Volume 9, Book 92, Number 385:
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah:
Some angels came to the Prophet while he was sleeping. Some of them said, “He is sleeping.” Oth –
ers said, “His eyes are sleeping but his heart is awake.” Then they said, “There is an example for this
companion of yours.” One of them said, “Then set forth an example for him.” Some of them said, “He
is sleeping.” The others said, “His eyes are sleeping but his heart is awake.” Then they said, “His ex –
ample is that of a man who has built a house and then offered therein a banquet and sent an inviter
(messenger) to invite the people. So whoever accepted the invitation of the inviter, entered the house
and ate of the banquet, and whoever did not accept the invitation of the inviter, did not enter the
house, nor did he eat of the banquet.” Then the angels said, “Interpret this example to him so that he
may understand it.” Some of them said, “He is sleeping.” The others said, “His eyes are sleeping but his
heart is awake.” And then they said, “The houses stands for Paradise and the call maker is
Muhammad; and whoever obeys Muhammad, obeys Allah; and whoever disobeys Muhammad, dis –
obeys Allah. Muhammad separated the people (i.e., through his message, the good is distinguished
from the bad, and the believers from the disbelievers).”
Volume 9 – 1625 / 1700
SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 9 > BOOK 92: HOLDING FAST TO THE QUR’AN AND SUNNAH