48/99.1. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3542 — Hope and Fear of Allah
"If The Believer Knew What Is With Allah Of Punishment..."
Hope and Fear in Allah’s Mercy and Punishment
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3542
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3542
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنَ الْعُقُوبَةِ مَا طَمِعَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَحَدٌ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْكَافِرُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ مَا قَنَطَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ أَحَدٌ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If The Believer Knew What Is With Allah Of Punishment, None Would Hope For Paradise, And If The Disbeliever Knew What Is With Allah Of Mercy, None Would Despair Of (Attaining) Paradise.”
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3542In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 173English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3542
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3542
This Hadith teaches balance. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that if the believer knew what is with Allah of punishment, no one would hope for Paradise. He also said that if the disbeliever knew what is with Allah of mercy, no one would despair of Paradise. The core topic is hope and fear. The Hadith does not tell a person to live only in fear, nor does it tell a person to feel safe from accountability. It shows that Allah’s punishment is serious, and Allah’s mercy is vast. A Muslim reading this Hadith about hope and fear should keep both meanings together: do not become careless, and do not fall into despair.
What we learn from this hadith
- A believer should not ignore Allah’s punishment.
- A person should not despair of Allah’s mercy.
- Healthy faith keeps hope and fear together.
