12/41. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1052b — Wealth Is Green and Sweet
Warning against being deceived by the splendor and luxury of this world
Hadith: Wealth Is Green and Sweet
Sahih Muslim : 1052b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1052b
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَخْوَفُ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا يُخْرِجُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا " . قَالُوا وَمَا زَهْرَةُ الدُّنْيَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " بَرَكَاتُ الأَرْضِ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَهَلْ يَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ بِالشَّرِّ قَالَ " لاَ يَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ إِلاَّ بِالْخَيْرِ لاَ يَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ إِلاَّ بِالْخَيْرِ لاَ يَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ إِلاَّ بِالْخَيْرِ إِنَّ كُلَّ مَا أَنْبَتَ الرَّبِيعُ يَقْتُلُ أَوْ يُلِمُّ إِلاَّ آكِلَةَ الْخَضِرِ فَإِنَّهَا تَأْكُلُ حَتَّى إِذَا امْتَدَّتْ خَاصِرَتَاهَا اسْتَقْبَلَتِ الشَّمْسَ ثُمَّ اجْتَرَّتْ وَبَالَتْ وَثَلَطَتْ ثُمَّ عَادَتْ فَأَكَلَتْ إِنَّ هَذَا الْمَالَ خَضِرَةٌ حُلْوَةٌ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ بِحَقِّهِ وَوَضَعَهُ فِي حَقِّهِ فَنِعْمَ الْمَعُونَةُ هُوَ وَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهِ كَانَ كَالَّذِي يَأْكُلُ وَلاَ يَشْبَعُ " .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: The most dreadful thing I fear in your case is what Allah brings forth for you in the form of the adornment of the world. They (the Prophet's Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, what is the adornment of the world? He said: Blessings (the natural resources) of the earth. They (again) said: Messenger of Allah, does good produce evil? He said: No, only good comes out of good. No, only good comes out of good. No. only good comes out of good. All that which the spring rain helps to grow kills or is about to kill but (the animal) which feeds on vegetation. It eats and when its flanks are distended, it faces the sun, it chews the cud, it has dunged and urinated. it returns and eats. This wealth is green and sweet, and he who accepts it and applies it rightly, finds it a good help, but he who takes it wrongfully is like one who eats without being satisfied.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1052bIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 159USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2289
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1052b
This narration says that the most feared matter for the people was what Allah would bring forth for them from the adornment of the world. When asked what that meant, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said it was the blessings of the earth. He then repeated that only good comes from good, and gave the example of spring growth. The hadith describes wealth as green and sweet, meaning it is attractive and pleasant. But the lesson depends on how it is handled. Whoever takes it with its right and puts it in its right place finds it a good help. Whoever takes it wrongfully is like one who eats without being satisfied.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worldly blessings can be attractive and pleasant.
- Wealth is a good help when taken and used rightly.
- Taking wealth wrongfully can leave a person unsatisfied.
- The hadith links benefit with rightful use, not mere possession.
