64/17. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4045 — Musab ibn Umair and Fear of Worldly Reward
The Ghazwa of Uhud
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَاعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ} وَقَوْلُهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ: {وَلاَ تَهِنُوا وَلاَ تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنْتُمُ الأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ إِنْ يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِثْلُهُ وَتِلْكَ الأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنْكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ وَاللَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَمْحَقَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنْكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّابِرِينَ وَلَقَدْ كُنْتُمْ تَمَنَّوْنَ الْمَوْتَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَلْقَوْهُ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ} وَقَوْلِهِ: {وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ إِذْ تَحُسُّونَهُمْ بِإِذْنِهِ حَتَّى إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي الأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَرَاكُمْ مَا تُحِبُّونَ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُرِيدُ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُرِيدُ الآخِرَةَ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنْكُمْ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ}، {وَلاَ تَحْسِبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا} الآيَةَ.And the Statement of Allah جل جلاله: "And (remember) when you (O Muhammad ﷺ) left your household in the morning to post the believers at their stations for battle, (of Uhud). And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower." (V. 3:121) Also the Statement of Allah جل جلاله: "So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. If a wound (and killing) had touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allah may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allah likes not the Zalimun (wrong-doers, polytheists). And that Allah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins), and destroy the disbelievers. Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allah tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are As-Sabirin (the patient)? You did indeed wish for death (Ash-Shahadah – martyrdom) before you met it. Now you have seen it openly with your own eyes." (V. 3:139-143) And His Statement: "And Allah did indeed fulfil His Promise to you when you were killing them (your enemy)… (till the end of the Verse) … And Allah is Most Gracious to the believers." (V. 3:152) And His Statement: "Think not of those as dead who are killed in the Way of Allah …" (V. 3:169)
Sahih al-Bukhari 4045: Musab ibn Umair Hadith and Humility Before Dunya
Sahih Bukhari : 4045
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4045
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، إِبْرَاهِيمَ أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْفٍ، أُتِيَ بِطَعَامٍ، وَكَانَ صَائِمًا فَقَالَ قُتِلَ مُصْعَبُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ، وَهْوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي، كُفِّنَ فِي بُرْدَةٍ، إِنْ غُطِّيَ رَأْسُهُ بَدَتْ رِجْلاَهُ، وَإِنْ غُطِّيَ رِجْلاَهُ بَدَا رَأْسُهُ ـ وَأُرَاهُ قَالَ ـ وَقُتِلَ حَمْزَةُ وَهْوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي، ثُمَّ بُسِطَ لَنَا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَا بُسِطَ، أَوْ قَالَ أُعْطِينَا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَا أُعْطِينَا، وَقَدْ خَشِينَا أَنْ تَكُونَ حَسَنَاتُنَا عُجِّلَتْ لَنَا. ثُمَّ جَعَلَ يَبْكِي حَتَّى تَرَكَ الطَّعَامَ.
Sa'd b. Ibrahim Narrated from:
A meal was brought to `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf while he was fasting. He said, "Mus`ab bin `Umar was martyred, and he was better than I, yet he was shrouded in a Burda (i.e. a sheet) so that, if his head was covered, his feet became naked, and if his feet were covered, his head became naked." `Abdur-Rahman added, "Hamza was martyred and he was better than 1. Then worldly wealth was bestowed upon us and we were given thereof too much. We are afraid that the reward of our deeds have been given to us in this life." `Abdur-Rahman then started weeping so much that he left the food.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4045In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 91USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 376
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4045
This Musab ibn Umair hadith shows a deeply humble heart. A meal was brought to Abdur-Rahman bin Auf while he was fasting, but he remembered Musab bin Umair and Hamza. He said Musab was better than him, yet his shroud was so small that covering his head left his feet uncovered, and covering his feet left his head uncovered. He also remembered Hamza as better than him. Then he looked at the worldly wealth that had later been given to them and feared that the reward of their deeds might have been hastened for them in this life. The Hadith does not condemn food or wealth by itself. It shows fear, gratitude, and self-checking when blessings become many.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abdur-Rahman remembered earlier martyrs when food was placed before him.
- The simple shroud of Musab showed the hardship some companions faced.
- Worldly wealth made him reflect and fear for his deeds.
- The report teaches humility when life becomes easier.
