Question:
Hakim:4791 – Narrated Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
"I still
love this man after seeing the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do what he was
doing. I saw Al-Hasan come to the Prophet’s room ﷺ while he was putting
his fingers in the Prophet’s beard ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ was putting his
tongue in his mouth. Then he said, 'O Allah, I love him, so You should
love him.'"
Answer:
Praise be to Allah,
Unfortunately, some Islamophobic trolls have twisted this beautiful tradition to fit their own malicious narratives. Let us delve into the truth behind this hadith and its context, shedding light on the profound love and care of the Prophet ﷺ. The Hadith in Question is often cited by those seeking to malign Islam especially in today’s world, where misinformation spreads faster than ever.
At first glance, this narration might seem unusual or even perplexing to someone unfamiliar with Islamic traditions. However, when we examine the full context and additional narrations that elaborate on the story, the beauty and meaning behind these actions become clear.
In Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by Imam Tabarani, a more detailed account of the event is recorded:
- حدثنا الحسين بن إسحاق التستري ، ثنا يوسف بن سلمان المازني ، حدثنا حاتم بن إسماعيل ، ثنا سعد بن إسحاق بن كعب بن عجرة ، عن إسحاق بن أبي حبيبة مولى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، عن أبي هريرة أن مروان بن الحكم أتى أبا هريرة في مرضه الذي مات فيه ، فقال مروان لأبي هريرة : ما وجدت عليك في شيء منذ اصطحبنا إلا في حبك الحسن والحسين . قال : فتحفز أبو هريرة فجلس ، فقال : أشهد لخرجنا مع رسول الله ﷺ ، حتى إذا كنا ببعض الطريق سمع رسول اللهﷺ صوت الحسن والحسين وهما يبكيان وهما مع أمهما ، فأسرع السير حتى أتاهما ، فسمعته يقول لها : " ما شأن ابني ؟ " فقالت : العطش . قال : فأخلف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى شنة يبتغي فيها ماء ، وكان الماء يومئذ أغدارا ، والناس يريدون الماء ، فنادى : " هل أحد منكم معه ماء ؟ " فلم يبق أحد إلا أخلف بيده إلى كلابه يبتغي الماء في شنة ، فلم يجد أحد منهم قطرة ، فقال رسول الله ﷺ : " ناوليني أحدهما " فناولته إياه من تحت الخدر ، فرأيت بياض ذراعيها حين ناولته ، فأخذه فضمه إلى صدره وهو يطغو ما يسكت ، فأدلع له لسانه فجعل يمصه حتى هدأ أو سكن ، فلم أسمع له بكاء ، والآخر يبكي كما هو ما يسكت ، فقال : " ناوليني الآخر " ، فناولته إياه ففعل به كذلك ، فسكتا فما أسمع لهما صوتا ، ثم قال : " سيروا " ، فصدعنا يمينا وشمالا عن الظعائن حتى لقيناه على قارعة الطريق ، فأنا لا أحب هذين وقد رأيت هذا من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ؟ .
Summary of the Hadith (from Abu Huraira):
- Marwan ibn al-Hakam visited Abu Huraira during his illness.
- Marwan expressed that he had only one objection to Abu Huraira: his deep love for Hasan and Husayn.
- Abu Huraira responded by narrating an event he personally witnessed:
- The Prophet ﷺ was on a journey in the Arabian desert and heard Hasan and Husayn crying.
- Their mother (Fatimah رضي الله عنها) explained that the children were thirsty.
- The Prophet ﷺ searched for water, but he didn’t find it, and then took one child in his arms.
- The child was crying intensely, and the Prophet ﷺ put out his tongue, and the child began to suck it, until he calmed down and stopped crying.
- He then did the same for the other child, and both stopped crying.
Context of the action:
- The children were infants or toddlers, crying from thirst.
- There was no water available.
- The Prophet ﷺ was expressing deep compassion and trying to soothe them, possibly giving them some moisture or comfort through this gesture.
So, in the absence of water, the Prophet ﷺ used his saliva—a natural source of hydration—to comfort and soothe his grandsons. Such acts demonstrate his resourcefulness and unconditional love.
By sharing the full narration, we can refute baseless claims made by those attempting to distort Islamic teachings. The context reveals an act of pure compassion, far removed from any inappropriate connotations.
May we all strive to emulate the compassion and mercy exemplified by the Prophet ﷺ in our relationships with family, friends, and humanity at large.
