43/14. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2312b — Generosity that Changed the Heart
His Generosity
Generosity that Changed the Heart Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 2312b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2312b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَنَمًا بَيْنَ جَبَلَيْنِ فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ فَأَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَقَالَ أَىْ قَوْمِ أَسْلِمُوا فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا لَيُعْطِي عَطَاءً مَا يَخَافُ الْفَقْرَ . فَقَالَ أَنَسٌ إِنْ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ لَيُسْلِمُ مَا يُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الدُّنْيَا فَمَا يُسْلِمُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ الإِسْلاَمُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا عَلَيْهَا .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
A person requested Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) to give him a very large flock and he gave that to him. He came to his tribe and said: O people, embrace Islam. By Allah, Muhammad donates so much as if he did not fear want. Anas said that the person embraced Islam for the sake of the world but later he became Muslim until Islam became dearer to him than the world and what it contains.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2312bIn-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 79USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 30, Hadith 5729
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2312b
This generosity that changed the heart hadith gives a fuller reflection from Anas b. Malik. A man asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for a very large flock, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave it to him. The man returned to his people and called them to embrace Islam, saying that Muhammad gives as though he does not fear poverty. Anas then added that a person might embrace Islam at first seeking only worldly benefit, but he would not remain in that state until Islam became dearer to him than the world and what it contains. The hadith does not praise seeking religion only for wealth. Rather, within this report, generosity became a doorway by which the person’s heart moved toward love for Islam.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a very large flock to the man who asked.
- The man’s experience led him to call his people toward Islam.
- Anas noted that a worldly motive could later change into love for Islam.
- The narration shows generosity as a means that affected people’s hearts.
