The Rare Souls Who Carry God’s Message

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said:

“People are like one hundred camels; among them you can hardly find a single one suitable for riding.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6498, Sahih Muslim 2547)

This short but powerful hadith captures a deep truth about human nature. Out of a large number of people, only a few possess the courage, clarity, and commitment required to carry a meaningful responsibility. And when the responsibility in question is as weighty as spreading the Word of God, the number becomes even smaller.

A Hadith That Reveals a Universal Reality

Just as only one camel among a hundred is strong, steady, and trained enough to bear the weight of a rider, only a small fraction of humanity is willing to bear the weight of dawah — the mission of awakening people to God and the Hereafter.
This hadith is not about physical strength, nor about intelligence. It is about readiness of heart, purity of intention, and the willingness to live a God-centered life in a world dominated by distractions, egos, and worldly pursuits.

A Mirror for the Modern Muslim Community

In today’s context, Muslims speak passionately about the Ummah, identity, rights, and global issues. But when it comes to the actual mission entrusted by God — calling people to the truth with wisdom and compassion — the number of active, dedicated individuals is astonishingly small.

Most people are swept away by:

• Community politics

• Social popularity

• Emotional activism

• Identity-driven concerns

• Material pressures and worldly ambitions
Very few rise above these concerns to say:

“My responsibility is dawah. My mission is awakening. My focus is the Hereafter.”

Dawah Requires Exceptional Qualities

Those suitable for the “ride” of dawah are rare because the task requires extraordinary qualities:

• Clarity of purpose in a noisy world

• Patience in the face of rejection

• Wisdom when addressing minds

• Compassion when addressing hearts

• Consistency when results seem invisible

• Humility when success appears

Such people do not seek applause or recognition. They work quietly, often alone, carrying a divine burden with sincerity.

A Call to Self-Reflection

This hadith is not merely an observation — it is an invitation.

A believer must ask:

• Am I like the rare camel fit for the Prophet’s mission?

• Am I ready to bear the responsibility of dawah?

• Do I live for God, or for society’s approval?

• Is my focus the world, or the Hereafter?

Most people want comfort, acceptance, and ease. Very few want accountability, struggle, and clarity. Very few want to stand for truth when society pulls in the opposite direction.
Yet it is these few whom God chooses for His work.

The Need of Our Times

Our age is marked by confusion, ideological noise, and spiritual emptiness. More than ever, the world needs individuals who:

• Think deeply

• Live purposefully

• Speak truthfully

• Call wisely

• Invite compassionately

• Reflect sincerely

But, just as the Prophet foretold, such individuals are rare.

The responsibility before us is to strive to become one of them.

Conclusion

This hadith is a reminder, a warning, and a hope.

A reminder that true carriers of the divine mission are few.

A warning that the path of dawah is demanding and not for the unprepared.

A hope that each of us can choose to rise above mediocrity and become among those few rare souls fit for God’s work.

The question is not whether such people exist — the Prophet has already told us they are rare.

The question is:

Will we choose to become one of them?

Further reading 

Tazkirul Quran by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Goodword Books CPS International