Mishkat al-Masabih
Mishkat al-Masabih 1251
وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " عَجِبَ رَبُّنَا مِنْ رَجُلَيْنِ رَجُلٌ ثَارَ عَنْ وِطَائِهِ وَلِحَافِهِ مِنْ بَيْنِ حِبِّهِ وَأَهْلِهِ إِلَى صَلَاتِهِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ: انْظُرُوا إِلَى عَبْدِي ثَارَ عَنْ فِرَاشِهِ وَوِطَائِهِ مِنْ بَيْنِ حِبِّهِ وَأَهْلِهِ إِلَى صَلَاتِهِ رَغْبَةً فِيمَا عِنْدِي وَشَفَقًا مِمَّا عِنْدِي وَرَجُلٌ غَزَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَانْهَزَمَ مَعَ أَصْحَابِهِ فَعَلِمَ مَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الِانْهِزَامِ وَمَا لَهُ فِي الرُّجُوعِ فَرَجَعَ حَتَّى هُرِيقَ دَمُهُ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ: انْظُرُوا إِلَى عَبْدِي رَجَعَ رَغْبَةً فِيمَا عِنْدِي وَشَفَقًا مِمَّا عِنْدِي حَتَّى هُرِيقَ دَمُهُ ". رَوَاهُ فِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abdullah ibn Masud reported that the Messenger of God said: Our Lord marvels at two men. One is a man who rises from his bedding, leaving his loved ones and family, to pray. God says to His angels: Look at My servant: he has risen from his bed and bedding, leaving his loved ones and family, to pray, longing for what is with Me and fearing what is with Me. The other is a man who goes out to fight in God’s cause and is routed along with his companions. Knowing the responsibility he bears for retreating and the reward he may gain by returning, he goes back until his blood is shed. God says to His angels: Look at My servant: he returned, longing for what is with Me and fearing what is with Me, until his blood was shed. It was transmitted in Sharh al-Sunna.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
عَجِبَ رَبُّنَا مِنْ رَجُلَيْنِ
The Arabic verb عجب can be rendered marvels or is amazed, while the witness uses is pleased.
Should the direct rendering marvels be retained, or should an interpretive rendering such as is pleased be preferred?