Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3367

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

Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us: Safwan ibn ‘Isa narrated to us: al-Harith ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Dhi’bab narrated to us, from Sa‘id ibn Abi Sa‘id al-Maqburi, from Abu Hurayrah, who said that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘When Allah created Adam and breathed the spirit into him, Adam sneezed and said, “Praise belongs to Allah.” Thus, by Allah’s permission, he praised Allah. His Lord said to him, “May Allah have mercy on you, Adam. Go to that group of angels sitting there and say, ‘Peace be upon you.’” He went and said, “Peace be upon you.” They replied, “And upon you be peace and Allah’s mercy.” Then he returned to his Lord, who said, “This is your greeting and the greeting your descendants will exchange among themselves.”’

He said: ‘Allah’s two hands were closed, and He said to Adam, “Choose whichever of them you wish.” Adam said, “I choose my Lord’s right hand; both of my Lord’s hands are right and blessed.” Then He opened it, and there were Adam and his descendants in it. Adam said, “My Lord, who are these?” He said, “These are your descendants.” Every person’s lifespan was written between his eyes. Among them was a man who was the brightest of them—or one of the brightest. Adam said, “My Lord, who is this?” He said, “This is your son Dawud. I have written forty years for him.” Adam said, “My Lord, increase his lifespan.” He said, “That is what I have written for him.” Adam said, “My Lord, I give him sixty years of my own lifespan.” He said, “That is yours to give.”’”

He said: ‘Then Adam dwelt in Paradise for as long as Allah willed, and afterward he was sent down from it. Adam began counting his own years. The Angel of Death came to him, and Adam said, “You have come too soon; a thousand years were written for me.” He said, “Indeed, but you gave sixty years to your son Dawud.” Adam denied it, and so did his descendants; he forgot, and so did his descendants. From that day onward, writing and witnesses were prescribed.’ Abu ‘Isa said: This hadith is hasan gharib by this route. It has also been transmitted by other routes from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet, through Zayd ibn Aslam, from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah.