37/59. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2514 — A Time for This and a Time for That
The Hadith of Hanzalah
Hadith About Balance in Worship and Daily Life
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2514
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2514
حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ الْبَصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْبَزَّازُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَيَّارٌ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ الْمَعْنَى، وَاحِدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ، عَنْ حَنْظَلَةَ الأُسَيْدِيِّ، وَكَانَ، مِنْ كُتَّابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ مَرَّ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ قَالَ نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ نَكُونُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُذَكِّرُنَا بِالنَّارِ وَالْجَنَّةِ كَأَنَّا رَأْىَ عَيْنٍ فَإِذَا رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الأَزْوَاجِ وَالضَّيْعَةِ نَسِينَا كَثِيرًا . قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّا لَكَذَلِكَ انْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَانْطَلَقْنَا فَلَمَّا رَآهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا لَكَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ " . قَالَ نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَكُونُ عِنْدَكَ تُذَكِّرُنَا بِالنَّارِ وَالْجَنَّةِ كَأَنَّا رَأْىَ عَيْنٍ فَإِذَا رَجَعْنَا عَافَسْنَا الأَزْوَاجَ وَالضَّيْعَةَ وَنَسِينَا كَثِيرًا . قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ تَدُومُونَ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّذِي تَقُومُونَ بِهَا مِنْ عِنْدِي لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ فِي مَجَالِسِكُمْ وَفِي طُرُقِكُمْ وَعَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Hanzalah Al-Usaidi Narrated from:
Abu 'Uthman narrated from Hanzalah Al-Usaidi – and he was one of the scribes of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)- that he passed by Abu Bakr while he was crying, so he(Abu Bakr) said to him: “What Is Wrong With You, O Hanzalah?” He Replied: “Hanzalah Has Become A Hypocrite O Abu Bakr! When We Are With The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) We Remember The Fire And Paradise As If We Are Looking At Them With The Naked Eye. But When We Return We Busy Ourselves With Our Wives And Livelihood And We Forget So Much.”He(Abu Bakr) Said: “By Allah! The Same Thing Happens To Me. Let Us Go To The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W).” (Hanzalah Said:) “So He Went." When The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Saw Him, He Said: “What Is Wrong With You O Hanzalah?” He Said: “Hanzalah Has Become A Hypocrite O Messenger Of Allah! When We Are With You We Remember The Fire And Paradise As If We Can See Them With The Naked Eye. But When We Return We Are Busy With Our Wives And Livelihood, And We Forget So Much.”He Said: “So The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Said: 'If You Were To Abide In The State That You Are In When You Are With Me, Then The Angels Would Shake Hands With You In Your Gatherings, And Upon Your Bedding, And In Your Paths. But O Hanzalah! There Is A Time For This And A Time For That.'”(Sahih)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2514In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 100English translation : Vol. 4, Book 11, Hadith 2514
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2514
This hadith about balance in worship and daily life shows the mercy and realism of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Hanzalah feared hypocrisy because his heart felt very alert when he was with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, remembering Paradise and the Fire, but at home he became busy with wives and livelihood and forgot much. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said he experienced the same. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained that if they remained in that same high state all the time, angels would shake hands with them in their gatherings, beds, and paths. Then he said, "a time for this and a time for that." The lesson is that changes in spiritual feeling do not automatically mean hypocrisy.
What we learn from this hadith
- A believer may feel stronger in faith in some moments than others.
- Family and livelihood can take attention, and this was acknowledged in the hadith.
- Spiritual focus has its time, and daily life has its time.
- Fear for one’s faith can lead a person to seek guidance.
