49/55. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3854 — Hidden Piety of Al-Bara bin Malik
The Virtues Of Al-Bara Bin Malik, May Allah Be Pleased With Him
Hadith About Hidden Piety and Al-Bara bin Malik
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3854
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3854
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي زِيَادٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَيَّارٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " كَمْ مِنْ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ ذِي طِمْرَيْنِ لاَ يُؤْبَهُ لَهُ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ لأَبَرَّهُ مِنْهُمُ الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "How Many Are There With Dishevelled Hair, Covered With Dust, Possessing Two Cloths, Whom No One Pays Any Mind To - If He Swears By Allah Then He Shall Fulfill It. Among Them Is Al-Bara Bin Malik."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3854In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 254English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3854
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3854
This hadith about hidden piety teaches that outward appearance does not always show a person’s rank with Allah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spoke of people with dishevelled hair, covered with dust, wearing two cloths, and not given much attention by others. Yet if such a person swears by Allah, Allah fulfills it. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Al-Bara bin Malik was among them. The hadith does not praise wealth, clothing, or social status. It points to a kind of servant whom people may ignore, while Allah gives him honor. For searches like Al-Bara bin Malik hadith or disheveled dusty man hadith, the core message is that true worth is not judged by looks.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person ignored by people may still have honor with Allah.
- Outward appearance alone is not a safe measure of piety.
- Al-Bara bin Malik is named among those with a special standing in this report.
