Hadith Text & Reference

"The poor Muslims are admitted into Paradise before their rich by half a day. And that is five hundred years."

Source: Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Chapters On Zuhd, Hadith: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2354

Meaning & Context

This hadith highlights the spiritual virtue and elevated status of the poor believers (fuqara al-mu'minin) who patiently endure their worldly circumstances while maintaining sincere faith and righteous deeds.

The "half day" refers to the measurement of time in the Hereafter, where one day equals a thousand years of worldly reckoning, as mentioned in the Quran (22:47). Thus, half a day in the Hereafter translates to five hundred earthly years.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam at-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan gharib (good but reported through limited chains). Scholars explain that this precedence applies to those poor Muslims who thank Allah for their state and avoid unlawful means of sustenance, while the delayed entry applies to wealthy Muslims who fulfill their financial obligations to Allah.

The delay is not a punishment but rather reflects the additional accountability and tests the wealthy face regarding their wealth - whether they paid zakat, avoided extravagance, and used their resources in obedience to Allah.

This temporal difference demonstrates how worldly conditions inversely correlate with spiritual rewards in many cases, encouraging contentment with divine decree and warning against attachment to worldly possessions.

Spiritual Lessons

Wealth is a trial that requires gratitude, purification through zakat, and lawful expenditure. Poverty, when borne with patience and contentment, becomes a means of spiritual elevation.

The believer should neither crave poverty nor excessively chase wealth, but rather seek the state most conducive to their obedience to Allah and preparation for the Hereafter.

This hadith offers immense consolation to the financially struggling believers while reminding the wealthy of their greater responsibility and accountability before Allah.