Beginning of Creation - Sahih al-Bukhari 3244

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah said, 'I have prepared for My Pious slaves things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being.' If you wish, you can recite this Verse from the Holy Qur'an: 'No soul knows what is kept hidden for them, of joy as a reward for what they used to do.' (32:17)"

Commentary on the Divine Promise

This sacred hadith qudsi reveals the unimaginable magnitude of divine reward awaiting the righteous believers in Paradise. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) transmits Allah's direct speech, emphasizing the absolute transcendence of heavenly blessings.

The formulation "never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being" demonstrates the complete inadequacy of worldly experience to comprehend celestial realities. Human faculties, limited by temporal existence, cannot grasp the eternal delights prepared for the muttaqeen (God-conscious ones).

Qur'anic Corroboration

The Prophet's reference to Surah As-Sajdah, verse 17 establishes the perfect harmony between divine revelation (Qur'an) and prophetic tradition (Sunnah). This verse confirms that the knowledge of these hidden rewards is exclusively with Allah, reinforcing the theme of divine transcendence and the limitations of human comprehension.

Spiritual Implications

This narration serves as profound motivation for spiritual striving (mujahadah). The indefinite nature of the promised reward stimulates the believer's imagination while maintaining proper theological boundaries - we know of its excellence without claiming comprehension of its essence.

The conditional phrasing "If you wish" demonstrates the Prophet's pedagogical wisdom, allowing companions to voluntarily connect the hadith with its Qur'anic counterpart, thereby deepening their understanding through active engagement with revelation.