47/40. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3240 — Allah’s Power Over Creation
Regarding Surat Az-Zumar
Hadith About Allah’s Power Over Creation
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3240
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3240
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّلْتِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُدَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ يَهُودِيٌّ بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا يَهُودِيُّ حَدِّثْنَا " . فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَقُولُ يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ إِذَا وَضَعَ اللَّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ عَلَى ذِهْ وَالأَرَضِينَ عَلَى ذِهْ وَالْمَاءَ عَلَى ذِهْ وَالْجِبَالَ عَلَى ذِهْ وَسَائِرَ الْخَلْقِ عَلَى ذِهْ . وَأَشَارَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّلْتِ بِخِنْصَرِهِ أَوَّلاً ثُمَّ تَابَعَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ الإِبْهَامَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ : (وما قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ ) . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ صَحِيحٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ . وَأَبُو كُدَيْنَةَ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ الْمُهَلَّبِ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ شُجَاعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الصَّلْتِ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
A Jew Passed By The Prophet (ﷺ), So The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: 'O You Jew! Narrate Something To Us.' So He Said: 'What Shall You Say O Abul-Qasim, When Allah Places The Heavens Upon This, The Earths Upon This, The Water Upon This, The Mountains Upon This, And The Rest Of Creation Upon This?'" - Muhammad Bin As-Salt, Abu Ja'Far (One Of The Narrators) Indicated First With His Little Finger, Then Followed One By One Until He Reached His Index Finger -"So Allah, The Mighty And Sublime Revealed: They Made Not A Just Estimate Of Allah Such As Is Due To Him (39:67)."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3240In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 292English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3240
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3240
This hadith about Allah’s power over creation reports that a Jew passed by the Prophet, and the Prophet asked him to narrate something. The man spoke about Allah placing the heavens, earths, water, mountains, and the rest of creation upon different fingers. One narrator indicated the fingers one by one. The narration then says Allah revealed the verse: they made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. The core topic is Allah’s greatness and the weakness of people’s estimate of Him. The explanation should stay close to the wording and not add descriptions beyond the hadith. It is a reminder that all creation is under Allah’s command.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith points to Allah’s power over the heavens, earths, water, mountains, and creation.
- The narration is linked to the verse about not estimating Allah rightly.
- The Prophet asked the Jew to narrate something, and the statement led to revelation.
- The hadith should be handled with careful wording and without extra claims.
