37/35. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2476 — Today You Are Better
The Hadith of Ali Mentioning Musab Bin Umair
Hadith About Comfort Not Always Making People Better
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2476
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2476
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ الْقُرَظِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ، سَمِعَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، يَقُولُ إِنَّا لَجُلُوسٌ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا مُصْعَبُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ مَا عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ بُرْدَةٌ لَهُ مَرْقُوعَةٌ بِفَرْوٍ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَكَى لِلَّذِي كَانَ فِيهِ مِنَ النِّعْمَةِ وَالَّذِي هُوَ الْيَوْمَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " كَيْفَ بِكُمْ إِذَا غَدَا أَحَدُكُمْ فِي حُلَّةٍ وَرَاحَ فِي حُلَّةٍ وَوُضِعَتْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ صَحْفَةٌ وَرُفِعَتْ أُخْرَى وَسَتَرْتُمْ بُيُوتَكُمْ كَمَا تُسْتَرُ الْكَعْبَةُ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَحْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَيْرٌ مِنَّا الْيَوْمَ نَتَفَرَّغُ لِلْعِبَادَةِ وَنُكْفَى الْمُؤْنَةَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لأَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ خَيْرٌ مِنْكُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ . وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ هُوَ ابْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ وَهُوَ مَدَنِيٌّ وَقَدْ رَوَى عَنْهُ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ الَّذِي رَوَى عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ رَوَى عَنْهُ وَكِيعٌ وَمَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي زِيَادٍ كُوفِيٌّ رَوَى عَنْهُ سُفْيَانُ وَشُعْبَةُ وَابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنَ الأَئِمَّةِ .
Abi Talib Narrated from:
I Was Sitting In A Gathering With The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) When Mus'Ab Bin 'Umair Appeared Before Us, Wearing Nothing But A Burdah Patched With Some Animal Furs. When The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Saw Him He Began Crying Because Of The Good Life He Previously Had Compared To The State That He Was In That Day.Then The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Said: 'How Will You People Be, When The Late Morning Comes Upon One Of You While Wearing A Hullah, And At The End Of The Day He Is In, (Another) Hullah, When A Platter Is Placed In Front Of Him While Another Is Removed, And You Cover Your Houses Just As The Ka'Bah Is Covered?' They Said: 'O Messenger Of Allah! On That Day We Will Be Better Than We Are Today, Devoting Ourselves To Worship, Satisfied With Our Good Fortune.' So The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Said: 'No, Today You Are Better Than You Will Be On That Day.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2476In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 62English translation : Vol. 4, Book 11, Hadith 2476
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2476
This hadith about comfort not always making people better begins with Mus'ab bin Umair appearing in patched clothing. When the Messenger of Allah saw him, he cried because of the comfort Mus'ab had once known compared to his state that day. Then the Prophet asked how people would be when they had fine clothing in the morning and evening, dishes placed and removed before them, and houses covered beautifully. The Companions thought that with such ease they would be better, free for worship and spared from burdens. The Prophet replied that they were better that day than they would be then. The hadith teaches that outward comfort does not automatically mean stronger worship or better hearts.
What we learn from this hadith
- Mus'ab's changed condition moved the Prophet to tears.
- Future ease and comfort were described as a test.
- The Companions thought comfort would help worship more.
- The Prophet said their current state was better than that future state.
