Hadith 6498

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ ، قَالَ : أَخْبَرَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، يَقُولُ : " إِنَّمَا النَّاسُ كَالْإِبِلِ الْمِائَةِ لَا تَكَادُ تَجِدُ فِيهَا رَاحِلَةً " .
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "People are just like camels, out of one hundred, one can hardly find a single camel suitable to ride."
Hadith Reference صحيح البخاري / كتاب الرقاق / 6498
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
Today, Muslims are present in great numbers everywhere, but if one seeks true Muslims, one will be disappointed.
Even so, the earth is never devoid of the friends of Allah; how few are the servants of Allah that, were they to swear an oath by Allah, He would surely fulfill it.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 6498
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In this hadith, the people referred to are not the noble Companions (Sahabah) or the eminent Followers (Tabi‘in), because the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself has already stated their virtue. Rather, it refers to people of a distant future, among whom only a rare few will adhere to the rulings of the Shari‘ah; that is, the general populace will be very numerous, but among them, those who are truly worthy will be very few. The majority will neglect those obligations which are incumbent upon them. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has written that it is not correct to specify this for the people after the Companions and Followers, because the number of believers has always been less compared to the disbelievers; therefore, the comparison mentioned in the hadith can be observed at all times and in all places. (Fath al-Bari: 11/408)
(2)
Today, Muslims are present in abundance everywhere, but if one searches for true Muslims, it is extremely disappointing. Nevertheless, the earth is never devoid of the friends of Allah. And Allah is the One whose help is sought.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6498
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Al-Rahilah:
That camel (male or female) which is extremely superior and excellent,
capable of being ridden and bearing loads, and characterized by complete attributes.

Benefits and Issues:
This hadith proves that although there are many people in the world,
among them, those who possess knowledge and virtue, or the learned who act upon their knowledge, are very few,
just as there are countless camels,
but among them, those fit for excellent and superior riding are very few,
or among humans, those who possess excellent traits and complete attributes are very few,
who are more concerned with the everlasting world and the Hereafter than with this perishable world, and whose interest and inclination towards the world is only to the necessary extent,
just as among camels, those possessing complete attributes and being good and excellent are very few.
It can also mean that such persons who are characterized by generosity and magnanimity, who bear the burdens of others, pay off their debts, and remove their hardships and difficulties, will be few, just as camels fit for riding and bearing loads are very few.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 6499
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
That is:
Good people are found very rarely.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2872
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
(1)
People of perfection are very few in number.

(2)
Among the general public, most people are such that they do not possess the capability to bear any significant responsibility.
If a person of complete capability is not found, then one should make do with someone of lesser capability; however, it is necessary to provide them with appropriate guidance and to properly supervise their work.

(3)
If a mentor puts effort into training and the desired result is not achieved, it is not necessary that there is a deficiency in the training itself.
Sometimes, the desired results are not attained due to the shortcomings of those being trained.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 3990