It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever."'

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ - يَعْنِى الدَّرَاوَرْدِىَّ - عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ ».

It was narrated from Jabir bin 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) passed through the marketplace, coming in from part of Al-'Aliyah, and the people were around him. He passed by a dead lamb with very small ears, and he took hold of its ear and said: "Who among you would like to have this for a Dirham?" They said: "We would not like to have it for anything; what would we do with it?" He said: "Would you like to own it?" They said: "By Allah, even if it were alive, it has a defect because its ears are too small, so how about if it is dead?" He said: "By Allah, this world is more insignificant to Allah than this is to you."

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ - يَعْنِى ابْنَ بِلاَلٍ - عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- مَرَّ بِالسُّوقِ دَاخِلاً مِنْ بَعْضِ الْعَالِيَةِ وَالنَّاسُ كَنَفَتَهُ فَمَرَّ بِجَدْىٍ أَسَكَّ مَيِّتٍ فَتَنَاوَلَهُ فَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ « أَيُّكُمْ يُحِبُّ أَنَّ هَذَا لَهُ بِدِرْهَمٍ ». فَقَالُوا مَا نُحِبُّ أَنَّهُ لَنَا بِشَىْءٍ وَمَا نَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ « أَتُحِبُّونَ أَنَّهُ لَكُمْ ». قَالُوا وَاللَّهِ لَوْ كَانَ حَيًّا كَانَ عَيْبًا فِيهِ لأَنَّهُ أَسَكُّ فَكَيْفَ وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ فَقَالَ « فَوَاللَّهِ لَلدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذَا عَلَيْكُمْ ».

It was narrated from Muttarrif that his father said: "I came to the Prophet (s.a.w) when he was reciting: "The mutual rivalry (for piling up of worldly things) diverts you", and he said: "The son of Adam says: 'My wealth, my wealth.' He said: 'O son of Adam, do you have anything of your wealth but that which you consume and use up, or you wear and it wears out, or you give it in charity and send it forward?"'

حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَهُوَ يَقْرَأُ (أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ) قَالَ « يَقُولُ ابْنُ آدَمَ مَالِى مَالِى - قَالَ - وَهَلْ لَكَ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ مِنْ مَالِكَ إِلاَّ مَا أَكَلْتَ فَأَفْنَيْتَ أَوْ لَبِسْتَ فَأَبْلَيْتَ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْتَ فَأَمْضَيْتَ ».

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "A man says: 'My wealth, my wealth,' but all he has of his wealth is three things: what he consumes and it is used up, what he wears and it wears out, and what he gives and it is stored up. As for everything else, he will depart and leave it for other people."

حَدَّثَنِى سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « يَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ مَالِى مَالِى إِنَّمَا لَهُ مِنْ مَالِهِ ثَلاَثٌ مَا أَكَلَ فَأَفْنَى أَوْ لَبِسَ فَأَبْلَى أَوْ أَعْطَى فَاقْتَنَى وَمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ ذَاهِبٌ وَتَارِكُهُ لِلنَّاسِ ».

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Abi Bakr said: "I heard Anas bin Malik say: 'Three things follow the deceased; two of them return and one remains. He is followed by his family, his wealth and his deeds. Then his family and his wealth return and his deeds remain (with him).'"

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِىُّ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِى بَكْرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « يَتْبَعُ الْمَيِّتَ ثَلاَثَةٌ فَيَرْجِعُ اثْنَانِ وَيَبْقَى وَاحِدٌ يَتْبَعُهُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعَمَلُهُ فَيَرْجِعُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَيَبْقَى عَمَلُهُ ».

It was narrated that 'Amr bin 'Awf - who was the ally of Banu 'Amir bin Lu'ayy, and was present at (the battle of) Badr with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) - said that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) sent Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah to Bahrain to bring the Jizyah, as the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) had made a peace treaty with the people of Bahrain, and he appointed Al-'Ala' bin Al-Hadrami as their governor. Abu 'Ubaidah brought wealth from Bahrain, and the Ansar heard that Abu 'Ubaidah had arrived. They prayed Fajr with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and when the Messenger (s.a.w) of Allah finished his prayer, they came to him. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) smiled when he saw them, then he said: "I think you have heard that Abu 'Ubaidah has brought something from Bahrain." They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Be of good cheer, and be hopeful of that which will make you happy. By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, rather what I fear for you is that worldly riches may be given to you as they were given to those who came before you, and you will compete for them with one another as they competed with one another, and you will be destroyed as they were destroyed."

