55/0. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2979b — Need, Wealth, and Patient Choice
The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts
Hadith About Need, Wealth, and the Poor Muhajirin
Sahih Muslim : 2979b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2979b
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو هَانِئٍ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحُبُلِيَّ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، وَسَأَلَهُ، رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ أَلَسْنَا مِنْ فُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَلَكَ امْرَأَةٌ تَأْوِي إِلَيْهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ أَلَكَ مَسْكَنٌ تَسْكُنُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَأَنْتَ مِنَ الأَغْنِيَاءِ قَالَ فَإِنَّ لِي خَادِمًا قَالَ فَأَنْتَ مِنَ الْمُلُوكِ . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَجَاءَ ثَلاَثَةُ نَفَرٍ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ وَأَنَا عِنْدَهُ فَقَالُوا يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّا وَاللَّهِ مَا نَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَىْءٍ لاَ نَفَقَةٍ وَلاَ دَابَّةٍ وَلاَ مَتَاعٍ . فَقَالَ لَهُمْ مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ رَجَعْتُمْ إِلَيْنَا فَأَعْطَيْنَاكُمْ مَا يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَإِنْ شِئْتُمْ ذَكَرْنَا أَمْرَكُمْ لِلسُّلْطَانِ وَإِنْ شِئْتُمْ صَبَرْتُمْ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ فُقَرَاءَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ يَسْبِقُونَ الأَغْنِيَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ بِأَرْبَعِينَ خَرِيفًا " . قَالُوا فَإِنَّا نَصْبِرُ لاَ نَسْأَلُ شَيْئًا .
Abd al-Rahman al-Hubuli reported: I heard that a person asked 'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. 'As and heard him saying: Are we not amongst the destitute of the emigrants? Abdullah said to him: Have you a spouse with whom you live? He said: Yes. Abdullah asked: Do you not have a home in which you reside? The man replied "Yes." Abdullah said: Then you are amongst the rich. He said: I have a servant also. Thereupon he (Abdullah b. 'Amr b. 'As) said: Then you are amongst the kings. Abu 'Abd al-Rahman reported that three persons came to 'Abdullah b. Amr b. 'As while I was sitting with him and they said: By Allah, we have nothing with us either in the form of provision, riding animals or wealth. Thereupon he said to them: I am prepared to do whatever you like. If you come to us, we would give you what Allah would make available for you. and if you like I would make a mention of your case to the ruler, and if you like you can show patience also. for I have heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The destitute amongst the emigrants would precede the rich emigrants by forty years in getting into Paradise on the Day of Resurrection. Thereupon they said: We then, show patience and do not ask for anything.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2979a, bIn-book reference : Book 55, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 42, Hadith 7102
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2979b
This narration repeats the report about the poor Muhajirin and gives a clear lesson about how need was understood. Abdullah b. Amr asks the man whether he has a spouse and a home; when the man says yes, Abdullah counts him among the rich. When he adds that he has a servant, Abdullah says he is among the kings. Then three people with no provision, riding animals, or wealth are offered three choices: receive what Allah makes available, have their case mentioned to the ruler, or show patience. Abdullah reports the Prophet’s saying that poor emigrants precede rich emigrants into Paradise by forty years. They answer that they will be patient.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report treats home, family support, and service as real blessings.
- Those in need were given choices rather than forced into one response.
- The prophetic statement mentions forty years of precedence for poor emigrants.
- The final choice of the three people was patience without asking.
