Chapter 55 - Excellence of Leading an Ascetic Life, and Virtues of Simple Life

Uthman bin `Affan reported: The Prophet said,

 "There is no right for the son of Adam except in these (four) things: A house to live in, a cloth to cover therewith his private parts, bread and water.'' [At-Tirmidhi].

Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir reported: I came to the Prophet while he was reciting (Surat At-Takathur 102):

"The mutual rivalry (for hoarding worldly things) preoccupy you. Until you visit the graves (i.e., till you die). Nay! You shall come to know! Again nay! You shall come to know! Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge (the end result of hoarding, you would not have been occupied in worldly things). Verily, you shall see the blazing Fire (Hell)! And again, you shall see it with certainty of sight! Then (on that Day) you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)!'' (102:1-8)

(After reciting) he said,

"The Son of Adam says: `My wealth, my wealth.' Do you own of your wealth other than what you eat and consume, and what you wear and wear out, or what you give in Sadaqah (charity) (to those who deserve it), and that what you will have in stock for yourself.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: This Hadith enjoins that if a person is given wealth, he should spend it in the ways liked by Allah because it is this Sadaqah which will be a valuable treasure in the Afterlife. Whatever else he consumes in this world, will finish or rot in this world and will be of no avail in Hereafter.

Abdullah bin Mughaffal reported: A man came to the Prophet and said, "O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I love you.'' He said,

"Think about what you are saying.''  

The man repeated thrice, "I swear by Allah that I love you.'' He (Prophet ) said,

"If you love me, you should be ready for acute poverty; because poverty comes to those who love me, faster than a flood flowing towards its destination.''  [At-Tirmidhi].

K`ab bin Malik reported: Messenger of Allah said,

"Two hungry wolves sent in the midst of a flock of sheep are no more destructive to them than a man's greed for wealth and fame is to his Deen.'' [At-Tirmidhi]


Commentary: The havoc played by wealth, rank and position, which have been mentioned in this Hadith, can be seen everywhere today. Even some `Ulama' and self-proclaimed pious men have a craze for these things and they have not been able to save themselves from the ruin caused by it. May Allah save us from these evils. Greed for wealth and fame are doubtless detrimental to religion as preference of the life of the world over religion is explicit in such a trivial pursuit.

`Abdullah bin Mas`ud reported: The Messenger of Allah slept on a straw mat and got up with the marks left by it on his body. Ibn Mas`ud said, "O Messenger of Allah! Would that you make us spread out a soft bedding for you.'' He replied,

 "What have I to do with the world? I am like a rider who had sat under a tree for its shade, then went away and left it.'' [At-Tirmidhi].


Commentary: Beside mentioning the piety of the Prophet , this Hadith tells in a very eloquent manner the reality of this world by means of an example.

Abu Hurairah reported: Messenger of Allah said,

"The poor will enter Jannah five hundred years before the rich.'' [At-Tirmidhi].


Commentary: Al-Fuqara' (the poor) means those Fuqara' who are perfect in Faith. Such people will go to Jannah five hundred years before the rich because the latter will have to account for their wealth, from where they had got it and how they had spent it, while the former will not be answerable for any such thing.

Ibn `Abbas and `Imran bin Al-Husain (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) reported: The Prophet said,

"I looked into Jannah and saw that most of its dwellers are the poor; and I looked into Hell and saw that most of its inmates were women.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: The Prophet had observed Jannah and Hell either on the eve of Mi`raj (Ascension to heavens), or of Salat-ul-Kusuf (Eclipse prayer) in which he was shown Jannah and Hell. A large majority of Fuqara' will go to Jannah. The rich people do not attach much importance to the requirements of faith and its practice.

The reason women are the majority in Hell is because they are given to taunts and curses and are ungrateful to their husbands. The Hadith urges women to try to overcome these serious defects in order to be saved from the Hell-fire.

Usamah bin Zaid (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) reported: The Prophet said,

"I stood at the gate of Jannah and saw that most of those who enter it were poor, whereas the rich were held back; but those who were destined to go to Hell were ordered to be sent there (immediately).'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah reported: The Prophet said,

"The most truthful statement a poet has ever made is the saying of Labid: Everything besides Allah is vain.''  [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].



Commentary:

1. We learn from this Hadith that to compose, recite and quote good verses, as evidence, is permissible.
2. The Verse of Labid, quoted in this Hadith, is the same effect as the verdict of the Noble Qur'an: "Whatsoever is on (the earth) will perish." (55:26). This Verse accepts the eternity of the Afterlife and the transitory nature of this world.