The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A place in Paradise as small as a bow is better than all that on which the sun rises and sets (i.e. all the world)." He also said, "A single endeavor in Allah's Cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all that on which the sun rises and sets."
Exposition of the Hadith
This profound narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (2793) contains two distinct yet interconnected statements from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) regarding the immense value of Paradise and striving in Allah's path.
The Superiority of Paradise
The Prophet's declaration that "a place in Paradise as small as a bow" surpasses the entire earthly realm demonstrates the absolute insignificance of worldly pleasures compared to eternal bliss. The bow's measurement (qaws) refers to the distance between the archer's grip and the bowstring - an extremely small area.
Scholars explain that if the smallest portion of Paradise exceeds all worldly treasures combined, then the complete reward for believers is beyond human comprehension. This comparison aims to detach hearts from worldly attachments and direct them toward eternal abodes.
The Excellence of Jihad
The second statement elevates "a single endeavor in Allah's Cause" - whether in morning or afternoon - above the entire world. This encompasses all forms of striving: military jihad, seeking knowledge, enjoining good, forbidding evil, and spiritual struggle against one's desires.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani comments that the temporal specification ("afternoon or forenoon") emphasizes how even a brief, sincere effort in righteousness outweighs a lifetime of worldly accumulation. The hadith motivates believers to prioritize deeds with eternal rewards over temporary worldly gains.
Spiritual Implications
These teachings reorient the believer's value system, where Paradise becomes the ultimate measure of worth and striving in Allah's cause becomes the most valuable investment. The worldly life with all its splendor is merely a means to attain eternal success.
The repetition of "all that on which the sun rises and sets" reinforces the comprehensive nature of this comparison, leaving no doubt about the relative value of worldly possessions versus spiritual pursuits.