23/81. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2581 — Sweet Wealth and Charity
Giving Charity To Orphans
Hadith About Wealth, Charity, and Worldly Delights
Sunan an-Nasai : 2581
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2581
أَخْبَرَنِي زِيَادُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي هِشَامٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي هِلاَلٌ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَجَلَسْنَا حَوْلَهُ فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي مَا يُفْتَحُ لَكُمْ مِنْ زَهْرَةٍ " . وَذَكَرَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَوَيَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ بِالشَّرِّ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقِيلَ لَهُ مَا شَأْنُكَ تُكَلِّمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُكَ . قَالَ وَرَأَيْنَا أَنَّهُ يُنْزَلُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَفَاقَ يَمْسَحُ الرُّحَضَاءَ وَقَالَ " أُشَاهِدُ السَّائِلَ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ بِالشَّرِّ وَإِنَّ مِمَّا يُنْبِتُ الرَّبِيعُ يَقْتُلُ أَوْ يُلِمُّ إِلاَّ آكِلَةُ الْخَضِرِ فَإِنَّهَا أَكَلَتْ حَتَّى إِذَا امْتَدَّتْ خَاصِرَتَاهَا اسْتَقْبَلَتْ عَيْنَ الشَّمْسِ فَثَلَطَتْ ثُمَّ بَالَتْ ثُمَّ رَتَعَتْ وَإِنَّ هَذَا الْمَالَ خَضِرَةٌ حُلْوَةٌ وَنِعْمَ صَاحِبُ الْمُسْلِمِ هُوَ إِنْ أَعْطَى مِنْهُ الْيَتِيمَ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَإِنَّ الَّذِي يَأْخُذُهُ بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهِ كَالَّذِي يَأْكُلُ وَلاَ يَشْبَعُ وَيَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ شَهِيدًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ " .
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah sat on the Minbar, and we sat around him. He said: 'What I fear most for you after I am gone is the (worldly) delights that will come to you.' And he spoke of this world and its attractions. A man said: 'Can good bring forth evil? 'The Messenger of Allah remained silent and it was said to him (that man): 'What is the matter with you? You speak to the Messenger of Allah when he does not speak to you? We noticed that he was receiving Revelation.Then he recovered and wiped off his sweat and said: I know what the questioner meant: he means that good never brings forth evil. But some of that which grows in the spring kills the animals or makes them sick, unless they eat Al-Khadir (kind of plant): if they eat their fill or it then turn to face the sun and then defecate and urinate and start to graze again.This wealth is fresh and sweet. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to a Muslim from which he gives to orphans, the poor and wayfarers. The one who takes it unlawfully is like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and who eats but is never satisfied, and it will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2581In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 147English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2582
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2581
This hadith about wealth teaches a balanced view of worldly blessings. The Prophet described wealth as fresh and sweet, meaning it can be attractive and pleasant. But the hadith also warns that worldly delights can harm a person when taken without right or without control. The example of animals eating spring growth shows that something good can still harm when it is consumed in the wrong way. The clear lesson is that wealth becomes a good companion for a Muslim when it is used well, especially by giving to orphans, the poor, and wayfarers. But wealth taken unlawfully brings no real satisfaction and will stand as a witness against the person on the Day of Resurrection.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worldly wealth can be attractive, so a Muslim should handle it with care.
- Wealth is praised when it is lawful and used to help orphans, the poor, and travelers.
- Taking wealth unlawfully brings harm and will be a witness on the Day of Resurrection.
