37/3. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4110 — Worth of the World
The likeness of this world
Hadith About the Worth of Dunya Before Allah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4110
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4110
حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ الْحِزَامِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو يَحْيَى، زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ مَنْظُورٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِذِي الْحُلَيْفَةِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِشَاةٍ مَيِّتَةٍ شَائِلَةٍ بِرِجْلِهَا فَقَالَ " أَتُرَوْنَ هَذِهِ هَيِّنَةً عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَلدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا وَلَوْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا تَزِنُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَنَاحَ بَعُوضَةٍ مَا سَقَى كَافِرًا مِنْهَا قَطْرَةً أَبَدًا " .
It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa’d said: “We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Dhul-Hulaifah, when we saw a dead sheep lifting its leg (because of bloating). He said: ‘Don’t you think this is worthless to its owner? By the One in Whose hand is my soul, this world is more worthless to Allah than this (dead sheep) is to its owner. If this world was worth the wing of a mosquito to Allah, the disbeliever would not have a drop to drink from it.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4110In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 11English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4110
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4110
This Hadith uses a strong example. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Companions saw a dead sheep, and he asked whether they thought it was worthless to its owner. Then he said that this world is more worthless to Allah than that dead sheep is to its owner. He also said that if the world were worth the wing of a mosquito to Allah, a disbeliever would not be given even a drop to drink from it. The message is about the low value of dunya when measured against Allah’s sight. It does not say food, drink, or life needs have no use. It says worldly life should not be treated as the highest measure of success.
What we learn from this hadith
- The world has little weight before Allah compared with what truly matters.
- Worldly gifts do not by themselves prove a person’s rank with Allah.
- A vivid example can help people see dunya in its real size.
- A believer should not use worldly comfort as the only sign of success.
