Forty Hadith Qudsi

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

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

When Allah had decreed creation, He wrote in His Book, which is with Him: ‘My mercy prevails over My wrath.’

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by al-Bukhari, al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

Allah, Exalted is He, said: ‘The son of Adam denied Me, though he had no right to do so, and reviled Me, though he had no right to do so. As for his denying Me, it is his saying, “He will never bring me back as He began me”; yet the first creation is no easier for Me than bringing him back. As for his reviling Me, it is his saying, “Allah has taken a child,” while I am the One, the Self-Sufficient Master. I beget not, nor was I begotten, and none is comparable to Me.’

It was related by al-Bukhari (and likewise by al-Nasa’i).

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

Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) led the dawn prayer for us at al-Hudaybiyyah after rain had fallen during the night. When the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) had finished, he turned to the people and said to them, ‘Do you know what your Lord said?’ They replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘This morning, one of My servants believes in Me and one disbelieves. As for the one who says, “We have been given rain by Allah’s bounty and mercy,” that one believes in Me and disbelieves in the celestial body. As for the one who says, “We have been given rain by the setting of such-and-such a star,” that one disbelieves in Me and believes in the celestial body.’

It was related by al-Bukhari (and likewise by Malik and al-Nasa’i).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

Allah said: ‘The children of Adam speak abusively of Time, while I am Time; the night and the day are in My hand.’

It was related by al-Bukhari (and likewise by Muslim).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: ‘I am the least in need of partners in association. Whoever performs a deed in which he associates someone else with Me, I leave him and his association.’

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by Ibn Majah).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) say:

The first person to be judged on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who was martyred. He will be brought, and He will make known to him His blessings, which he will acknowledge. He will ask, ‘What did you do with them?’ He will reply, ‘I fought for Your sake until I was martyred.’ He will say, ‘You lie. Rather, you fought so that it would be said, “He is courageous,” and it was said.’ Then he will be ordered, dragged on his face, and cast into the Fire. Then a man who learned and taught knowledge and recited the Quran will be brought. He will be shown His blessings and acknowledge them. He will ask, ‘What did you do with them?’ He will reply, ‘I learned knowledge, taught it, and recited the Quran for Your sake.’ He will say, ‘You lie. Rather, you learned knowledge so that it would be said, “He is a scholar,” and you recited the Quran so that it would be said, “He is a reciter,” and it was said.’ Then he will be ordered, dragged on his face, and cast into the Fire. Then a man whom Allah had made prosperous and given every kind of wealth will be brought. He will be shown His blessings and acknowledge them. He will ask, ‘What did you do with them?’ He will reply, ‘I left no way in which You love wealth to be spent without spending it for Your sake.’ He will say, ‘You lie. Rather, you did it so that it would be said, “He is generous,” and it was said.’ Then he will be ordered, dragged on his face, and cast into the Fire.

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasa’i).

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

Uqbah ibn Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) say:

Your Lord marvels at a shepherd tending sheep on a rocky mountain peak, who calls to prayer and prays. Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, says: ‘Look at this servant of Mine: he calls to prayer and establishes the prayer, fearing Me. I have forgiven My servant and admitted him to Paradise.’

It was related by al-Nasa’i with an authentic chain.

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace):

‘Whoever performs a prayer without reciting the Opening of the Book in it, it is deficient—three times over—and incomplete.’ Abu Hurayrah was asked, ‘We are behind the imam.’ He said, ‘Recite it quietly to yourself, for I heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) say: Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, said: “I have divided the prayer between Me and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he asks for. When the servant says, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds,’ Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’ When he says, ‘The Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful,’ Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, says, ‘My servant has extolled Me.’ When he says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me’—and on one occasion He said, ‘My servant has entrusted [his affair] to Me.’ When he says, ‘You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help,’ He says, ‘This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.’ When he says, ‘Guide us to the straight path, the path of those You have blessed, not those who have incurred anger, nor those who are astray,’ He says, ‘This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.’”’

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by Malik, al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

‘The first of a servant’s deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection is his prayer. If it is sound, he has prospered and succeeded; but if it is corrupt, he has failed and lost. If anything is lacking from his obligatory prayer, the Lord, Might and Majesty belong to Him, will say, “See whether My servant has any voluntary prayers with which to complete what is lacking from his obligatory prayer.” Then the rest of his deeds will be treated in the same way.’

It was related by al-Tirmidhi (and likewise by Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), who said that Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, says:

‘Fasting is for Me, and I reward for it. He gives up his desire, his food, and his drink for My sake. Fasting is a shield, and the fasting person has two joys: joy when he breaks his fast and joy when he meets his Lord. The odor of the fasting person’s mouth is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk.’

It was related by al-Bukhari (and likewise by Muslim, Malik, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that Allah said:

‘Spend, O son of Adam, and I will spend on you.’

It was related by al-Bukhari (and likewise by Muslim).

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

Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

‘A man from among those before you was called to account, and no good was found for him except that he used to deal with people. He was well-off and would instruct his servants to give respite to the one in hardship. He said—Allah said: “We have more right to do that than you. Give him respite.”’

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by al-Bukhari and al-Nasa’i).

