44/82. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2870 — Hope and Death
What Has Been Related About The Parable Of The Son Of Adam, His Lifespan And His Hope
Hadith About Hope and Death with Two Pebbles
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2870
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2870
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَلاَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَشِيرُ بْنُ الْمُهَاجِرِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا هَذِهِ وَمَا هَذِهِ " . وَرَمَى بِحَصَاتَيْنِ . قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ " هَذَاكَ الأَمَلُ وَهَذَاكَ الأَجَلُ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ .
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Buraidah: From His Father That The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "Do You Know What The Parable Of This And This Is?" - And He Tossed Two Pebbles. They Said: "Allah And His Messenger (ﷺ) Know Better." He Said: "This (The Farther) One Is Hope, And This (Closer) One Is Death."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2870In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 13English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2870
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2870
This hadith about hope and death uses a very small action to teach a serious point. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) tossed two pebbles and asked the companions what the parable meant. They answered with respect, saying that Allah and His Messenger know better. He then explained that the farther pebble was hope, and the closer one was death. The image is direct: a person may look toward hopes that feel far ahead, while the appointed end is nearer. The hadith does not tell people to stop hoping or planning. It reminds them not to forget death while hopes continue. It is a simple warning against becoming lost in distant expectations.
What we learn from this hadith
- Human hope can reach far into the future.
- Death may be closer than the hopes a person is chasing.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught the lesson with two pebbles so it could be pictured easily.
- The hadith reminds people to keep death in mind while living.
