Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
Qurʾān Bukhārī Muslim Nasāʾī Abū Dāwūd Tirmidhī Ibn Mājah Mālik Aḥmad Dārimī Ḥākim Ibn Ḥibbān Ṭabarānī Nasāʾī's Kubrá Bayhaqī al-Luʾluʾ wa-al-Marjān Ibn Rajab's Fifty Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn Aḥmad's Zuhd Suyūṭī
bukhari:4628 – Abū al-Nuʿmān > Ḥammād b. Zayd > ʿAmr b. Dīnār > Jābir > Lammā Nazalat Hadhih al-Āyah Qul > al-Qādir > Yabʿath ʿAlaykum ʿAdhāb from Fawqikum

When this Verse was revealed: "Say: He has power to send torment on you from above." (6.65) Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Allah! I seek refuge with Your Face (from this punishment)." And when the verse: "or send torment from below your feet," (was revealed), Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "(O Allah!) I seek refuge with Your Face (from this punishment)." (But when there was revealed): "Or confuse you in party strife and make you to taste the violence of one another." (6.65) Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "This is lighter (or, this is easier).  

البخاري:٤٦٢٨ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ ؓ قَالَ

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ {قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ} قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ قَالَ {أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ} قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ {أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ} قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَذَا أَهْوَنُ أَوْ هَذَا أَيْسَرُ  

See similar narrations below:

Collected by Qurʾān, Bukhārī, Tirmidhī, Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān
quran:6:65 –

Say, "He is the ˹one˺ Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you ˹so you become˺ sects and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.  

Say: ‘He has the power to send forth upon you a chastisement from above you, from the heaven, such as stones ˹cf. Q. 8:32˺ or a Cry ˹cf. Q. 11:67˺, or from beneath your feet, such as the causing of the earth to cave in ˹cf. Q. 29:40˺, or to confound you, to confuse you, in parties, sects with differing whims, and to make you taste the violence of one another’, through fighting. When this ˹verse˺ was revealed, the Prophet (s) said, ‘This ˹chastisement etc.˺ is easier and lighter’; but when the last statement was revealed, he said, ‘I seek refuge with Your Countenance!’, as reported by al-Bukhārī. Muslim reports the ˹following˺ hadīth: ‘I requested from my Lord not to make my community violent towards each other, but He denied me this ˹request˺’. In another hadīth, when it was revealed, he ˹is reported to have˺ said, ‘As for this, it will surely come to pass, even though its proper meaning has not yet come’. See how We dispense, ˹how˺ We clarify for them, the signs, the proofs of Our power, that perhaps they might understand, that they might realise that what they follow is falsehood.
القرآن:٦:٦٥ –

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ انْظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ  

(قل هو القادر) على أن يبعث عليكم عذابا من فوقكم) من السماء كالحجارة والصيحة (أو من تحت أرجلكم) كالخسف (أو يلبسكم) يخلطكم (شيعا) فرقا مختلفة الأهواء (ويذيق بعضكم بأس بعض) بالقتال، قال ﷺ : لما نزلت (هذا أهون وأيسر) ولما نزل ما قبله:، (أعوذ بوجهك رواه البخاري وروى مسلم حديث "" سألت ربي ألا يجعل بأس أمتي بينهم فمنعنيها "" وفي حديث "" لما نزلت قال أما إنها كائنة ولم يأت تأويلها بعد "" (أنظر كيف نصرف) نبين لهم (الآيات) الدلالات على قدرتنا (لعلهم يفقهون) يعلمون أن ما هم عليه باطل.
bukhari:7406 – Qutaybah b. Saʿīd > Ḥammād > ʿAmr > Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh > Lammā Nazalat Hadhih al-Āyah Qul > al-Qādir > Yabʿath ʿAlaykum ʿAdhāb from Fawqikum

when this Verse:--'Say (O Muhammad!): He has Power to send torments on you from above,' (6.65) was revealed; The Prophet ﷺ said, "I take refuge with Your Face." Allah revealed:-- '..or from underneath your feet.' (6.65) The Prophet ﷺ then said, "I seek refuge with Your Face!" Then Allah revealed:--'...or confuse you in party-strife.' (6.65) Oh that, the Prophet ﷺ said, "This is easier."  

