36/9. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2312 — Angels and Fear of Allah
What Has Been Related About The Prophet (s.a.w) Saying: "If You Knew What I Know Then You Would Laugh Little"
Hadith About Angels Prostrating and Crying Much
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2312
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2312
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْمُهَاجِرِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ مُوَرِّقٍ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لاَ تَرَوْنَ وَأَسْمَعُ مَا لاَ تَسْمَعُونَ أَطَّتِ السَّمَاءُ وَحُقَّ لَهَا أَنْ تَئِطَّ مَا فِيهَا مَوْضِعُ أَرْبَعِ أَصَابِعَ إِلاَّ وَمَلَكٌ وَاضِعٌ جَبْهَتَهُ سَاجِدًا لِلَّهِ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلاً وَلَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا وَمَا تَلَذَّذْتُمْ بِالنِّسَاءِ عَلَى الْفُرُشِ وَلَخَرَجْتُمْ إِلَى الصُّعُدَاتِ تَجْأَرُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ " . لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ شَجَرَةً تُعْضَدُ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَعَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَنَسٍ . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَيُرْوَى مِنْ غَيْرِ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ أَنَّ أَبَا ذَرٍّ قَالَ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ شَجَرَةً تُعْضَدُ .
Abu Dharr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Indeed I See What You Do Not See, And I Hear What You Do Not Hear. The Heavens Moan, And They Have The Right To Moan. There Is No Spot, The Size Of Four Fingers In Them, Except That There Is An Angel Placing His Forehead In It, Prostrating To Allah. By Allah! If You Knew What I Know, Then You Would Laugh Little And You Would Cry Much. And You Would Not Taste The Pleasures Of Your Women In The Beds, And You Would Go Out Beseeching Allah. And I Wish That I Was But A Felled Tree."[Abu 'Eisa Said:] There Are Narrations On This Topic From 'Aishah, Abu Hurairah, Ibn 'Abbas, And Anas. [He Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Gharib. It Has Been Related Through Routes Other Than This, That Abu Dharr Said: "I Wish That I Was A Felled Tree." And It Has Been Related From Abu Dharr In Mawquf Form.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2312In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 9English translation : Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2312
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2312
This Hadith gives a powerful reminder about what the Prophet saw and heard. He said, "Indeed I see what you do not see, and I hear what you do not hear." He then described the heavens moaning, with no space the size of four fingers except that an angel is placing his forehead in prostration to Allah. He said that if people knew what he knew, they would laugh little and cry much. This hadith about angels prostrating does not ask us to invent details beyond the text. Its message is awe, humility, and turning to Allah. It reminds the heart that unseen realities are serious, while our daily distractions can make us forget.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet described unseen matters that people do not see or hear.
- The heavens are described as filled with angels prostrating to Allah.
- Knowing what the Prophet knew would lead people to laugh less and cry more.
- The Hadith points to awe, humility, and beseeching Allah.
