed but It means the jinn followed him, not what you assume or claim.
Also, consider this example from Hudhayfah bin al-Yamaan. He was asked:
"What is the worst trial?"
Hudhayfah replied:
"The worst trial is that good and evil are presented before you while you do not know which one to follow."
(The word used here is Tarkab, which comes from Yarkabūn – Hilyat al-Awliyaa, 7/271.)
So it is clear: you do not “ride” the truth or falsehood physically. Rather, you follow (Tarkab or Yarkabūn) either the truth or falsehood.
I know those who believe in three gods but somehow claim it is one—this really doesn’t require any brain cells, because they believe anything without fact-checking.
Now, first of all, from our authentic Hadith in Sahih Muslim 450a, Ibn Mas‘ud himself said that he was not with the Prophet ﷺ during that night, and that he was searching for the Prophet. He was not watching the Prophet, as this fabricated Hadith claims.
As for the Hadith from Musnad Ahmad 3788, no, my friend—it is not authentic. In fact, it is very weak
First of all, it contradicts more authentic Hadith, such as the one in Sahih Muslim 450a.
This Hadith contains a chain of narrator that includes Imam al-Bakali, who is weak. And Our great scholar Imam al-Bukhari himself said that al-Bakali (or ‘Amr) never heard this from Ibn Mas‘ud. He only claimed to have heard it, but in reality, he did not. This is mentioned in al-Tarikh al-Saghir, vol. 1, p. 234, by Imam al-Bukhari.
Scholars such as Ibn Kathir said that this chain of narration is very strange (weak)—he mentioned this in his Tafsir on Sūrah Al-Ahqaf, verse 29.
Other versions of this Hadith, or versions with different chains of narration, exist—such as Tirmidhi 2861. However, these Hadiths do not mention Al-Zutt or Zinn doing anything with the Prophet, and they do not support the claim in any way. Moreover, this Tirmidhi Hadith is also weak.
Regarding the word yarkabūn, it does not mean what you think Or claimed. It has different meanings. For example, in the book Al-Nihayah fi Gharīb al-Hadith wa al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 227, it says:
In the Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: “Umar Rakibani” (comes from the word Yarkab or Yarkabūn). The word Yarkab here means “he followed” or “came after his footsteps,” because the Raakib (follower) takes the same path as Al-Markoob (the one being followed). As the saying goes: “I followed (Rakibtu, Yarkabūn) his footsteps and his path when I followed (Tabitahu) him in quickness.”
Based on this Sahih hadith, I think it's obvious that Momo was a homo.
Regarding the word yarkabūn, it does not mean what you think Or claimed. It has different meanings. For example, in the book Al-Nihayah fi Gharīb al-Hadith wa al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 227, it says:
In the Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: “Umar Rakibani” (comes from the word Yarkab or Yarkabūn). The word Yarkab here means “he followed” or “came after his footsteps,” because the Raakib (follower) takes the same path as Al-Markoob (the one being followed). As the saying goes: “I followed (Rakibtu, Yarkabūn) his footsteps and his path when I followed (Tabitahu) him in quickness.”
So in this case, the word does not mean what you think or claimed but It means the jinn followed him, not what you assume or claim.
Also, consider this example from Hudhayfah bin al-Yamaan. He was asked:
"What is the worst trial?"
Hudhayfah replied:
"The worst trial is that good and evil are presented before you while you do not know which one to follow."
(The word used here is Tarkab, which comes from Yarkabūn – Hilyat al-Awliyaa, 7/271.)
So it is clear: you do not “ride” the truth or falsehood physically. Rather, you follow (Tarkab or Yarkabūn) either the truth or falsehood.
I know those who believe in three gods but somehow claim it is one—this really doesn’t require any brain cells, because they believe anything without fact-checking.
Now, first of all, from our authentic Hadith in Sahih Muslim 450a, Ibn Mas‘ud himself said that he was not with the Prophet ﷺ during that night, and that he was searching for the Prophet. He was not watching the Prophet, as this fabricated Hadith claims.
As for the Hadith from Musnad Ahmad 3788, no, my friend—it is not authentic. In fact, it is very weak
First of all, it contradicts more authentic Hadith, such as the one in Sahih Muslim 450a.
This Hadith contains a chain of narrator that includes Imam al-Bakali, who is weak. And Our great scholar Imam al-Bukhari himself said that al-Bakali (or ‘Amr) never heard this from Ibn Mas‘ud. He only claimed to have heard it, but in reality, he did not. This is mentioned in al-Tarikh al-Saghir, vol. 1, p. 234, by Imam al-Bukhari.
Scholars such as Ibn Kathir said that this chain of narration is very strange (weak)—he mentioned this in his Tafsir on Sūrah Al-Ahqaf, verse 29.
Other versions of this Hadith, or versions with different chains of narration, exist—such as Tirmidhi 2861. However, these Hadiths do not mention Al-Zutt or Zinn doing anything with the Prophet, and they do not support the claim in any way. Moreover, this Tirmidhi Hadith is also weak.
Regarding the word yarkabūn, it does not mean what you think Or claimed. It has different meanings. For example, in the book Al-Nihayah fi Gharīb al-Hadith wa al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 227, it says:
In the Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: “Umar Rakibani” (comes from the word Yarkab or Yarkabūn). The word Yarkab here means “he followed” or “came after his footsteps,” because the Raakib (follower) takes the same path as Al-Markoob (the one being followed). As the saying goes: “I followed (Rakibtu, Yarkabūn) his footsteps and his path when I followed (Tabitahu) him in quickness.”
Summary from Shaykh Arnaut:
This hadith is weak. The main narrator, Amr al-Bikali, did not clearly hear it from Ibn Masud, his reliability is disputed, and most scholars deny that he was a companion. Multiple other routes exist, but they contain weak, unknown, or disconnected narrators, and major hadith critics like Abu Zarah and Abu Hatim stated that nothing authentic is established in this issue. Stronger, authentic reports in Sahih Muslim confirm that Ibn Masud was not with the Prophet ﷺ on the night of the jinn, which further contradicts these narrations. Therefore, the report cannot be considered sound.
Summary from islamqa.info:
Ibn Kathir described it as very strange because it conflicts with the authentic report in Sahih Muslim where Ibn Masud himself states that he was not present that night. The chain of transmission is also weak, since it comes through Amr al-Bikali, whose companionship is disputed and whose hearing from Ibn Masud is not established, as noted by al-Bukhari and the editors of Musnad Ahmad. If one assumes the narration to be sound, the article clarifies the linguistic meaning of the word “henin” in the hadith, showing that it refers to people, similar to saying “so-and-so,” and is supported by Arabic lexicons and by another version explicitly mentioning “men.” It also explains descriptive phrases in the narration, including comparing them to al-Zutt, a known ethnic group, and clarifies that “they rode him” means they crowded around the Prophet ﷺ, drawing on Quranic commentary. In summary, the hadith’s authenticity is doubtful due to a weak chain and contradiction with an authentic Muslim narration, but if accepted, the wording and descriptions have clear linguistic and contextual explanations.