37/5. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4121 — Poverty with Dignity
The virtue of poverty
Hadith About the Poor Believer and Poverty with Dignity
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4121
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4121
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الْجُبَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ عُبَيْدَةَ، أَخْبَرَنِي الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ عَبْدَهُ الْمُؤْمِنَ الْفَقِيرَ الْمُتَعَفِّفَ أَبَا الْعِيَالِ " .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Allah loves His believing slave who is poor, does not beg and has many children.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4121In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4121
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4121
This hadith teaches a simple but deep message about poverty with dignity. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Allah loves His believing slave who is poor, does not beg, and has many children. The focus is not on poverty by itself, but on faith, self-restraint, and patient family care. A poor believer may face need, yet the hadith praises the one who does not turn need into begging. It also mentions many children, showing a person who carries real family duties while still keeping faith and honor. For anyone searching for a hadith about the poor believer, this narration points to quiet strength, modest conduct, and trust in Allah during hardship.
What we learn from this hadith
- Faith gives honor to a person even when wealth is limited.
- Avoiding begging is praised in this hadith when a person can remain patient.
- Caring for family while poor is a respected form of steadfastness.
- Allah loves the believing servant who combines poverty with modest self-restraint.
