Category: ~All

Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 56
Excellence of Simple Living and being Content with Little

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salat (the prayers) [i.e., made their Salat (prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times] and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell. Except those who repent and believe (in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)), and work righteousness. Such will enter Jannah and they will not be wronged in aught.” (19:59,60)

“So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: `Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given! Verily, he is the owner of a great fortune.’ But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: `Woe to you! The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds’.” (28:79,80)

“Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)!” (102:8)

“Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected (far away from Allah’s Mercy).” (17:18)

491. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The family of Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) never ate to the fill the bread of barley for two successive days until he died.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration is: `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: Never did the family of Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) eat to the fill, since their arrival to Al-Madinah, the bread of wheat for three successive nights until his death.

492. `Urwah from `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that she used to say to Urwah (May Allah be pleased with him): “O 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 a fire was not kindled in the house of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). “I (`Urwah) said, “O my aunt, what were your means of sustenance?” She said; “Dates and water. But it (so happened) that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had some Ansar neighbours who had milch animals. They used to send Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) some milk of their (animals) and he gave that to us to drink.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

493. Abu Sa`id Maqburi reported: Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said that he happened to pass by some people who had a roast lamb before them. They invited him, but he declined, saying: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) left the world without having eaten his fill with barley bread.”
[Al-Bukhari].

494. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) neither ate on a dining cloth, nor ate soft bread throughout his life.
[Al-Bukhari].

One narration adds: He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) never even saw a Samit lamb.

495. An-Nu`man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I have seen your Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he did not find enough of even the inferior quality of dates to eat and fill his belly.
[Muslim].

496. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had never seen bread made out of fine flour throughout his life, since Allah commissioned him until his death. He was asked, “Did you not have sieves at the time of the Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) never saw a sieve.” He was asked, “How did you manage to eat barley bread made of unsieved flour?” He said, ”We used to ground it and then blew away the husk, and what remained we kneaded into dough.”
[Al-Bukhari].

497. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) went out (of his house) one day, or one night, and there he met Abu Bakr and `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) also. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “What made you leave your houses at this hour?” They said, “It is hunger, O Messenger of Allah.”    He said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, what made you leave, made me also leave, so come along!” And he went along with them to a man from the Ansar, but they did not find him in his house. When the wife of that man saw the Prophet, she said, “You are most welcome.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to her, “Where is so-and-so?” She said, “He went to fetch some fresh water for us.” In the meantime, the Ansari came back, saw Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and his two companions and said: “Praise be to Allah, today no one has more honourable guests than I.” He then went out and brought them a bunch of date fruit, having dates, some still green, some ripe, and some fully ripe, and requested them to eat from it. He then took his knife (to slaughter a sheep). Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to him, “Do not kill a milch sheep.” So he slaughtered a sheep for them. After they had eaten and drunk to their fill, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to Abu Bakr and `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them), “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, you will certainly be questioned about this treat on the Day of Resurrection. Hunger brought you out of your homes, and you do not return to your homes till you have been blessed with this treat.”
[Muslim].

498. Khalid bin `Umar Al-`Adawi reported: `Utbah bin Ghazwan, the governor of Basrah, delivered a Khutbah. He praised Allah, glorified Him, then said: “Amma b`adu, verily, the world has been given the news of its end and is running to meet its end swiftly. Nothing is left out of it but a very little amount. Similar to the remainder in a dish whose owner is collecting it to drink; and you are going to move to an abode which knows no end, and you should proceed there with the good before you, for we have been informed (by the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) that a stone would be thrown at one side of the Hell and it would travel down for seventy years but would not reach its bottom. By Allah, it will be filled (with men and jinn). Do you find it strange? We have been informed (i.e., by the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) that the distance between two shutters of the gate of Jannah is forty years (distance). And a day would come when it would be fully packed; I was the seventh amongst the seven who had been with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), and we had nothing to eat but the leaves of the tree until the sides of our mouth were injured. We found a sheet which we tore into two and divided between myself and Sa`d bin Malik. I made the lower garment with half of it and so did Sa`d. Today, there is none amongst us who has not become the governor of a city, and I seek refuge with Allah that I should consider myself great while I am insignificant to Allah.”
[Muslim].

499. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) showed us a sheet and a thick lower garment and said to us Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was wearing them when he died.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

500. Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: By Allah, I am the first Arab who shot an arrow in the Cause of Allah. We fought along with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when our food was only the leaves of Hublah and Samur trees (wild trees) until one of us would defecate like the droppings of sheep.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

501. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to supplicate: “O Allah, make the provisions of family of Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) bare subsistence.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

502. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: By Allah other than Whom there is none worthy of worship, I used to press my stomach against the earth owing to my hunger; I would tie a stone over it. One day, I was sitting on the way they usually take when the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) passed by me. When he saw me he smiled at me and knew my condition and my feelings. He called me and I replied, “At your service, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Follow me.” So I followed him. Having arrived at home, he sought permission and entered. He allowed me in and I, too, entered. He found milk in a bowl and asked, “Where is this from?” He was told that it was a gift for him from so-and-so. He called me and I responded: “At your service, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Go to the people of As-Suffah and usher them in.” He Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) explained: The people of As-Suffah were guests of Islam; they had no family, no property and no relations. When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to receive something in charity, he would send it to them without taking anything from it. When he received a present, he would send for them and share it with them. On this occasion, I disliked to give them anything. I said to myself: “This meagre quantity of milk will not be enough for all the people of As-Suffah! I am more deserving of it than anyone else. By drinking it I may attain some strength. When they come, he will order me to give it to them. I do not expect that anything will be left for me from this milk.” As there was no alternative but to obey Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). I went and called them. They came and sought permission which was granted. They took their seats. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) called me and I responded, “At your service, O Messenger of Allah.” He then said, “Take the milk and give it to them.” I took the bowl and gave it to one man who drank his fill and returned it to me, and I gave it to the next and he did the same. I went on doing this till the bowl reached Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). By that time all had taken their fill. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) took the bowl, put it on his hand, looked at me, smiled and said, “Abu Hirr.” I said, “At your service, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Now you and I are left.’‘ I said, “That is true, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Sit down and drink.” I drank, but he went on saying, “Drink some more.” I said, “By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I have no room for it.” He said, “Then give it to me.’‘ So I gave him the bowl. He praised Allah, uttered the Name of Allah and drank the remainder.
[Al-Bukhari].

503. Muhammad bin Sirin (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “I would fall in swoon between the pulpit of (the mosque of) Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and the chamber of `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) and every passer-by would put his foot on my neck thinking I was insane. I was not insane but I was awfully hungry.”
[Al-Bukhari].

504. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) died, his armour was mortgaged with a Jew for thirty Sa` (measures) of barley.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

505. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) mortgaged his armour for a quantity of barley, and I took to him some barley bread and rancid fat. I heard him saying: “The family of Muhammad never possessed a measure of wheat from dawn to dusk although they were nine houses (to feed).”

[Al-Bukhari].

506. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw seventy of the people of As-Suffah and none of them had a cloak. They had either a lower cloth or a blanket which they suspended from their necks. Some reached half way down to the legs and some to the ankles, and one of them would manage to keep it in his hand to avoid exposing his private parts.
[Al-Bukhari].

507. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The mattress of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was a piece of tanned skin stuffed with palm fibres.
[Al-Bukhari].

508. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: We were once sitting in the company of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when a man from the Ansar came and greeted. As he was leaving, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to him, “O brother of the Ansar, how is my brother Sa`d bin `Ubadah?” He replied, “He is well.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked, “Which of you is desirous of visiting him?” Having said this he got up and we followed him. We were ten and odd in number and we had neither shoes nor light boots nor caps nor shirts. We walked on foot through the barren plain till we came to the residence of Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him). His people made way and Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) along with those who accompanied him went up to him.
[Muslim].

