Mishkat al-Masabih 2268

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Hanzalah ibn al-Rabi‘ al-Usaydi reported: Abu Bakr met me and asked, ‘How are you, Hanzalah?’ I said, ‘Hanzalah has become a hypocrite.’ He exclaimed, ‘Glory be to God! What are you saying?’ I said, ‘When we are with the Messenger of God (peace be upon him), he reminds us of the Fire and Paradise as though we see them with our own eyes. When we leave him, we occupy ourselves with our wives, children, and livelihoods, and forget much.’ Abu Bakr said, ‘By God, we experience the same.’ So Abu Bakr and I went to the Messenger of God. I said, ‘Hanzalah has become a hypocrite, Messenger of God.’ He asked, ‘What is that?’ I said, ‘When we are with you, you remind us of the Fire and Paradise as though we see them with our own eyes. When we leave you, we occupy ourselves with our wives, children, and livelihoods, and forget much.’ The Messenger of God said, ‘By Him in whose hand is my soul, if you were to remain as you are with me and in remembrance, the angels would shake your hands on your beds and in your roads. But, Hanzalah, there is a time for this and a time for that.’ He repeated it three times. Muslim transmitted it. The Arabic source grades it sahih (al-Albani).