47/3. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2990 — Allah Does Not Burden a Soul
Regarding Surat Al-Baqarah
Allah Does Not Burden a Soul Beyond Its Capacity Hadith
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2990
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2990
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنِ السُّدِّيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ، سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا، يَقُولُ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ : (إِنْ تُبْدُوا مَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُمْ بِهِ اللَّهُ فَيَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ) الآيَةَ أَحْزَنَتْنَا قَالَ قُلْنَا يُحَدِّثُ أَحَدُنَا نَفْسَهُ فَيُحَاسَبُ بِهِ لاَ نَدْرِي مَا يُغْفَرُ مِنْهُ وَلاَ مَا لاَ يُغْفَرُ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ بَعْدَهَا فَنَسَخَتْهَا ( لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ).
Narrated Isra'il: From As-Suddi Who Said: "Someone Who Heard From 'Ali, Narrated About Him Saying: 'When This Ayah Was Revealed: "And Whether You Disclose What Is In Yourselves Or Conceal It, Allah Will Call You To Account For It. Then He Forgives Whom He Wills And He Punishes Whom He Wills (2:284).' - We Were Very Distressed About It.' He Said: 'We Said: "Something Occurs In Ourselves To One Of Us, And He Will Be Taken To Account For It, And We Do Not Know What Of It He Will Be Pardoned For, And What Of It He Will Not Be Pardoned For." So This Ayah Was Revealed: Allah Does Not Burden A Soul Beyond What It Can Bear, For It, Is What It Has Earned, And Against It, Is What It Has Wrought. (Its Meaning Is Recorded By Muslim, While The Chain For This Version Is Weak)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2990In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 42English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 2990
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2990
This report speaks about the verse, "Whether you disclose what is in yourselves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it." The narration says that this deeply saddened the companions because they feared being taken to account for things that occurred within themselves. Then the verse was revealed: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear; for it is what it has earned, and against it is what it has wrought." The translation also notes that the meaning is recorded by Muslim while the chain for this version is weak. Staying with the text, the main teaching is mercy and measured accountability. Allah's burden is not beyond a soul's capacity, and a person is linked to what he earns and does.
What we learn from this hadith
- The companions took accountability before Allah very seriously.
- The verse gives relief by stating that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
- A person is connected to what he earns and what he does.
- The report should be read with the chain note mentioned in the translation.