509. `Imran bin Husain (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best of you, are my contemporaries, then those who follow them, then those who will come after them. (`Imran said, I do not know if he said this twice or thrice). Then, they will be followed by those who will testify but will not be called upon to testify; they will betray the trust, and will not be trusted. They will make vows but will not fulfill them, and obesity will prevail among them.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

510. Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “O son of Adam, if you spend the surplus, it will be better for you; and if you retain it, it will be evil for you. You will not be reprimanded for storing what is enough for your need. First of all spend upon those who are your dependents.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

511. `Ubaidullah bin Mihsan Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whosoever begins the day feeling family security and good health; and possessing provision for his day is as though he possesed the whole world.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

512. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Successful is the one who enters the fold of Islam and is provided with sustenance which is sufficient for his day’s needs, and Allah makes him content with what He has bestowed upon him.”
[Muslim].

513. Fadalah bin `Ubaid Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) say: “Happiness is due to him who is guided to Islam and possesses provision that suffices him for his day and remains content.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

514. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) went to bed hungry for several successive nights, nor did his family have a thing for supper for many consecutive nights; and their bread was mostly of barley.
[At-Tirmidhi].

515. Fadalah bin `Ubaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) led Salat, some people would fall down from their standing posture out of extreme hunger. They were of the people of As-Suffah. The nomad Arabs would say that they were insane. After concluding Salat, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would turn to them and say, “If you were to know what is in store for you with Allah, the Exalted, you would wish to augment your starvation and lack of provisions.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

516. Miqdad bin Ma`dikarib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) say: “No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

517. Abu Umamah bin Tha`labah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Companions of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) mentioned the life of the world before him. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do you not hear? Do you not hear? Simplicity (in life) is part of Faith, simplicity is part of Faith.”
[Abu Dawud].

518. Jabir bin `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sent us in an expedition under the command of Abu `Ubaidah (May Allah be pleased with him) to intercept a caravan of the Quraish. He provided us with a bag of dates, apart from which he found nothing for us. Abu `Ubaidah (May Allah be pleased with him) gave each of us one date (every day). He (the narrator) was asked: “What did you do with that?” He said: We sucked that just like a baby and then drank water over that, and it was sufficient for us for the day until night. We beat off leaves with the help of our sticks, then drenched them with water and ate them. We then went to the seaside, when there appeared before us something like a big mound. We came near it and we found that it was a beast called Al-Anbar. Abu ‘Ubaidah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “It is dead (so it useless for us).” He then said: “No (but it does not matter), we have been sent by Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in the way of Allah and you are hard-pressed (on account of the scarcity of food), so you can eat that.” We, three hundred in number, stayed there for a month until we fattened up (having plenty to eat of that fish). He (Jabir) said: I saw how we extracted pitcher after pitcher full of fat from the cavity of its eye, and sliced from it compact piece of meat equal to a bull or almost like a bull. Abu ‘Ubaidah (May Allah be pleased with him) called thirteen men from us and he made them sit in the cavity of its eye, and he held one of its ribs and raised it erect and then saddled the biggest of the camels we had with us and it passed through it (the arched rib), and we carried large pieces of meat for use in our journey. When we came back to Al-Madinah we went to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and told him about that, whereupon he said, “That was a sustenance Allah had brought forth for you. Do you have any piece of meat left with you, for us to eat.” Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said: We sent to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) some of that (meat) and he ate it.
[Muslim].

519. Asma’ bint Yazid (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The sleeves of the shirt of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) reached his wrists.
[At-Tirmidhi].

520. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: On the day of the battle of Al-Khandaq (the Trench), we were digging the trench when a very hard boulder came in our way. The Companions went to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and told him about it. He said, “I will go down the trench to see it.” He stood up and it was noticed that he had tied a stone over his stomach due to intense hunger. We had not tasted anything for three days. He took up a spade and struck the hard rock with it and it turned into sand. I sought his permission to go home, (after reaching home I) said to my wife, “I have seen the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in a state that I am unable to endure. Have you got anything in the house?” She said, “I have a small quantity of barley and a lamb.” I slaughtered the lamb, ground the barley and put the meat in the cooking pot. Then I went to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). In the meantime the flour had been kneaded and the meat in the pot was nearly cooked. I said to him, “O Messenger of Allah, I have some food, will you come along with one or two Companions?” He asked, “How many men should go there?” I told him the number. He said, “It will be better if they are more in number. Tell your wife not to remove the pot from the hearth nor the bread from the oven till I arrive.” Then he said to the Muhajirun and the Ansar: “Let us go (to eat).”  They all rose (and went with him). I went to my wife and said, “Bless you, the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), the Muhajirun, the Ansar and the whole company are coming.” She said, “Did he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) ask you?” I replied in the affirmative. (When they arrived) Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to his Companions, “Enter, but do not crowd in.” Then he started breaking up the bread and putting meat on it. He would take from the pot and the oven then would cover them up, approach his Companions and hand it over to them. He would then go back and uncover the pot and the oven. He continued to break up the bread and put meat on it till all had eaten to their fill and still some of the food remained. Then he said to my wife, “Eat from it, and send it as a present, for the people have been afflicted with severe hunger.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Another narration is: Jabir said: When the trench was being dug, I noticed the signs of hunger on the face of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). I returned to my wife and said to her, “Have you got anything in the house? I have seen the signs of severe hunger on the face of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam).” She brought out a bag which contained a Sa` (a measure that equals approximately 3kg.) of barley. We had a lamb which was reared in the home. I slaughtered the lamb and she ground the flour for baking bread. I then cut the meat and put it in the cooking pot. When I was returning to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), my wife said to me, “Do not embarass me before Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions.” (She said this because she thought that the food would not be enough for everyone, for how can very little food cater for a thousand people?) When I came to him, I said to him in a low tone, “O Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), we have slaughtered a small lamb and have ground a Sa` of barley. Please accompany me with a few of your Companions.” Thereupon he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) announced in a loud voice, “O people of the Trench, Jabir has arranged a feast for you, so all of you are welcome.” And addressing me he said, “Do not take the pot off the fire, nor bake the kneaded flour till I arrive.” So I came home and he came ahead of the people. My wife said, “It will be a matter of disgrace for you (because there is not enough food).” I said, “I did only what you told me.” She brought out the kneaded flour and Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) spat into it, and invoked the blessing of Allah on  it, and then he spat into the cooking pot and invoked the blessing of Allah on it. Then he said, “Call another woman to help bake bread and let her take out from the cooking pot, but do not take it off the fire.” There were about a thousand guests. All of them ate till they left the food and went off. Our pot still bubbled as before and the dough was being baked as before.

521. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Abu Talhah (May Allah be pleased with him) said to (to his wife) Umm Sulaim(May Allah be pleased with her), “I noticed some weakness in the voice of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and I feel it was due to hunger. Have you got any food?” She said, “Yes.” So she brought out barley loaves, took off her head covering, in a part of which she wrapped these loaves and then put them beneath my mantle and covered me with a part of it. She then sent me to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). I set forth and found Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sitting in the mosque in the company of some people. I stood near them whereupon Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked, “Has Abu Talhah sent you?” I said, “Yes.” Thereupon he said to those who were with him to get up (and follow him). He went forth and so did I, ahead of them until I came to Abu Talhah and informed him. Abu Talhah said, “O Umm Sulaim, here comes Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) along with the people and we do not have enough (food) to feed them.” She said, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” Abu Talhah went out (to receive him) until he met Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), and he came forward along with him until they both (Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and Abu Talhah (May Allah be pleased with him) came in. Then Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “O Umm Sulaim, bring forth what you have with you.” So she brought the bread. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) commanded that the bread be broken into small pieces and after Umm Sulaim (May Allah be pleased with her) had squeezed clarified butter out of a butter container and made it just like soup. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) recited over it what Allah wished him to recite. He then said, “Allow ten guests to come in.” They ate until they had their fill. They then went out. He (Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) again said, “Allow ten (more to come in)”, and he (the host) ushered them in. They ate to their fill. Then they went out. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) again said, “Allow ten (more),” until all the people ate to their fill. They were seventy or eighty persons.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 Another narration is: Anas said: When all had eaten, the remaining food was collected. It was as much as there was in the beginning.

