65/18.13. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4735 — Words Recorded by Allah
The Statement of Allāh the Exalted: "He said: 'Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock." (V.18:63)
Hadith About Words Being Recorded by Allah
Sahih Bukhari : 4735
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4735
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ خَبَّابٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ رَجُلاً قَيْنًا، وَكَانَ لِي عَلَى الْعَاصِي بْنِ وَائِلٍ دَيْنٌ فَأَتَيْتُهُ أَتَقَاضَاهُ، فَقَالَ لِي لاَ أَقْضِيكَ حَتَّى تَكْفُرَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ. قَالَ قُلْتُ لَنْ أَكْفُرَ بِهِ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ ثُمَّ تُبْعَثَ. قَالَ وَإِنِّي لَمَبْعُوثٌ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْمَوْتِ فَسَوْفَ أَقْضِيكَ إِذَا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى مَالٍ وَوَلَدٍ. قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ {أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَقَالَ لأُوتَيَنَّ مَالاً وَوَلَدًا * أَطَّلَعَ الْغَيْبَ أَمِ اتَّخَذَ عِنْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ عَهْدًا * كَلاَّ سَنَكْتُبُ مَا يَقُولُ وَنَمُدُّ لَهُ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ مَدًّا * وَنَرِثُهُ مَا يَقُولُ وَيَأْتِينَا فَرْدًا}.
Khabbab Narrated from:
I was a blacksmith and Al-Asi Bin Wail owed me a debt, so I went to him to demand it. He said to me. "I will not pay you your debt till you disbelieve in Muhammad." I said, "I will not disbelieve in Muhammad till you die and then be resurrected." He said, "Will I be resurrected after my death? If so, I shall pay you (there) if I should find wealth and children."So there was revealed:-- 'Have you seen him who disbelieved in Our Signs, and yet says: I shall certainly be given wealth and children? Has he, known to the unseen or has he taken a covenant from (Allah) the Beneficent? Nay ! We shall record what he says, and we shall add and add to his punishment. And We shall inherit from him all that he talks of, and he shall appear before Us alone.' (19.77-80)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4735In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 257USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 259
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4735
This hadith about Khabbab and Al-Asi includes a longer part of the revealed verses. Khabbab was owed a debt, but Al-Asi refused to pay unless Khabbab disbelieved in Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Khabbab refused. Al-Asi then spoke about being resurrected with wealth and children and paying later. The verses answer sharply: has he known the unseen or taken a covenant from the Most Merciful. Then they say that what he says will be recorded, punishment will be extended, what he speaks of will be inherited, and he will come alone. The main lesson is accountability for speech and belief. The hadith is especially useful for searches about words being recorded in Islam, because the text itself says his statement would be written.
What we learn from this hadith
- Words about Allah and the unseen are serious.
- Khabbab refused disbelief despite pressure over a debt.
- Allah’s revelation rejected Al-Asi’s claim about wealth and children.
- The person is described as coming to Allah alone.
