The example of the one who abides by the limits prescribed by Allah and the one who transgresses them is like the example of a people who boarded a ship after casting lots. Some of them were in its upper deck and others were in its lower deck
Authenticعَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَثَلُ القَائِمِ عَلَى حُدُودِ اللَّهِ وَالوَاقِعِ فِيهَا، كَمَثَلِ قَوْمٍ اسْتَهَمُوا عَلَى سَفِينَةٍ، فَأَصَابَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَعْلاَهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَسْفَلَهَا، فَكَانَ الَّذِينَ فِي أَسْفَلِهَا إِذَا اسْتَقَوْا مِنَ المَاءِ مَرُّوا عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَهُمْ، فَقَالُوا: لَوْ أَنَّا خَرَقْنَا فِي نَصِيبِنَا خَرْقًا وَلَمْ نُؤْذِ مَنْ فَوْقَنَا، فَإِنْ يَتْرُكُوهُمْ وَمَا أَرَادُوا هَلَكُوا جَمِيعًا، وَإِنْ أَخَذُوا عَلَى أَيْدِيهِمْ نَجَوْا، وَنَجَوْا جَمِيعًا».
An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The example of the one who abides by the limits prescribed by Allah and the one who transgresses them is like the example of a people who boarded a ship after casting lots. Some of them were in its upper deck and others were in its lower deck. When those in its lower deck needed water, they had to pass by those above them. So they said: 'If we could make a hole in our share so as not to bother those above us.' If they let them do what they want, they will all perish, but if they stop them, they will survive and all of them will survive."
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stated that the example of those who comply with the limits set by Allah, adhere to the commands of Allah, enjoin what is good, and forbid what is evil; and the example of those who transgress the limits set by Allah, refrain from what is good and commit what is evil, and the effect of this on the salvation of the society, is like the example of a people who boarded a ship and drew lots to decide who would sit in the upper part of the ship and who would sit in its lower part. Some of them got the upper part, while others got its lower part. Whenever those in the lower part wanted to bring water, they had to pass by those above them. So, those in the lower part said: If we could only make a hole in our place in the lower part to bring water therefrom without bothering those above us. If those in the upper part let them do that, the ship would sink with all of them. However, if they forbade and prevented them from doing this, both groups would be saved.
Benefits
- The importance of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil in protecting and saving societies.
- Giving examples is one of the teaching methods that convey meanings in a tangible form.
- Committing what is clearly wrong and having none to forbid is a cause of corruption that brings harm to all people.
- The destruction of society results from leaving the evildoers to spread mischief on earth.
- A wrong action and a good intention are not sufficient for deeming a deed righteous.
- Responsibility in the Muslim community is communal and is not entrusted to a certain individual.
- All are punished for the sins committed by some if they are not forbidden.
- The evildoers present their evil to society in a good form just like the hypocrites.
Source · Narrated by Al-Bukhāri
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).