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

Adi ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

I was with the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) when two men came to him. One complained of poverty, and the other complained of banditry. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘As for banditry, it will not affect you for long, until a caravan travels to Mecca without a guard. As for poverty, the Hour will not come until one of you goes around with his charity and finds no one to accept it from him. Then each of you will surely stand before Allah, with no screen between him and Allah and no interpreter to interpret for him. He will say to him, “Did I not give you wealth?” He will reply, “Yes.” Then He will say, “Did I not send you a messenger?” He will reply, “Yes.” He will look to his right and see nothing but the Fire; then he will look to his left and see nothing but the Fire. So let each of you guard himself against the Fire, even with half a date; and if he has none, then with a good word.’

It was related by al-Bukhari.

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), who said:

Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has angels who travel about and are devoted to good. They seek out gatherings of remembrance. When they find a gathering in which Allah is remembered, they sit with those present, and some surround others with their wings until they fill the space between them and the lowest heaven. When they depart, they ascend to heaven. He said: Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, asks them, though He knows best about them, ‘Where have you come from?’ They say, ‘We have come from some servants of Yours on earth who glorify You, proclaim Your greatness, declare Your oneness, praise You, and ask of You.’ He asks, ‘What do they ask of Me?’ They say, ‘They ask You for Your Paradise.’ He asks, ‘Have they seen My Paradise?’ They say, ‘No, Lord.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they had seen My Paradise?’ They say, ‘They seek Your protection.’ He asks, ‘From what do they seek My protection?’ They say, ‘From Your Fire, Lord.’ He asks, ‘Have they seen My Fire?’ They say, ‘No.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they had seen My Fire?’ They say, ‘They ask Your forgiveness.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven them, given them what they asked for, and granted them refuge from that against which they sought refuge.’ They say, ‘Lord, among them is so-and-so, a servant who commits many sins; he merely passed by and sat with them.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven him too. They are the people whose companion will not be wretched.’

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by al-Bukhari, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nasa’i).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that Allah, Exalted is He, says:

‘I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me within himself, I remember him within Myself; if he remembers Me in an assembly, I remember him in a better assembly. If he draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near to him by a forearm’s length; if he draws near to Me by a forearm’s length, I draw near to him by a fathom. If he comes to Me walking, I come to him at a quick pace.’

It was related by al-Bukhari (and likewise by Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah).

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

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), in what he relates from his Lord, Might and Majesty belong to Him, who said:

‘Allah has recorded good deeds and bad deeds, then made that clear: Whoever intends a good deed but does not do it, Allah records it with Him as one complete good deed. If he intends it and then does it, Allah records it with Him as ten good deeds, up to seven hundredfold, and many times more. Whoever intends a bad deed but does not do it, Allah records it with Him as one complete good deed. If he intends it and then does it, Allah records it as one bad deed.’

It was related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

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

Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), in what he relates from his Lord, Might and Majesty belong to Him, who said:

‘My servants, I have forbidden injustice to Myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not wrong one another. My servants, all of you are astray except those whom I guide, so seek guidance from Me and I will guide you. My servants, all of you are hungry except those whom I feed, so ask Me for food and I will feed you. My servants, all of you are unclothed except those whom I clothe, so ask Me for clothing and I will clothe you. My servants, you sin by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek My forgiveness and I will forgive you. My servants, you can never attain causing Me harm, nor can you attain bringing Me benefit. My servants, if the first and last of you, the humans and jinn among you, were all as devout as the most devout heart of one man among you, that would add nothing to My dominion. My servants, if the first and last of you, the humans and jinn among you, were all as wicked as the most wicked heart of one man among you, that would diminish nothing from My dominion. My servants, if the first and last of you, the humans and jinn among you, stood together on one plain and asked Me, and I gave each one what he asked for, that would diminish what I possess only as much as a needle diminishes the sea when it is dipped into it. My servants, these are only your deeds: I count them for you, then repay you for them. Whoever finds good, let him praise Allah; and whoever finds otherwise, let him blame no one but himself.’

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah).

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, will say on the Day of Resurrection:

‘O son of Adam, I was ill, but you did not visit Me.’ He will say, ‘Lord, how could I visit You when You are the Lord of all worlds?’ He will say, ‘Did you not know that My servant so-and-so was ill, but you did not visit him? Had you visited him, you would have found Me with him. O son of Adam, I asked you for food, but you did not feed Me.’ He will say, ‘Lord, how could I feed You when You are the Lord of all worlds?’ He will say, ‘Did you not know that My servant so-and-so asked you for food, but you did not feed him? Had you fed him, you would have found that with Me. O son of Adam, I asked you for a drink, but you did not give Me a drink.’ He will say, ‘Lord, how could I give You a drink when You are the Lord of all worlds?’ He will say, ‘My servant so-and-so asked you for a drink, but you did not give him one. Had you given him a drink, you would have found that with Me.’’

It was related by Muslim.

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that Allah, Might and Majesty belong to Him, said:

‘Grandeur is My cloak, and greatness is My lower garment. Whoever contends with Me over either of them, I will cast into the Fire.’

It was related by Abu Dawud (and likewise by Ibn Majah and Ahmad) with sound chains.

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

‘The gates of Paradise are opened on Monday and Thursday, and every servant who associates nothing with Allah is forgiven, except a man who has enmity with his brother. It is said, “Give these two respite until they reconcile; give these two respite until they reconcile; give these two respite until they reconcile.”’

It was related by Muslim (and likewise by Malik and Abu Dawud).