93/11. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7154 — Patience at First Shock
There was no gatekeeper for the Prophet (saws)
Hadith About Patience at the First Stroke of Calamity
Sahih Bukhari : 7154
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7154
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ الْبُنَانِيُّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ لاِمْرَأَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ تَعْرِفِينَ فُلاَنَةَ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. قَالَ فَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ بِهَا وَهْىَ تَبْكِي عِنْدَ قَبْرٍ فَقَالَ " اتَّقِي اللَّهَ وَاصْبِرِي ". فَقَالَتْ إِلَيْكَ عَنِّي، فَإِنَّكَ خِلْوٌ مِنْ مُصِيبَتِي. قَالَ فَجَاوَزَهَا وَمَضَى فَمَرَّ بِهَا رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ مَا قَالَ لَكِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَتْ مَا عَرَفْتُهُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فَجَاءَتْ إِلَى بَابِهِ فَلَمْ تَجِدْ عَلَيْهِ بَوَّابًا فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا عَرَفْتُكَ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الصَّبْرَ عِنْدَ أَوَّلِ صَدْمَةٍ ".
Thabit Al-Bunani Narrated from:
Anas bin Malik said to a woman of his family, "Do you know such-and-such a woman?" She replied, "Yes." He said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by her while she was weeping over a grave, and he said to her, 'Be afraid of Allah and be patient.' The woman said (to the Prophet). 'Go away from me, for you do not know my calamity.'"Anas added, "The Prophet (ﷺ) left her and proceeded. A man passed by her and asked her, 'What has Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to you?' She replied, 'I did not recognize him.' The man said, 'He was Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)."' Anas added, "So that woman came to the gate of the Prophet (ﷺ) and she did not find a gate-keeper there, and she said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! By Allah. I did not recognize you!' The Prophet said, 'No doubt, patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.'"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7154In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 268
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7154
This hadith about patience at the first shock of calamity shows how Islam teaches self-control during grief. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw a woman crying at a grave and told her to fear Allah and be patient. She did not recognize him and replied sharply because of her pain. Later, when she learned it was the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), she came to his door and explained that she had not recognized him. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then said that patience is at the first stroke of calamity. The lesson is not that grief is forbidden. Rather, this hadith highlights the special value of patience when the pain first hits.
What we learn from this hadith
- Patience is especially meaningful at the first moment of grief.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) advised patience with a short and clear reminder.
- Pain can make a person speak harshly, but correction is still needed.
- The woman returned and explained herself after learning who had advised her.
