36/18. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3996 — Wealth, Envy, and Rivalry
The tribulation of wealth
Hadith About Wealth Competition: Rivalry, Envy, and Turning Away
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3996
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3996
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، أَنَّ بَكْرَ بْنَ سَوَادَةَ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ يَزِيدَ بْنَ رَبَاحٍ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " إِذَا فُتِحَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ خَزَائِنُ فَارِسَ وَالرُّومِ أَىُّ قَوْمٍ أَنْتُمْ " . قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ نَقُولُ كَمَا أَمَرَنَا اللَّهُ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " أَوْ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ تَتَنَافَسُونَ ثُمَّ تَتَحَاسَدُونَ ثُمَّ تَتَدَابَرُونَ ثُمَّ تَتَبَاغَضُونَ أَوْ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَنْطَلِقُونَ فِي مَسَاكِينِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَتَجْعَلُونَ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى رِقَابِ بَعْضٍ " .
Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When the treasures of Persia and Rome are opened for you, what kind of people will you be?” ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf said: “We will say what Allah has commanded us to say.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Or something other than that. You will compete with one another, then you will envy one another, then you will turn your backs on one another, then you will hate one another, or something like that. Then you will go to the poor among the Muhajirun and appoint some of them as leaders of others.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3996In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 71English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 3996
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3996
This Hadith about wealth competition speaks about a time when the treasures of Persia and Rome would be opened. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked what kind of people they would be then. Abdur-Rahman bin Awf answered with hope that they would say what Allah commanded. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then warned of another outcome: competition, envy, turning backs on one another, and hatred. The text shows how wealth can test relationships. It does not say wealth itself is always evil. Rather, it warns that access to treasure can stir rivalry and social harm when hearts are not careful. The lesson is to watch the heart when worldly gain increases.
What we learn from this hadith
- New wealth can become a test for people.
- Competition over wealth may lead to envy and hatred.
- The heart needs care when worldly doors open.
