Date: December 3rd, 2025 3:57 PM
Author: AZNgirl Building Inspector in Hong Kong
**Yes, this is the hadith you're referring to: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2861** (also found in Musnad Ahmad 3788 and other collections).
## **What Actually Happens in the Hadith**
### **The Setup**
Ibn Mas'ud narrates that the Prophet took him to a valley in Makkah, drew a protective line around him, and warned him not to cross it or speak to anyone who approached.
### **First Group: Dark-Skinned Men (The "Indian Men")**
Ibn Mas'ud sees **"men that appeared as if they were from Az-Zut"**—described as "dark people, either from North Africa or India" per the commentary .
**Key details:**
- They're naked but their private parts are not visible
- They're tall and slim
- They cannot cross the protective line the Prophet drew
- They tower over the Prophet as he recites Quran to them
- Ibn Mas'ud is terrified of them
**Scholarly interpretation**: These are **jinn** (supernatural spirits), not human men. The description of "Az-Zut" is an ethnic comparison, not a literal identification . Ibn Mas'ud is the one who sees them, **not the Prophet directly**.
### **Second Group: Angels**
Later, **angels in white garments** appear while the Prophet sleeps with his head on Ibn Mas'ud's thigh. They praise the Prophet's unique status: "his eyes sleep but his heart remains awake."
### **The Parable**
The angels tell a parable comparing Allah's invitation to Paradise to a chief who builds a castle and invites people to feast—those who accept enter Paradise, those who refuse are punished.
## **Critical Clarification**
**The Prophet does NOT see "Indian men"** in this narration. **Ibn Mas'ud sees dark-skinned figures** (interpreted as jinn), and the subsequent events involve the Prophet interacting with angels while resting on Ibn Mas'ud's thigh—a cultural practice of resting, not sexual.
## **Authenticity**
This hadith is graded **"Da'if" (weak)** by Darussalam due to uncertainty about a narrator in the chain. Other scholars have classified it as authentic (Sahih) or weak depending on their evaluation of the same narrator .
**Bottom line**: This is a hadith about **supernatural encounters (jinn and angels)**, not about the Prophet seeing Indian men or engaging in any sexual acts.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5805810&forum_id=2most#49480695)