Yet another narration is: Anas said: The groups of ten people ate by turn. After eighty persons had eaten, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and the family of that house ate, and there was still a quantity left over.

Another narration is: Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I visited Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) one day, and found him sitting in the company of his Companions, with a belt tied over his waist. I asked, “Why has Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) tied the belt on his waist?” I was told, “Due to hunger.” I went to Abu Talhah (May Allah be pleased with him) the husband of Umm Sulaim (May Allah be pleased with her) and said, “O father, I have seen Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) with a belt tied over his waist. I asked one of his Companions about the reason of it and he said that it was on account of severe hunger.” Abu Talhah  (May Allah be pleased with him) went to my mother and asked, “Have you got anything?” She said, “Yes. I have a piece of bread and some dry dates. Were Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to come alone, we could feed him his fill, but if he comes along with others, there would not be enough food.” Anas then narrated the Hadith in full.

 

Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 55
Excellence of Leading an Ascetic Life, and Virtues of Simple Life

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Verily, the likeness of (this) worldly life is as the water (rain) which We send down from the sky; so by it arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle eat: until when the earth is clad in its adornments and is beautified, and its people think that they have all the powers of disposal over it, Our Command reaches it by night or by day and We make it like a clean-mown harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday! Thus, do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, laws, etc.) in detail for the people who reflect.” (10:24)

“And put forward to them the example of the life of this world: it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything. Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds that last, are better with your Rubb for rewards and better in respect of hope.” (18:45,46)

“Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It is) as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers-evildoers), and (there is) forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers-gooddoers). And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment”. (57:20).

“Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return (Jannah with flowing rivers) with Him.” (3:14).

“O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allah is true. So let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.” (35:5).

“The mutual rivalry (for piling up of worldly things) diverts you. Until you visit the graves (i.e., till you die). Nay! You shall come to know! Again nay! You shall come to know! Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge (the end result of piling up, you would not have been occupied yourselves in worldly things)”. (102:1-5).

“And this life of the world is only amusement and play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter is the real life if they but knew”.  (29:64).

457. `Amr bin `Auf Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sent Abu `Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) to Bahrain to collect (Jizyah). So he returned from Bahrain with wealth. The Ansar got news of it and joined with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in the Fajr prayer. When the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) concluded the prayer, they stood in his way. When he saw them, he smiled and said, “I think you have heard about the arrival of Abu `Ubaidah with something from Bahrain”. They said, “Yes! O Messenger of Allah!”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Rejoice and hope for that which will please you. By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be opened up with its wealth for you as it was opened to those before you; and you vie with one another over it as they did and eventually it will ruin you as it ruined them”.
[Muslim].

458. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sat on the pulpit and we sat around him. He said: “What I am concerned most is the flourishment and the beauty of this world will be available to you”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

459. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The world is sweet and green (alluring); and verily, Allah is making you to succeed each other, generations after generations in it in order to see how you act. So beware of this world  and beware of women”.
[Muslim].

460. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “O Allah, there is no true life but the life of the Hereafter”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

461. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Three (things) follow a dead person: Members of his family, his property and his deeds. Two of them return; and one remains with him. The people and his wealth return; his deeds remain with him”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

462. Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Among the inmates of Hell, a person who had led the most luxurious life in this world will be brought up on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Fire and will be asked: `O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you happen to get any luxury?’ He will reply: `By Allah, no, my Rubb.’ And then one of the people of Jannah who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world will be dipped in Jannah. Then he will be asked: `O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?’ He will say: “By Allah, no my Rubb, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship”.
[Muslim].

