86—Ubayd Allah ibn Ahmad informed us; Ahmad ibn Ali ibn al-Ala' narrated to us; Yusuf ibn Musa narrated to us; Abu Usamah narrated to us, from Burayd, from Abu Burdah, from Abu Musa, that the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“My likeness and that of what Allah has sent me with is that of a man who came to his people and said, ‘O my people, I have seen the army with my own eyes, and I am the bare warning-bearer; so flee for your lives!’

“A group among his people obeyed him, set out by night, and departed at a measured pace, and so they were saved. But another group disbelieved him and remained where they were until morning. Then the army came upon them at daybreak ⦗87⦘, destroyed them, and overran them. Such is my likeness and the likeness of those who obey me and follow what I have brought, and the likeness of those who disobey me and deny the truth that I have brought.”

Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.