Is this Hadith authentic?
عبد الله بن بريدة، عن أبيه قال خرج إلينا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يوما فنادى ثلاث مرار فقال: أيها الناس تدرون ما مثلي ومثلكم؟ قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم. قال: إنما مثلي ومثلكم مثل قوم خافوا عدوا يأتيهم، فبعثوا رجلا يتراءى لهم، فبينما هم كذلك أبصر العدو فأقبل لينذرهم، وخشي أن يدركه العدو قبل أن ينذر قومه، فأهوى بثوبه: أيها الناس أتيتم أيها الناس أتيتم ثلاث مرار
Answer
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration. ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared the narrators reliable (rijaluhu rijalus sahih).
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 348, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 2 pg. 188. Also see: Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6482 and 7283, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2283)
Translation
Sayyiduna Buraydah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “Once Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came out and said thrice ‘O people! Do you know what is my example and your example?’ They replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘My example and your example is like a group of people who fear an enemy coming to attack them, so they send a scout to look out. Like this, [he goes out] and sees the enemy and comes back to warn them, but is fearful that the enemy capture him before he can warn his people.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then took hold of his garment and said thrice, ‘O people! I have come [to warn you], O people! I have come [to warn you]’
(Refer: Hashiyatus Sindhi ‘Ala Musnadil Imam Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 337)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar