46/7. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2663b — Lifespans and Dua
Lifespans, Provisions, Etc. Do Not Increase Or Decrease From What Has Already Been Decreed
Lifespans, Provision, and Better Dua
Sahih Muslim : 2663b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2663b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْيَشْكُرِيِّ، عَنِ الْمَعْرُورِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَتْ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ زَوْجُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اللَّهُمَّ أَمْتِعْنِي بِزَوْجِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبِأَبِي أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَبِأَخِي مُعَاوِيَةَ . قَالَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَدْ سَأَلْتِ اللَّهَ لآجَالٍ مَضْرُوبَةٍ وَأَيَّامٍ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَأَرْزَاقٍ مَقْسُومَةٍ لَنْ يُعَجِّلَ شَيْئًا قَبْلَ حِلِّهِ أَوْ يُؤَخِّرَ شَيْئًا عَنْ حِلِّهِ وَلَوْ كُنْتِ سَأَلْتِ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُعِيذَكِ مِنْ عَذَابٍ فِي النَّارِ أَوْ عَذَابٍ فِي الْقَبْرِ كَانَ خَيْرًا وَأَفْضَلَ " . قَالَ وَذُكِرَتْ عِنْدَهُ الْقِرَدَةُ قَالَ مِسْعَرٌ وَأُرَاهُ قَالَ وَالْخَنَازِيرُ مِنْ مَسْخٍ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِمَسْخٍ نَسْلاً وَلاَ عَقِبًا وَقَدْ كَانَتِ الْقِرَدَةُ وَالْخَنَازِيرُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
Umm Habiba, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), said: 0 Allah, enable me to derive benefit from my husband, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and from my father Abu Sufyan and from my brother Mu'awiya.Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: You have asked from Allah about durations of life already set, and the length of days already allotted and the sustenances the share of which has been fixed. Allah would not do anything earlier before its due time, or He would not delay anything beyond its due time. And if you were to ask Allah to provide you refuge from the torment of the HellFire, or from the torment of the grave, it would have good in store for you and better for you also.He (the narrator) further said: Mention was made before him about monkeys, and Mis'ar (one of the narrators) said: I think that (the narrator) also (made a mention) of the swine, which had suffered metamorphosis. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Verily, Allah did not cause the race of those which suffered metamorphosis to grow or they were not survived by young ones. Monkeys and swine had been in existence even before (the metamorphosis of the human beings).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2663bIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 49USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6438
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2663b
This Hadith about lifespans and dua records Umm Habiba asking Allah to let her benefit from her husband, her father, and her brother. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told her that she had asked about fixed lifespans, counted days, and divided provision. He said Allah would not bring anything before its time or delay it beyond its time. He then taught that asking Allah for refuge from the torment of Hellfire or the torment of the grave would be better. The narration also includes a separate point about apes and swine: those who were changed were not given descendants, and apes and swine existed before that. The main lesson is to ask Allah for what benefits the Hereafter.
What we learn from this hadith
- Lifespans, days, and provision are set by Allah.
- It is better to ask Allah for protection from the Fire and the grave's torment.
- A believer should choose duas that bring real spiritual benefit.
