Marketplaces And Entering Them Sunan Ibn Majah 2235

Sunan Ibn Majah 2235
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الضَّرِيرُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، مَوْلَى آلِ الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَدْخُلُ السُّوقَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَىٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ - كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ حَسَنَةٍ وَمَحَا عَنْهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ سَيِّئَةٍ وَبَنَى لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ ‏"
Translation
It was narrated from Salim bin 'Abdullah bin 'Umar, from his father, that his grandfather told that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Whoever says, when he enters the marketplace: 'La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa Huwa hayyun la yamutu, bi yadihil-khairu kulluhu, wa Huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadir (None has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone, with no partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and to Him is the praise, He gives life and gives death, and He is Ever-Living and does not die; in His Hand is all goodness and He is Able to do all things),' Allah will record for him one million good deeds, and will erase from him one million bad deeds, and will build for him a house in Paradise. "

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This profound hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah (2235) illuminates the immense spiritual potential embedded in the mundane act of entering a marketplace. The Prophet ﷺ teaches a specific dhikr that transforms a place often associated with heedlessness, worldly distraction, and even fraudulent transactions into a field for earning divine rewards. The central theme is the supremacy of Allah’s oneness (Tawhid) and the believer’s ability to sanctify every moment and location through conscious remembrance. The reward—one million good deeds, erasure of one million sins, and a house in Paradise—demonstrates Allah’s boundless generosity, especially for those who remember Him amidst the busiest and most distracting environments of daily life.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The marketplace (suq) in 7th-century Arabia was a hub of commerce, social interaction, and often idle talk, oath-taking, and disputes. The hadith is reported by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) and is classified as authentic (sahih) by scholars like Al-Albani. The phrase "La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu" affirms absolute monotheism, negating all partners. "Lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamdu" acknowledges Allah’s complete sovereignty and praise, while "yuhyi wa yumitu" highlights His power over life and death. The clause "wa Huwa hayyun la yamutu" emphasizes His eternal, self-subsisting life, contrasting with all creation. "Bi yadihil-khairu kulluhu" declares that all goodness is in His Hand alone, and "wa Huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadir" affirms His absolute omnipotence. Linguistically, the repetition and rhythmic structure aid memorization and deepen the spiritual impact, making the dhikr comprehensive—covering tawhid, divine attributes, and reliance upon Allah.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • Jurisprudential Benefit: This hadith establishes the recommendation (istihbab) of remembering Allah upon entering the marketplace, a practice agreed upon by the majority of scholars as a means of spiritual protection and reward.
  • Theological Principle: The dhikr encapsulates the essence of Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (oneness of worship) and Tawhid al-Asma wa Sifat (oneness of Allah’s names and attributes), affirming that all power, life, and goodness originate solely from Allah.
  • Ethical Behavioral Guidance: The hadith encourages mindfulness (muraqabah) in worldly settings, steering believers away from heedless transactions and fostering honesty, as the remembrance of Allah’s omnipotence naturally deters from sin.
"This dhikr is a fortress for the believer in a place where Shaytan is most active. The marketplace is a place of distraction, and remembering Allah there is a sign of true faith, as the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The most beloved of places to Allah are the mosques, and the most detested are the markets.' This supplication turns a detested place into a source of immense reward." — Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (commenting on similar narrations)

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

In modern life, the marketplace has expanded to include malls, online shopping platforms, and financial districts. The believer is encouraged to recite this dhikr upon entering any commercial space, whether physical or virtual, before beginning transactions. This practice instills a sense of accountability, reminding the Muslim that Allah is Ever-Living and witnesses all dealings. It purifies the intention, aligning business with worship, and serves as a shield against the spiritual harms of consumerism, greed, and unethical trade. Moreover, the promise of a house in Paradise motivates the believer to transform even the most worldly environments into opportunities for divine connection. By making this dhikr a habitual part of daily errands, one cultivates a state of constant remembrance (dhikr), fulfilling the Qur’anic command to remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down. This simple yet powerful practice elevates the mundane into the sublime, turning every trip to the store into a step toward Paradise.