The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts

كتاب الزهد والرقائق

Mutarrif reported on the authority of his father

I came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as he was reciting:" Abundance diverts you" (cii. 1). He said: The son of Adam claims: My wealth, my wealth. And he (the Holy Prophet) said: O son of Adam. is there anything as your belonging except that which you consumed, which you utilised, or which you wore and then it was worn out or you gave as charity and sent it forward?

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

A servant says, My wealth. my wealth, but out of his wealth three things are only his: whatever he eats and makes use of or by means of which he dresses himself and it wears out or he gives as charity, and this is what he stored for himself (as a reward for the Hereafter), and what is beyond this (it is of no use to you) because you are to depart and leave it for other people.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri as reported by Yunus with a slight variation of wording.

Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said

When one of you looks at one who stands at a higher level than you in regard to wealth and physical structure he should also see one who stands at a lower level than you in regard to these things (in which he stands) at a higher level (as compared to him).

'Umair al-'Adawi reported

'Utba b. Ghazwan delivered us a sermon and he praised Allah and lauded Him, then said: Now coming to the point, verily the world has been given the news of its end and that too quite early. Nothing would be left out of it but only water left in the utensil which its owner leaves, and you are going to shift to an abode which knows no end, and you should shift with the good before you, for we have been told that a stone would be thrown at one side of the Hell and it would go down even for seventy years but would not be able to reach its bottom. By Allah, it would be fully packed. Do you find it something strange, and it has been mentioned that there yawns a distance which one would be able to cover in forty years from one end to another of Paradise, and a day would come when it would be fully packed and you must be knowing that I was the seventh amongst seven who had been with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and we had nothing to eat but the leaves of the tree until the corners of the mouth were injured. We found a sheet which we tore in two and divided between myself and Sa'd b. Malik. I made the lower garment with halt of it and so did Sa'd make the lower garment with half of it and today there is none amongst us who has not become the governor of a city from amongst the cities (of the Islamic Commonwealth) and I seek refuge with Allah that I should consider myself great whereas I am insignificant in the eye of Allah. Prophethood does not remain for ever and its impact fades with the result that it changes eventually into kingship, and you would soon come to know and experience those rulers who would come after us and see (how far they are from religion).

'Umara b. al-Qa'qa' reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters but instead of the word" qut" (bare subsistence) there has been used the word" Kafaf" (adequate means to meet the needs).

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Urwa with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are)

" We used to spend-" And he did not make a mention of the family of Muhammad (ﷺ), and Abu Kuraib made this addition to his hadith which was transmitted on the authority of Ibn Numair (and the words are):" But this that there was brought to us some meat."

'A'isha used to say to 'Urwa

Son of my sister, by Allah, I used to see the new moon, then the new moon, then the new moon, i. e. three moons in two months, and fire was not kindled in the house of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). I ('Urwa) said: Auntie, then what were your means of sustenance? She said: Dates and water. But it (so happened) that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had some Ansar as his neighbours and they had milch animals and they used to send to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) some milk of their (animals) and he served that to us.

'Urwa b. Zubair reported on the authority of 'A'isha, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), that she said

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) died (in a state) that it never happened that he could eat to his fill the bread with olive oil twice during a day.

Abu Hazim reported

I saw Abu Huraira point with his finger many a time and saying: By One in Whose Hand is the life of Abu Huraira, Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) could not eat to his fill and provide his family bread of wheat beyond three days successively until he left the world.

Chapter 1: The Prohibition Of Entering Upon The People Of Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract) Unless One Enters Weeping

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.

Chapter 2: The Virtue Of Treating Widows, The Poor And Orphans Kindly

Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said

One who looks after the orphan whether he is his relative or not, I and he would be together in Paradise like this, and Malik (explained it) with the gesture by drawing his index finger and middle finger close together.

Chapter 3: The Virtue Of Building Masajid

Abdullah al-Khaulani reported that when Uthman b. 'Affan tried to rebuild the mosque of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) the people began to talk about this. Uthman b. 'Affan said

You discuss it very much whereas I have heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who builds a mosque-- and the narrator Bukair said: I think he also said: (for) seeking the pleasure of Allah- Allah would build (a similar house for him in Paradise). and in the narration of Harun (the words are):" A house for him in Paradise."

Chapter 5: The Prohibition On Showing Off

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as stating that Allah the Most High and Exalted said

I am the One, One Who does not stand in need of a partner. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Me, I shall abandon him with one whom he associates with Allah.

Sufyan reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters and he made this addition

" I did not hear anyone saying besides him that it was Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who had said so."

Salama b. Kuhail reported

I heard from Jundub, but I did not hear him say this: "I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying this."

Chapter 6: Guarding The Tongue

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

The servant speaks words that he does not understand its repercussions but he sinks down in Hell-Fire farther than the distance between the east and the west.

Chapter 7: About The One Who Enjoins Good But Does Not Do It, And Forbids Evil But Does It

Abu Wa'il reported

I was in the company of Usama b. Zaid that a person said: What prevents you to visit Uthman and talk to him for what he does? The rest of the hadith is the same.

Chapter 8: The Prohibition Against Disclosing One's Own Sins

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

All the people of my Ummah would get pardon for their sins except those who publicise them. And (it means) that a servant should do a deed during the night and tell the people in the morning that he has done so and so, whereas Allah has concealed it. And he does a deed during the day and when it is night he tells the people, whereas Allah has concealed it. Zuhair has used the word hijar for publicising.

Chapter 9: Saying: "May Allah Have Mercy On You" To One Who Sneezes, And Yawning Is Disliked

The son of Abu Said al-Khudri reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said

When one of you yawns, he should keep his mouth shut with the help of his hand, for it is the devil that enters therein.