36/27. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4053 — Honesty Taken from Hearts
The disappearance of honesty
Honesty Taken from Hearts: A Hadith on Trust and Faith
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4053
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4053
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ حَدِيثَيْنِ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَهُمَا وَأَنَا أَنْتَظِرُ الآخَرَ حَدَّثَنَا " أَنَّ الأَمَانَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِي جَذْرِ قُلُوبِ الرِّجَالِ " . - قَالَ الطَّنَافِسِيُّ يَعْنِي وَسْطَ قُلُوبِ الرِّجَالِ - وَنَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ فَعَلِمْنَا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَعَلِمْنَا مِنَ السُّنَّةِ . ثُمَّ حَدَّثَنَا عَنْ رَفْعِهِمَا فَقَالَ " يَنَامُ الرَّجُلُ النَّوْمَةَ فَتُرْفَعُ الأَمَانَةُ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ فَيَظَلُّ أَثَرُهَا كَأَثَرِ الْوَكْتِ ثُمَّ يَنَامُ النَّوْمَةَ فَتُنْزَعُ الأَمَانَةُ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ فَيَظَلُّ أَثَرُهَا كَأَثَرِ الْمَجْلِ كَجَمْرٍ دَحْرَجْتَهُ عَلَى رِجْلِكَ فَنَفِطَ فَتَرَاهُ مُنْتَبِرًا وَلَيْسَ فِيهِ شَىْءٌ " . ثُمَّ أَخَذَ حُذَيْفَةُ كَفًّا مِنْ حَصًى فَدَحْرَجَهُ عَلَى سَاقِهِ . قَالَ " فَيُصْبِحُ النَّاسُ يَتَبَايَعُونَ وَلاَ يَكَادُ أَحَدٌ يُؤَدِّي الأَمَانَةَ حَتَّى يُقَالَ إِنَّ فِي بَنِي فُلاَنٍ رَجُلاً أَمِينًا . وَحَتَّى يُقَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ مَا أَعْقَلَهُ وَأَجْلَدَهُ وَأَظْرَفَهُ . وَمَا فِي قَلْبِهِ حَبَّةُ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ " . وَلَقَدْ أَتَى عَلَىَّ زَمَانٌ وَلَسْتُ أُبَالِي أَيَّكُمْ بَايَعْتُ لَئِنْ كَانَ مُسْلِمًا لَيَرُدَّنَّهُ عَلَىَّ إِسْلاَمُهُ وَلَئِنْ كَانَ يَهُودِيًّا أَوْ نَصْرَانِيًّا لَيَرُدَّنَّهُ عَلَىَّ سَاعِيهِ فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَمَا كُنْتُ لأُبَايِعَ إِلاَّ فُلاَنًا وَفُلاَنًا .
Hudhaifa Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told us two Ahadith, one of which I have seen, and I am still waiting for the other. He told us: ‘Honesty was preserved in the roots of men’s hearts’ – (One of the narrators) Tanafisi said: ‘Meaning in the middle of men’s hearts’ – ‘Then the Qur’an was revealed and we learned (it) from the Qur’an and the Sunnah.’ Then he told us about its disappearance, saying; ‘A man will go to sleep and honesty will be taken away from his heart, and only its trace will remain, like spots without color. Then he will go to sleep again and the remainder of the honesty will also be taken away (from his heart) and leaving a trace like a blister, as when an ember touches your foot and raises a blister which has nothing inside.’”Then Hudhaifah picked up a handful of pebbles and rolled them on his leg. He said: “People will engage in business with one another, but there will hardly be any honest persons among them. Then it will be said that in such and such a tribe there is an honest man, and a man will be admired for his intelligence, good manners and strength, but there will not be even a mustard seed of faith in his heart.”"There was a time when I did not mind dealing with anyone of you, for if he was a Muslim, his religion would prevent him from cheating; and if he was a Christian, his Muslim ruler would prevent him from cheating. But today I cannot deal except with so-and-so and so-and-so."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4053In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 128English translation : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4053
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4053
This Hadith about honesty describes how trust can fade from people’s hearts. Hudhaifah reported that honesty was once preserved in the roots of men’s hearts, then the Qur’an was revealed and they learned from the Qur’an and Sunnah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then described honesty being taken away until only traces remain, like a mark or an empty blister. People will trade with one another, yet hardly anyone will fulfill trust. A person may be praised for intelligence, manners, and strength while not having even a mustard seed of faith in his heart. The core topic is Trust. The Hadith warns that outward praise does not replace true faith and honesty.
What we learn from this hadith
- Honesty is described as rooted in the heart.
- The Qur’an and Sunnah are mentioned as sources people learned from.
- Trustworthiness may become rare among people.
- Outward skills and praise do not prove true faith in the heart.
