Hadith 6015

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "Among my people my companions are like salt in food, for food is good only when there is salt in it." Al-Hasan[*] said, "Our salt has gone, so how can we be good?" *i.e., Al Hasan al Basri. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَثَلُ أَصْحَابِي فِي أُمَّتِي كَالْمِلْحِ فِي الطَّعَامِ لَا يَصْلُحُ الطَّعَامُ إِلَّا بِالْمِلْحِ» قَالَ الْحَسَنُ: فَقَدْ ذَهَبَ مِلْحُنَا فَكَيْفَ نصلح؟ رَوَاهُ فِي «شرح السّنة»