Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimAuthentic hadithRichness is not the abundance of wealth. Rather, true richness is self-sufficiency
Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Richness is not the abundance of wealth. Rather, true richness is self-sufficiency."
- Grade in the source
- Authentic hadith
- Reported by
- Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «ليس الغِنَى عن كَثرَة العَرَض، ولكن الغِنَى غنى النفس».
Understand this hadith ＋
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) highlights that true richness is not in the abundance of wealth. Rather, it is self-sufficiency. So a person becomes the richest of people when he sufficiently relies on what he already possesses and is contented with it, without being keen to gain more or insisting on demanding more.
References (original Arabic)
1-شرح صحيح مسلم (140/7).
2-فتح الباري (272/11).
3-كنوز رياض الصالحين (5/8).
Successful is the one who embraces Islam, is provided with mere subsistence, and Allah makes him content with what He has given him
Narrator in the source: ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas reported that the Prophet
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Successful is the one who embraces Islam, is provided with mere subsistence, and Allah makes him content with what He has given him."
- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ رضي الله عنهما أنَّ رَسولَ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليْه وسلَّمَ، قال: «قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن أَسْلَمَ، وَرُزِقَ كَفَافًا، وَقَنَّعَهُ اللَّهُ بما آتَاهُ».
Understand this hadith ＋
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that one who submits to his Lord and is, thus, guided and led to Islam, and is provided with just enough lawful sustenance to meet his needs, without excess or deficiency, and Allah makes him content and satisfied with what He has granted him has truly succeeded and achieved victory.
Lessons from the hadith
- A person's happiness lies in the perfection of his religion, the sufficiency of his livelihood, and his contentment with what Allah has given him.
- Encouraging contentment with what you have been given of this world, along with Islam and the Sunnah.
References (original Arabic)
صحيح مسلم (2/ 730) (1054).
بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 447).
فيض القدير شرح الجامع الصغير، للمناوي (4/ 508).
تحفة الأحوذي بشرح جامع الترمذي، لأبي العلا المباركفوري (7/ 11).
What do I have to do with this worldly life? I am in this worldly life like a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he goes away and leaves it
Narrator in the source: ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd reported that the Messenger of Allah
‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was sleeping upon a straw mat, and then he got up, and it had left marks on his side. We said: O Messenger of Allah, we could get a mattress for you. He said: "What do I have to do with this worldly life? I am in this worldly life like a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he goes away and leaves it."
- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Narrated by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Mājah
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ قَالَ: نَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى حَصِيرٍ، فَقَامَ وَقَدْ أَثَّرَ فِي جَنْبِهِ، فَقُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، لَوِ اتَّخَذْنَا لَكَ وِطَاءً، فَقَالَ: «مَا لِي وَلِلدُّنْيَا، مَا أَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ كَرَاكِبٍ اسْتَظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا».
Understand this hadith ＋
‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) slept on a small mat woven of some plants. When he got up, the straw mat had left marks on the skin of his side. We said: O Messenger of Allah, if we made for you a soft mattress, it would be better than lying on this rough straw mat. Thereupon, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: I have no love or affection for this world to desire it. My example in this world is like a rider who sought shade under a tree, then departed and left it behind.
Lessons from the hadith
- Highlighting the Prophet's asceticism in this worldly life and how he turned away from it.
- The Hadīth does not indicate abandoning what is necessary in this world, but rather being distracted by this world from the Hereafter. The man sought shade under a tree and derived benefit from it for his journey, but he did not incline to it.
- Deriving lessons from the Prophet's condition, as he is the best example to follow. Whoever follows his footsteps will be guided and will succeed in both this world and the Hereafter.
- The Companions' great care about the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and their love for him.
- The permissibility of using examples in Da‘wah (the call to Allah) and education.
References (original Arabic)
سنن الترمذي (4/ 166) (2377).
سنن ابن ماجه (5/ 229) (4109).
النهاية في غريب الحديث والأثر (979).
فيض القدير (5/ 464).
تطريز رياض الصالحين (ص: 326).
البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (34/ 663).
If the son of Adam were to possess two valleys full of wealth, he would seek the third
Narrator in the source: Anas
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If the son of Adam were to possess two valleys full of wealth, he would seek the third. Nothing can fill his belly except dust, and Allah accepts the repentance of whoever repents."
- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Agreed upon
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضيَ اللهُ عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَوْ كَانَ لِابْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيَانِ مِنْ مَالٍ لَابْتَغَى وَادِيًا ثَالِثًا، وَلَا يَمْلَأُ جَوْفَ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلَّا التُّرَابُ، وَيَتُوبُ اللهُ عَلَى مَنْ تَابَ».
Understand this hadith ＋
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that if the son of Adam had a valley filled with gold, he would love to have two other valleys of gold out of his greed, which is part of his nature. He will continue to be greedy for worldly possessions until he dies and his belly is filled with the dust of his grave.
Lessons from the hadith
- The intense eagerness of a human being to accumulate wealth and other worldly possessions.
- An-Nawawi said: It contains a condemnation of greed for the worldly life, of competing over its accumulation, and of excessive desire for it.
- Allah Almighty accepts the repentance of whoever repents of blameworthy traits.
- An-Nawawi said: The Hadīth was stated according to what is generally true for most of the children of Adam in their greed for worldly gain. This is supported by the statement of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): (And Allah accepts the repentance of whoever repents).
References (original Arabic)
صحيح البخاري (8/ 93) (6439).
صحيح مسلم (2/ 725) (1048).
نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 54).
بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 76).
المعجم الوسيط، (1/ 148).