37/35. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4296 — Allah’s Right Over His Slaves
What is hoped of the Mercy of Allah on the Day of Resurrection
Hadith About Tawhid: Allah’s Right Over His Slaves
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4296
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4296
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّوَارِبِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ بِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَأَنَا عَلَى حِمَارٍ فَقَالَ " يَا مُعَاذُ هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا حَقُّ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ وَمَا حَقُّ الْعِبَادِ عَلَى اللَّهِ " . قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ " فَإِنَّ حَقَّ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ أَنْ يَعْبُدُوهُ وَلاَ يُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا . وَحَقُّ الْعِبَادِ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ أَنْ لاَ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ " .
Mu'adh bin Jabal Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by me when I was riding a donkey, and said: ‘O Mu’adh, do you know what Allah’s right over His slaves is and what His slaves’ right over Allah is?’ I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said: ‘The right of Allah over His slaves is that they should worship Him and not associate anything with Him. And the right of the slaves over Allah, if they do that, is that He should not punish them.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4296In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 197English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4296
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4296
This Hadith explains the foundation of faith in a very simple way. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked Mu’adh if he knew Allah’s right over His slaves and the slaves’ right over Allah. Mu’adh answered with respect: Allah and His Messenger know best. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said that Allah’s right over His slaves is that they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him. He also said that the right of the slaves over Allah, if they do that, is that He should not punish them. This Hadith about Tawhid is direct and easy to understand. Worship belongs to Allah alone. The text links safety from punishment with worshipping Allah without shirk. It is a central teaching for every Muslim.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah’s right is that His slaves worship Him alone.
- The Hadith clearly forbids associating anything with Allah.
- Mu’adh showed humility by saying Allah and His Messenger know best.
- The text links not being punished with fulfilling Tawhid.
