Hadith 28654

Chapter 17

باب 17

(17) باب افْتِرَاقِ الأُمَمِ

(17) Chapter: The division of nations
69
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لَتَتَّبِعُنَّ سُنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بَاعًا بِبَاعٍ وَذِرَاعًا بِذِرَاعٍ وَشِبْرًا بِشِبْرٍ حَتَّى لَوْ دَخَلُوا فِي جُحْرِ ضَبٍّ لَدَخَلْتُمْ فِيهِ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى قَالَ " فَمَنْ إِذًا " .

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said:
"You will most certainly follow the ways of those who camebefore you, arm's length by arm's length, forearm's length byforearm's length, hand span by hand span, until even if theyentered ahole of a mastigure (lizard) you will enter it too." Theysaid: "OMessenger of Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and theChristians?" Hesaid: "Who else?"

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 3994

In-book reference: Book 36, Hadith 69

English translation: Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 3994