37/13. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4161 — Avoiding Extravagant Wealth
Construction and Demolition
Hadith About Extravagance: When Wealth Becomes a Burden
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4161
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4161
حَدَّثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى بْنِ أَبِي فَرْوَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِقُبَّةٍ عَلَى بَابِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ " مَا هَذِهِ " . قَالُوا قُبَّةٌ بَنَاهَا فُلاَنٌ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " كُلُّ مَالٍ يَكُونُ هَكَذَا فَهُوَ وَبَالٌ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ " . فَبَلَغَ الأَنْصَارِيَّ ذَلِكَ فَوَضَعَهَا فَمَرَّ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بَعْدُ فَلَمْ يَرَهَا فَسَأَلَ عَنْهَا فَأُخْبِرَ أَنَّهُ وَضَعَهَا لِمَا بَلَغَهُ عَنْكَ فَقَالَ " يَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ يَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by a dome-shaped structure at the door of a man among the Ansar and said: ‘What is this? ‘They said: ‘A dome that was built by so-and-so.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘All wealth that is like this (extravagant) will bring evil consequences to its owner on the Day of Resurrection.’ News of that reached the Ansari, so he demolished it. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) passed by (that place) later on and did not see it. He asked about it and was told that its owner had demolished it because of what he had heard from him. He said: ‘May Allah have mercy on him, may Allah have mercy on him.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4161In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 62English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4161
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4161
This hadith about extravagance shows a simple but serious lesson. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw a dome-shaped structure at the door of a man from the Ansar and asked about it. When he was told it was built by someone, he warned that wealth used in this showy way can become a burden for its owner on the Day of Resurrection. The man did not argue or delay. When he heard the Prophet’s words, he demolished it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then made dua for mercy for him twice. The main message is not about rejecting every building. It is about avoiding wasteful display and responding humbly when truth reaches us.
What we learn from this hadith
- Extravagant display of wealth can become a harmful burden.
- A believer should accept sincere advice without pride or delay.
- Correcting a wrong choice can be a means of Allah’s mercy.
- Wealth should not be used in a way that harms a person in the Hereafter.
