37/22. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2456 — Calamities and Old Age
An Illustration About the Length of Life and a Person's Aspirations Increasing As He Becomes Old, and That He Will Become Old in the End
Hadith About Calamities, Aging, and Human Weakness
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2456
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2456
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فِرَاسٍ الْبَصْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قُتَيْبَةَ، سَلْمُ بْنُ قُتَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَوَّامِ، وَهُوَ عِمْرَانُ الْقَطَّانُ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ مُطَرِّفِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الشِّخِّيرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مُثَلَ ابْنِ آدَمَ وَإِلَى جَنْبِهِ تِسْعَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ مَنِيَّةً إِنْ أَخْطَأَتْهُ الْمَنَايَا وَقَعَ فِي الْهَرَمِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Mutarrif bin 'Abdullah bin Ash-Shikh-khir Narrated from:
Mutarrif bin 'Abdullah bin Ash-Shikh-khir narrated from his father from the Prophet (s.a.w) who said: "The Case Of The Son Of Adam Is Such That He Is Surrounded By Ninety-Nine Calamities, If The Calamities Miss Him, He Falls Into Decrepitude."
[1] This preceded with similar wording under no. 2150.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2456In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 42English translation : Vol. 4, Book 11, Hadith 2456
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2456
This hadith about calamities and aging presents human life in a sober way. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the son of Adam is surrounded by ninety-nine calamities. If those calamities miss him, he falls into decrepitude, meaning the weakness of old age. The hadith does not list each calamity, so the explanation should stay with the given image. It shows that worldly life is not a place free from hardship. A person is always moving between risks, weakness, and the approach of age. This reminder can soften pride and make the believer more aware of Allah, because human strength is never fully in a person’s own control.
What we learn from this hadith
- Human life is surrounded by many possible trials.
- If calamities miss a person, old age still comes.
- The hadith reminds people of human weakness.
- Awareness of life’s limits should reduce pride.
