36/25. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2335 — Life Is More Fleeting Than We Think
What Has Been Related About The Curtailment Of Hope
Hadith About the Fleeting Nature of Life
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2335
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2335
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي السَّفَرِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ مَرَّ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَحْنُ نُعَالِجُ خُصًّا لَنَا فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا " . فَقُلْنَا قَدْ وَهَى فَنَحْنُ نُصْلِحُهُ . قَالَ " مَا أُرَى الأَمْرَ إِلاَّ أَعْجَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَأَبُو السَّفَرِ اسْمُهُ سَعِيدُ بْنُ يُحْمِدَ وَيُقَالُ ابْنُ أَحْمَدَ الثَّوْرِيُّ .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Passed By Us While We Were Repairing A Hut Of Ours, So He Said: 'What Is This?' We Said:"It Has Become Weak, So We Are Repairing It.' He Said: 'I Do Not Think But That The Matter (Of Life) Is More In Fleeting Than That."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2335In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 32English translation : Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2335
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2335
This hadith about the fleeting nature of life happened when the Prophet (s.a.w) passed by people repairing a hut. They explained that it had become weak and they were fixing it. The Prophet (s.a.w) replied that he did not think the matter of life was anything but more fleeting than that. The hadith does not say repairing a weak hut is wrong. The point is the reminder that life itself is very short. People can become busy fixing, building, and arranging things, while the end of life may be closer than they feel. This hadith brings the heart back to the shortness of worldly life and the need to use time well.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worldly repairs and plans should not make a person forget life’s shortness.
- The Prophet (s.a.w) used a daily scene to remind people of the end of life.
- A believer should keep death and accountability in mind while living normally.
