81/10. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6438 — Valleys of Gold
The Fitnah of wealth should be warded off
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلاَدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ}.
Hadith About Valleys of Gold and the Desire for More
Sahih Bukhari : 6438
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6438
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ الْغَسِيلِ، عَنْ عَبَّاسِ بْنِ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ بِمَكَّةَ فِي خُطْبَتِهِ يَقُولُ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُولُ " لَوْ أَنَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ أُعْطِيَ وَادِيًا مَلأً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ ثَانِيًا، وَلَوْ أُعْطِيَ ثَانِيًا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ ثَالِثًا، وَلاَ يَسُدُّ جَوْفَ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلاَّ التُّرَابُ، وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ تَابَ ".
Sahl bin Sa`d Narrated from:
I heard Ibn Az-Zubair who was on the pulpit at Mecca, delivering a sermon, saying, "O men! The Prophet used to say, "If the son of Adam were given a valley full of gold, he would love to have a second one; and if he were given the second one, he would love to have a third, for nothing fills the belly of Adam's son except dust. And Allah forgives he who repents to Him." Ubai said, "We considered this as a saying from the Qur'an till the Sura (beginning with) 'The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you..' (102.1) was revealed."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6438In-book reference : Book 81, Hadith 27USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 76, Hadith 446
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6438
This hadith about valleys of gold gives a clear picture of human greed. Ibn az-Zubair says in a sermon that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say: if the son of Adam were given a valley full of gold, he would love a second; if given a second, he would love a third. Nothing fills his belly except dust. The hadith then ends with mercy: Allah forgives the one who repents. Ubayy also says they once considered this wording connected to the Qur’an until Surah At-Takathur was revealed. The message is simple: piling up wealth can distract the heart, but repentance brings a way back to Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Even large amounts of wealth may not satisfy desire.
- The pursuit of more can become a distraction.
- Death ends the hunger for worldly gain.
- Repentance is mentioned as the path back to Allah.
