Analysis of the Hadith Regarding Suicide Attempt: Reality or Disconnected Narration
Christian missionaries base their claim on a narration from Sahih al-Bukhari, asserting that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ attempted suicide during the pause in revelation. Let us examine this narration to assess the authenticity of such a claim.
In Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Interpretation (Kitab al-Ta‘bir), Hadith 6467, there is a lengthy narration. The portion relevant to our discussion is as follows:
“فَتَرَ الْوَحْيُ فَتْرَةً حَتَّى حَزِنَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ … كَيْ يَتَرَدَّى مِنْ رُءُوسِ شَوَاهِقِ الْجِبَالِ، فَكُلَّمَا أَوْفَى بِذِرْوَةِ جَبَلٍ لِكَيْ يُلْقِيَ مِنْهُ نَفْسَهُ تَبَدَّى لَهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ حَقًّا، فَيَسْكُنُ لِذَلِكَ جَأْشُهُ وَتَقِرُّ نَفْسُهُ، فَيَرْجِعُ۔”
Translation:
Revelation paused for a period, until the Prophet ﷺ became sad… He thought about throwing himself from the peaks of mountains. Whenever he reached a mountain top intending to throw himself from it, Jibril عليه السلام would appear to him and say: "O Muhammad! You are indeed the true Messenger of Allah." Then his heart would find peace, and he would return.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Ta‘bir, Hadith 6467)
A crucial point in this narration is the phrase "فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا" (We have heard). This indicates that the statement is not directly reported through a continuous chain of narrators, but rather, it is among the balaghāt (informal transmissions) of Imam al-Zuhri رحمه الله, which are not connected (non-muttasil).
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله states:
"إِنَّ الْقَائِل فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا هُوَ الزُّهْرِيّ … وَلَيْسَ مَوْصُولًا"
(Fath al-Bari, 19/449, Kitab al-Ta‘bir)
This means that the phrase originates from Imam al-Zuhri’s balaghāt, which are not connected narrations. Therefore, it cannot be deemed entirely authentic.
① Even the balaghāt of a great narrator like Imam al-Zuhri رحمه الله are considered uncertain by Hadith scholars unless supported by a connected chain.
② The phrase "فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا" itself reveals that it is a "hearsay" and lacks a strong chain of narration.
A well-known orientalist, Alfred Guillaume, also attests to this:
“Fi ma balaghani” indicates that the statement is uncertain.
(The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah, p. xix)
This shows that even non-Muslim researchers recognize the doubtful nature of such phrasing.
The same incident is mentioned in other Hadith collections:
① Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 3)
② Sahih Muslim (Hadith 231)
③ al-Mustadrak al-Hakim (Hadith 4830)
④ Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi (Hadith 445)
⑤ Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 24681)
However, none of these narrations contain any mention of a suicide attempt.
✔ The narration in Sahih al-Bukhari is authentic, but the portion related to the “suicide attempt” is disconnected and doubtful.
✔ Both Islamic Hadith scholars and even Orientalists have declared the phrase "فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا" as indicative of uncertainty.
✔ Other authentic narrations describing the same incident do not mention any suicide attempt.
It is conclusively established that there is no authentic evidence to support the claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ attempted suicide. This notion is based solely on a disconnected narration which Christian missionaries have spread without proper research. Islamic Hadith scholars have meticulously analyzed the wording of every narration, thereby preserving the integrity and strength of Hadith literature.
❖ Analysis of the Christian Missionary Claim
Christian missionaries base their claim on a narration from Sahih al-Bukhari, asserting that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ attempted suicide during the pause in revelation. Let us examine this narration to assess the authenticity of such a claim.
❖ Text of the Hadith
In Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Interpretation (Kitab al-Ta‘bir), Hadith 6467, there is a lengthy narration. The portion relevant to our discussion is as follows:
“فَتَرَ الْوَحْيُ فَتْرَةً حَتَّى حَزِنَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ … كَيْ يَتَرَدَّى مِنْ رُءُوسِ شَوَاهِقِ الْجِبَالِ، فَكُلَّمَا أَوْفَى بِذِرْوَةِ جَبَلٍ لِكَيْ يُلْقِيَ مِنْهُ نَفْسَهُ تَبَدَّى لَهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ حَقًّا، فَيَسْكُنُ لِذَلِكَ جَأْشُهُ وَتَقِرُّ نَفْسُهُ، فَيَرْجِعُ۔”
Translation:
Revelation paused for a period, until the Prophet ﷺ became sad… He thought about throwing himself from the peaks of mountains. Whenever he reached a mountain top intending to throw himself from it, Jibril عليه السلام would appear to him and say: "O Muhammad! You are indeed the true Messenger of Allah." Then his heart would find peace, and he would return.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Ta‘bir, Hadith 6467)
❖ Analysis of the Wording
A crucial point in this narration is the phrase "فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا" (We have heard). This indicates that the statement is not directly reported through a continuous chain of narrators, but rather, it is among the balaghāt (informal transmissions) of Imam al-Zuhri رحمه الله, which are not connected (non-muttasil).
❖ Explanation by Hafiz Ibn Hajar
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله states:
"إِنَّ الْقَائِل فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا هُوَ الزُّهْرِيّ … وَلَيْسَ مَوْصُولًا"
(Fath al-Bari, 19/449, Kitab al-Ta‘bir)
This means that the phrase originates from Imam al-Zuhri’s balaghāt, which are not connected narrations. Therefore, it cannot be deemed entirely authentic.
❖ Position of the Hadith Scholars
① Even the balaghāt of a great narrator like Imam al-Zuhri رحمه الله are considered uncertain by Hadith scholars unless supported by a connected chain.
② The phrase "فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا" itself reveals that it is a "hearsay" and lacks a strong chain of narration.
❖ Orientalist Opinion
A well-known orientalist, Alfred Guillaume, also attests to this:
“Fi ma balaghani” indicates that the statement is uncertain.
(The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah, p. xix)
This shows that even non-Muslim researchers recognize the doubtful nature of such phrasing.
❖ Comparison with Other Narrations
The same incident is mentioned in other Hadith collections:
① Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 3)
② Sahih Muslim (Hadith 231)
③ al-Mustadrak al-Hakim (Hadith 4830)
④ Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi (Hadith 445)
⑤ Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 24681)
However, none of these narrations contain any mention of a suicide attempt.
❖ Summary
✔ The narration in Sahih al-Bukhari is authentic, but the portion related to the “suicide attempt” is disconnected and doubtful.
✔ Both Islamic Hadith scholars and even Orientalists have declared the phrase "فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا" as indicative of uncertainty.
✔ Other authentic narrations describing the same incident do not mention any suicide attempt.
❖ Conclusion
It is conclusively established that there is no authentic evidence to support the claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ attempted suicide. This notion is based solely on a disconnected narration which Christian missionaries have spread without proper research. Islamic Hadith scholars have meticulously analyzed the wording of every narration, thereby preserving the integrity and strength of Hadith literature.