37/30. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2464 — Tested by Ease and Hardship
The Ahadith: "We Were Tested with Adversity" and, "Whoever Makes the Hereafter His Goal" and, "Son of Adam, Devote Yourself to My Worship"
Hadith About Being Tested by Prosperity
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2464
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2464
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو صَفْوَانَ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، قَالَ ابْتُلِينَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالضَّرَّاءِ فَصَبَرْنَا ثُمَّ ابْتُلِينَا بِالسَّرَّاءِ بَعْدَهُ فَلَمْ نَصْبِرْ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf Narrated from:
We Were Tested Along With The Messenger Of Allah(S.A.W) By Adversity, So We Were Patient, Then We Were Tested After Him With Prosperity, But We Were Not Patient.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2464In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 50English translation : Vol. 4, Book 11, Hadith 2464
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2464
This hadith about being tested by prosperity is short, but it carries a deep warning. Abdur-Rahman bin Awf said that they were tested with hardship alongside the Messenger of Allah, and they were patient. Then, after him, they were tested with ease and prosperity, but they were not patient. The hadith reminds us that tests do not only come through pain, hunger, and loss. Ease can also be a test. Wealth, comfort, and better living can expose weakness in the heart if a person forgets restraint. The hadith does not give a long ruling. It simply shows the honest feeling of a Companion who saw that patience in hardship may be easier than patience in comfort.
What we learn from this hadith
- Hardship can be met with patience and strength.
- Prosperity can also test a person's heart.
- Ease may weaken restraint if one is not careful.
- The Companions spoke honestly about their own spiritual tests.
