48/119. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5372 — Simple Sufficiency Over Accumulation
Keeping Servants and Mounts
Hadith About Wealth, Sufficiency, and Regret
Sunan an-Nasai : 5372
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5372
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ سَهْمٍ، - رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ - قَالَ نَزَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي هَاشِمِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ وَهُوَ طَعِينٌ فَأَتَاهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ يَعُودُهُ فَبَكَى أَبُو هَاشِمٍ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَا يُبْكِيكَ أَوَجَعٌ يُشْئِزُكَ أَمْ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا فَقَدْ ذَهَبَ صَفْوُهَا قَالَ كُلٌّ لاَ وَلَكِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَهِدَ إِلَىَّ عَهْدًا وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ تَبِعْتُهُ قَالَ " إِنَّهُ لَعَلَّكَ تُدْرِكُ أَمْوَالاً تُقْسَمُ بَيْنَ أَقْوَامٍ وَإِنَّمَا يَكْفِيكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ خَادِمٌ وَمَرْكَبٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ " . فَأَدْرَكْتُ فَجَمَعْتُ .
Samurah bin Sahm Narrated from:
I came to Abu Hashim bin 'Utbah when he was suffering the plague, and Mu'awiyah came to visit him. Abu Hashim wept. Mu'awiyah said to him: 'Why are you weeping? Is it because of some pain that is hurting you, or is it for this world, the best of which has gone?' He said: 'Neither, but the Messenger of Allah [SAW] gave me some advice, which I wish that I had followed. He said: Perhaps you will live to see wealth that will be distributed among the people when all that would suffice you of that would be a servant and a mount to ride in the cause of Allah." I lived to see that, and I accumulated (wealth).'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5372In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 333English translation : Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5374
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5372
This hadith about wealth and sufficiency tells a serious personal reflection. Abu Hashim was ill with plague when Muawiyah visited him. Abu Hashim wept, not because of pain and not because of the world’s pleasures passing away. He remembered advice from the Messenger of Allah that he wished he had followed. The Prophet had told him that he may live to see wealth distributed among people, and that what would suffice him from it would be a servant and a mount to ride in the cause of Allah. Abu Hashim then said he lived to see it and accumulated wealth. The hadith teaches a quiet warning about regret, enoughness, and not letting wealth collection overtake the heart.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Hashim’s tears were linked to advice he wished he had followed.
- The hadith contrasts sufficiency with accumulating wealth.
- The Prophet’s advice mentioned a servant and a mount in the cause of Allah.
- A believer can reflect on regret before wealth becomes a burden on the heart.
