36/18. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 3997 — Fear of Worldly Plenty
The tribulation of wealth
Fear of Dunya Hadith: When Plenty Becomes a Test
Sunan Ibn Majah : 3997
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 3997
حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى الْمِصْرِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، . أَنَّ الْمِسْوَرَ بْنَ مَخْرَمَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ، - وَهُوَ حَلِيفُ بَنِي عَامِرِ بْنِ لُؤَىٍّ وَكَانَ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بَعَثَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاحِ إِلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَأْتِي بِجِزْيَتِهَا وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ هُوَ صَالَحَ أَهْلَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَلاَءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ فَقَدِمَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِمَالٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ فَسَمِعَتِ الأَنْصَارُ بِقُدُومِ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ فَوَافَوْا صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ انْصَرَفَ فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهُ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ حِينَ رَآهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَظُنُّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ أَنَّ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ قَدِمَ بِشَىْءٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ " . قَالُوا أَجَلْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " أَبْشِرُوا وَأَمِّلُوا مَا يَسُرُّكُمْ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا الْفَقْرَ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَكِنِّي أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُبْسَطَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا بُسِطَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَتَنَافَسُوهَا كَمَا تَنَافَسُوهَا فَتُهْلِكَكُمْ كَمَا أَهْلَكَتْهُمْ " .
‘Amr bin ‘Awf Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent ‘Ubaidah bin Jarrah to Bahrain to collect the Jizyah, and the Prophet (ﷺ) had made a treaty with the people of Bahrain, and he appointed as their governor ‘Ala’ bin Hadrami.Abu ‘Ubaidan came with the wealth from Bahrain and the Ansar heard that Abu ‘Ubaidah had come, so they attended the Fajr prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had prayed, he went away, so they intercepted him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) smiled when he saw them, then he said: ‘I think you have heard that Abu ‘Ubaidah has brought something from Bahrain?’ They said: ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Be of good cheer and hope for that which will make you happy. By Allah, I do not fear poverty for you, rather I fear that you will enjoy ease and plenty like those who came before you, and that you will compete with one another as they did, and you will be destroyed as they were.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3997In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 72English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 3997
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 3997
This fear of dunya Hadith tells of wealth coming from Bahrain and the Ansar coming after Fajr. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم smiled and knew they had heard about the wealth. He gave them good news and allowed hope for what would please them. Then he made the key point: he did not fear poverty for them, but feared that worldly ease would be spread before them as it was for people before them. He warned that they might compete for it and be harmed as earlier people were harmed. The Hadith does not condemn receiving wealth. It warns against rivalry and being consumed by worldly plenty.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worldly ease can become a serious test.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not fear poverty here as much as harmful competition over plenty.
- Wealth should not lead people to rivalry and ruin.
