37/25. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2459 — Reckon With Yourself Before Death
The Hadith: The Clever Person is the One Who Subjects His Soul and Works for What is After Death
Hadith About Self-Accountability Before Death
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2459
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2459
حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ وَكِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، عَنْ ضَمْرَةَ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْكَيِّسُ مَنْ دَانَ نَفْسَهُ وَعَمِلَ لِمَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَالْعَاجِزُ مَنْ أَتْبَعَ نَفْسَهُ هَوَاهَا وَتَمَنَّى عَلَى اللَّهِ " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ . قَالَ وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ " مَنْ دَانَ نَفْسَهُ " . يَقُولُ حَاسَبَ نَفْسَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يُحَاسَبَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ . وَيُرْوَى عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ حَاسِبُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُحَاسَبُوا وَتَزَيَّنُوا لِلْعَرْضِ الأَكْبَرِ وَإِنَّمَا يَخِفُّ الْحِسَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى مَنْ حَاسَبَ نَفْسَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا . وَيُرْوَى عَنْ مَيْمُونِ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ لاَ يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ تَقِيًّا حَتَّى يُحَاسِبَ نَفْسَهُ كَمَا يُحَاسِبُ شَرِيكَهُ مِنْ أَيْنَ مَطْعَمُهُ وَمَلْبَسُهُ .
Shaddad bin Aws Narrated from:
The Prophet (s.a.w) said: "The Clever Person Is The One Who Subjugates His Soul, And Works For What Is After Death. And The Incapable Is The One Who Follows His Desires And Merely Hopes In Allah." [He Said:] The Meaning Of His Saying: "Who Subjugates His Soul", Is To Say The One Who Reckons With His Soul In The World, Before He Is Reckoned With, On The Day Of Judgement.It Has Been Related That 'Umar Bin Al-Khattäb Said: "Reckon With Yourselves Before You Are Reckoned With, And Prepare For The Greatest Inquisition. The Reckoning Of The Day Of Judgement Is Only Light For The One Who Reckoned With Himself In The World." And, It Has Been Related That Maimun Bin Mihran Said: "The Slave (Of Allah) Will Not Be A Taqi Until He Has Reckoned Himself, Just As He Would Account For Where His Business Partner Got His Food And Clothing."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2459In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 45English translation : Vol. 4, Book 11, Hadith 2459
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2459
This hadith about self-accountability defines true cleverness. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the clever person is the one who subjugates his soul and works for what comes after death. The incapable person is the one who follows his desires and merely hopes in Allah. The narration then explains that subjugating the soul means reckoning with oneself in this world before being reckoned with on the Day of Judgment. It also includes sayings from Umar and Maimun bin Mihran about taking account of oneself. The message is balanced: hope in Allah should not become an excuse for following desire. Real hope is joined with action and honest self-checking.
What we learn from this hadith
- True cleverness is linked to self-control and preparing for after death.
- Following desires while only making hopes is criticized.
- The narration encourages self-reckoning before the Day of Judgment.
- Hope in Allah should be joined with work and accountability.