البخاري:٧٤٠٦ – حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ عَنْ عَمْرٍو عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ {قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ} قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ فَقَالَ {أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ} فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ قَالَ {أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا} فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ هَذَا أَيْسَرُ  

bukhari:7313 – ʿAlī b. ʿAbdullāh > Sufyān > ʿAmr > Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh

When the (following) Verse was revealed to Messenger of Allah ﷺ: 'Say: He has power to send torment on you from above,'..(6.65) he said, "O Allah! I seek refuge with Your Face (from that punishment)." And when this was revealed: '..or from beneath your feet.' (6.65) he said, "O Allah! I seek refuge with Your Face (from that)." And when this Verse was revealed: '..or to cover you with confusion in partystrife, and make you to taste the violence of one another,'...(6.65) he said: "These two warnings are easier (than the previous ones).  

البخاري:٧٣١٣ – حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ قَالَ عَمْرٌو

سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ؓ يَقُولُ لَمَّا نَزَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ {قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ} قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ {أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ} قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ} قَالَ هَاتَانِ أَهْوَنُ أَوْ أَيْسَرُ  

tirmidhi:3065 – Ibn Abū ʿUmar > Sufyān > ʿAmr b. Dīnār > Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh > Lammā Nazalat Hadhih al-Āyah Qul > al-Qādir > Yabʿath ʿAlaykum ʿAdhāb Min

"When Allah revealed this Ayah: 'Say: He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet...' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'I seek refuge in Your Face.' So when (the following) was revealed: 'Or to cover you in confusion in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another (6:65).' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'This is less burdensome' or 'This is easier.'"  

Abū ʿĪsá said that this Ḥadīth is Ḥasan-Ṣaḥīḥ.
الترمذي:٣٠٦٥ – حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ (قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى

أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ ) قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْْ ( أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ) قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ هَاتَانِ أَهْوَنُ أَوْ هَاتَانِ أَيْسَرُ  

قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
ahmad:14316 – Sufyān > ʿAmr > Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh Lammā Nazalat > al-Qādir > Yabʿath ʿAlaykum ʿAdhāb from Fawqikum al-Nʿām 65

[Machine] "That He sends upon you a punishment from above you" [Al-An'am 65]. The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , said, "I seek refuge in Your face." When it was revealed, "or (that) a punishment befall you from beneath your feet" [Al-An'am 65], the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , said, "I seek refuge in Your face." When it was revealed, "or He makes you (of different) factions and will test you with adversity" [Al-An'am 65], he said, "This is easier or lighter."  

أحمد:١٤٣١٦ – حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنِ عَمْرٍو سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللهِ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى

أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ} [الأنعام 65] قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ} [الأنعام 65] قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ} [الأنعام 65] قَالَ هَذِهِ أَهْوَنُ أَو أَيْسَرُ  

ذِكْرُ وَصْفِ مَا ابْتَلَى اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَعَلَا هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ بِمَا دَفَعَ عَنْهُمْ بِهِ تَعْجِيلَ الْعَذَابِ فِي الدُّنْيَا

ibnhibban:7220 – Aḥmad b. ʿAlī b. al-Muthanná > Abū Khaythamah > Sufyān > ʿAmr Jābir

"When Allah revealed this Ayah: 'Say: He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet...' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'I seek refuge in Your Face.' So when (the following) was revealed: 'Or to cover you in confusion in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another (6:65).' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'This is less burdensome' or 'This is easier.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 3065)   

ابن حبّان:٧٢٢٠ – أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُثَنَّى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ قَالَ سَمِعَ عَمْرٌو جَابِرًا قَالَ

لَمَّا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ {قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ} قَالَ «أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ» {أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ} قَالَ «أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ» {أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ} قَالَ «هَاتَانِ أَهْوَنُ أَوْ أَيْسَرُ»