463. Al-Mustaurad bin Shaddad (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “This world (i.e., its pleasures and duration) in comparison with the Hereafter is (similar to the amount of water) one gets when he puts his finger in the sea. Let him then see what it returns with”.
[Muslim].

464. Jabir bin `Abdullah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was passing through the bazaar with his Companions on his both sides, when he saw a dead skinny lamb. He held its ear and said, “Who of you would like to have it for a dirham”. They replied, “We do not like to get it for nothing, and what shall we do with it?”. Then he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked, “Would you like to have it for nothing?”. They replied, “Had it been alive, it would have been defective because it is skinny; but when dead it is of no use”. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Truly, the world is more contemptible to Allah than this (the dead lamb) is to you”.
[Muslim].

465. Abu Dharr (May allah be pleased with him) reported: I was walking with the Prophet on the stony ground in Al-Madinah in the afternoon when Uhud Mount came into sight. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “O Abu Dharr!” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, here I am responding to you”. He said, “If I had as much gold as the weight of Uhud, it would not please me to have a single dinar out of it with me after the passage of three days, but I would hold back something for the repayment of a debt. I would distribute it among the slaves of Allah like this and like this and like this.” And he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) pointed in front of him, and on his right side and on his left side. We then walked a little further and he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The rich would be poor on the Day of  Resurrection, except he who spent like this and like this and like this,”. and he pointed as he did the first time. “But such persons are few”. Then he said, “Stay where you are till I come back to you”. He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) walked ahead a little further in the darkness of the night and disappeared from my sight. I heard a loud voice. I said (to myself): “The Messenger of Allah might have met (mishap or an enemy)”. I wished I could go after him but I remembered his commanding me to stay till he came back. So I waited for him; and when he came, I made mention of what I had heard. He asked, “Did you hear it?”. I said, “Yes”. Then he said, “It was Jibril (Gabriel), who came to me and said: `He who dies among your Ummah without having associated anything with Allah (in worship) will enter Jannah.’ I said: `Even if he committed illicit sexual intercourse or steals?’ He (Jibril) said: `Even if he has committed illicit sexual intercourse or steals”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

466. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “If I had gold equal to Mount Uhud (in weight), it would not please me to pass three nights and I have a thing of it left with me, except what I retain for repayment of a debt”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

467. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Look at those who are inferior to you and do not look at those who are superior to you, for this will keep you from belittling Allah’s Favour to you.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

This is the wording in Sahih Muslim. The narration in Al-Bukhari is: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)  said: “When one of you looks at someone who is superior to him in property and appearance, he should look at someone who is inferior to him”.

468. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with ihm) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “May he be miserable, the worshipper of the dinar and dirham, and the worshipper of the striped silk cloak. If he is given anything, he is satisfied; but if not, he is unsatisfied”.
[Al-Bukhari]

469. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw seventy of the people of the Suffah and none of them had a cloak. They had either a lower garment or a blanket which they suspended from their necks. Some (cloaks) reached halfway down to the legs and some to the ankles; and the man would manage to keep it in his hand to avoid exposing his private parts.
[Al-Bukhari].

470. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The world is the believer’s prison and the infidel’s Jannah”.
[Muslim].

471. `Abdullah bin `Umar (May allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) took hold of my shoulders and said, “Be in the world like a stranger or a wayfarer”.

Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) used to say: “When you survive till the evening, do not expect to live until the morning; and when you survive until the morning, do not expect to live until the evening; (do good deeds) when you are in good health before you fall sick, and (do good deeds) as long as you are alive before death strikes”.
[Al-Bukhari].

472. Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, guide me to such an action which, if I do Allah will love me and the people will also love me.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Have no desire for this world, Allah will love you; and have no desire for what people possess, and the people will love you.”
[Ibn Majah]

473. An-Nu`man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) spoke at length regarding the worldly prosperity that people had achieved and said: “I saw that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would pass his days in hunger and could not get even degraded dates to fill his stomach”.
[Muslim].

474. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) died when my house was void of any edible thing except for a small quantity of barley I had on a shelf and from which I kept eating it for a long time. Then when I measured what was left of it, it soon finished.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

475. `Amr bin Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with him) the brother of Juwairiyah (May Allah be pleased with her), the Mother of believers) reported: (When he died) Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) left neither a dinar nor a dirham nor a male slave nor a female slave, nor anything else except his white riding mule, his weapons and his land which he had given in charity to wayfarers.
[Al-Bukhari].

476. Al-Khabbab bin Al-Aratt (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We emigrated with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) seeking the pleasure of Allah and expecting our reward from Him. Some of us died without enjoying anything of it. Among them was Mus`ab bin `Umair (May Allah be pleased with him), who was killed in the battle of Uhud, leaving only a small coloured sheet of wool (which we used as his shroud). When we covered his head with it, his feet were exposed, and when we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered. So the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) told us to cover his head and to put some Idhkhir (i.e., fragrant grass) over his feet. Others among us enjoy prosperity.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

477. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Were this world worth a wing of mosquito, He would not have given a drink of water to an infidel.”

[At-Tirmidhi].

478. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily! The world is accursed and what it contains is accursed, except remembrance of Allah and those who associate themselves with Allah; and a learned man, and a learning person.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

479. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do not crave for property lest you should be absorbed in the desire of worldly life.”
[At-Tirmidhi]

480. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: We were repairing our thatchy hut when Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) passed by and asked us, “What are you doing?” We said, “The thatch had gone weak and we are repairing it.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I see the sure thing (death) approaching sooner than this.”
[Abu Dawud].

481. Ka`b bin `Iyad (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily, there is a Fitnah (trial) for every nation and the trial for my nation (or Ummah) is wealth.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

482. `Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There is no right for the son of adam except in these (four) things: A house to live in, a cloth to cover therewith his private parts, bread and water.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

483.  `Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) while he was reciting (Surat At-Takathur 102):

“The mutual rivalry (for hoarding worldly things) preoccupy you. Until you visit the graves (i.e., till you die). Nay! You shall come to know! Again nay! You shall come to know! Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge (the end result of hoarding, you would not have been occupied in worldly things). Verily, you shall see the blazing Fire (Hell)! And again, you shall see it with certainty of sight! Then (on that Day) you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)!” (102:1-8)

(After reciting) he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Son of adam says: `My wealth, my wealth.’ Do you own of your wealth other than what you eat and consume, and what you wear and wear out, or what you give in Sadaqah (charity) (to those who deserve it), and that what you will have in stock for yourself.”
[Muslim].

484. `Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I love you.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Think about what you are saying.” The man repeated thrice, “I swear by Allah that I love you.” He (Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “If you love me, you should be ready for acute poverty; because poverty comes to those who love me, faster than a flood flowing towards its destination.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

485. K`ab bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Two hungry wolves sent in the midst of a flock of sheep are no more destructive to them than a man’s greed for wealth and fame is to his Deen.”

[At-Tirmidhi]

486. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) slept on a straw mat and got up with the marks left by it on his body. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Messenger of Allah! Would that you make us spread out a soft bedding for you.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “What have I to do with the world? I am like a rider who had sat under a tree for its shade, then went away and left it.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

487. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The poor will enter Jannah five hundred years before the rich.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

488. Ibn `Abbas and `Imran bin Al-Husain (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I looked into Jannah and saw that most of its dwellers are the poor; and I looked into Hell and saw that most of its inmates were women.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

489. Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I stood at the gate of Jannah and saw that most of those who enter it were poor, whereas the rich were held back; but those who were destined to go to Hell were ordered to be sent there (immediately).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

490. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The most truthful statement a poet has ever made is the saying of Labid: Everything besides Allah is vain.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].