The Story of the Jew Who Used to Put Garbage in Front of the Prophet's Door is Not Authentic

We would like to point out an addition that has become popular among many people today: that this Jewish neighbor used to harm the Prophet, peace be upon him, and put garbage and thorns in his way. The truth is that this addition has no basis in the books of Hadith, and none of the scholars of knowledge have mentioned it. Rather, it has become popular among later preachers and ascetics without any basis or chain of narration. The principle for a Muslim is to stand by what is established and accepted, especially since its content is objectionable.

Oh my brothers the educators, and oh my sisters the educators, beware of the biography of the beloved chosen one, peace be upon him. By Allah, we have no excuse, and the means to know the authenticity of narrations and their weakness are widespread and easy in the authentic books, sufficient to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and the fabricated. There are many abundant Hadiths about the Prophet's forbearance, pardon, and noble character, and it is easy to extract their pearls from the authentic books of Hadith.

One of the most widespread stories is the story of the Jew who used to put garbage at the door of the Prophet's house every day. The Prophet would come out and remove the garbage and leave. Then came a day when the Prophet did not find any garbage, so he asked about the Jew, and the people informed him that he was sick. The Prophet visited him, and the Jew was surprised and embraced Islam.

This story has no basis; I do not say (a weak Hadith), but it has no basis at all, meaning that no Hadith scholar has ever narrated it. In addition to that, it does not make sense, as:

(2) How can it be imagined that a Jew would put garbage at the door of the Prophet's house and the Companions would leave the garbage until the Messenger of Allah was forced to remove it? In this, there is a belittling of the Companions' respect for the Prophet.

(3) People tell this story to illustrate the Prophet's forbearance, peace be upon him. The truth is that this is not forbearance, but rather weakness, far be it from the Messenger of Allah. Forbearance is with someone who has wronged you once or twice, like the man who pulled the Prophet's cloak and said, "Give me, O Muhammad." As for a wicked Jew to do this act and repeat it, and the Prophet remains silent and only removes the garbage, this is a weakness unworthy of the prophetic station.

(1) The Prophet did not mix with the Jews except in Medina, where the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was the leader of the Muslims, and the Jews were plotting against Islam secretly in humiliation and weakness, and none of them would dare to do such a thing.

We return and say: if the story were authentic in terms of its chain of narration, we would seek an interpretation for it, but it is never established.