37/1. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4102 — Be Indifferent to Dunya
Indifference towards this world
Hadith About Zuhd: Be Indifferent to Dunya
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4102
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4102
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ أَبِي السَّفَرِ، حَدَّثَنَا شِهَابُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الْقُرَشِيُّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ دُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ إِذَا أَنَا عَمِلْتُهُ أَحَبَّنِيَ اللَّهُ وَأَحَبَّنِيَ النَّاسُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " ازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا يُحِبَّكَ اللَّهُ وَازْهَدْ فِيمَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ يُحِبُّوكَ " .
Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi Narrated from:
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, show me a deed which, if I do it, Allah will love me and people will love me. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Be indifferent towards this world, and Allah will love you. Be indifferent to what is in people’s hands, and they will love you.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4102In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 3English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4102
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4102
This famous Hadith about zuhd gives a clear answer to a man who wanted a deed that would bring Allah’s love and people’s love. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to be indifferent toward this world, and Allah would love him. He also told him to be indifferent to what is in people’s hands, and people would love him. The message is not about hating life or refusing every good thing. The wording focuses on the heart: do not make dunya your main desire, and do not keep looking at what others own. This creates a clean heart, less jealousy, and fewer demands from people. The Hadith teaches simple living, contentment, and freedom from craving what belongs to others.
What we learn from this hadith
- Zuhd in this world is linked in the Hadith with Allah’s love.
- Not craving what people own can help protect relationships.
- A believer should avoid building life around envy or greed.
- Contentment can make the heart lighter and speech calmer.