حَدَّثَنِى حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ - يَعْنِى ابْنَ حَرْمَلَةَ بْنِ عِمْرَانَ التُّجِيبِىَّ - أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِى يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ الْمِسْوَرَ بْنَ مَخْرَمَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ عَوْفٍ وَهُوَ حَلِيفُ بَنِى عَامِرِ بْنِ لُؤَىٍّ وَكَانَ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- بَعَثَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاحِ إِلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَأْتِى بِجِزْيَتِهَا وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- هُوَ صَالَحَ أَهْلَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَلاَءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِىِّ فَقَدِمَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِمَالٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ فَسَمِعَتِ الأَنْصَارُ بِقُدُومِ أَبِى عُبَيْدَةَ فَوَافَوْا صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- انْصَرَفَ فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهُ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- حِينَ رَآهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ « أَظُنُّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ أَنَّ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ قَدِمَ بِشَىْءٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ ». فَقَالُوا أَجَلْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ « « فَأَبْشِرُوا وَأَمِّلُوا مَا يَسُرُّكُمْ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا الْفَقْرَ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ. وَلَكِنِّى أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُبْسَطَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا بُسِطَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَتَنَافَسُوهَا كَمَا تَنَافَسُوهَا وَتُهْلِكَكُمْ كَمَا أَهْلَكَتْهُمْ ».

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "When you prevail over the Persians and Byzantines, how will you be, O people?" 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Amr said: "We will say what Allah has commanded us." The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Or will you say something other than that. You will compete with one another, then feel jealous of one another, then forsake one another, then bear enmity against one another, and the like, then you will go to the poor among the Muhajirin and appoint some of them as leaders of others."

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادٍ الْعَامِرِىُّ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِى عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ أَنَّ بَكْرَ بْنَ سَوَادَةَ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ يَزِيدَ بْنَ رَبَاحٍ - هُوَ أَبُو فِرَاسٍ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ - حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أَنَّهُ قَالَ « إِذَا فُتِحَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَارِسُ وَالرُّومُ أَىُّ قَوْمٍ أَنْتُمْ ». قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ نَقُولُ كَمَا أَمَرَنَا اللَّهُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « أَوْ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ تَتَنَافَسُونَ ثُمَّ تَتَحَاسَدُونَ ثُمَّ تَتَدَابَرُونَ ثُمَّ تَتَبَاغَضُونَ أَوْ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَنْطَلِقُونَ فِى مَسَاكِينِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَتَجْعَلُونَ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى رِقَابِ بَعْضٍ ».

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "If one of you looks at someone who has been given more wealth and physical beauty than he has, let him then look at one who has been given less."

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا وَقَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِزَامِىُّ عَنْ أَبِى الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « إِذَا نَظَرَ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى مَنْ فُضِّلَ عَلَيْهِ فِى الْمَالِ وَالْخَلْقِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْهُ مِمَّنْ فُضِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ».

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Look at the one who is at a lower level than you, and do not look at the one who is above you, for that may keep you from scorning the blessing of Allah."'

وَحَدَّثَنِى زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ وَوَكِيعٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِى صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَلاَ تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ فَهُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لاَ تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ ». قَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ « عَلَيْكُمْ ».

Abu Hurairah narrated that he heard the Prophet (s.a.w) say: "There were three men of the Children of Israel, a leper, a bald man and a blind man. Allah wanted to test them so He sent an angel to them. He came to the leper and said: 'What thing is dearest to you?' He said: 'A beautiful color and beautiful skin, and to be rid of that which makes me detestable in people's eyes.' He touched him, and that which repelled people was cured, and he was given a beautiful color and beautiful skin. Then he said: 'What kind of wealth is dearest to you?' He said: 'Camels' - or 'cows.'" - Ishaq (a sub narrator) was not sure, but either the leper or the bald man said camels, and the other said cows - "He was given a bulging pregnant she-camel, and he said: 'May Allah bless it for you.' Then he went to the bald man and said: 'What thing is dearest to you?' He said: 'Beautiful hair, and to be rid of that which makes me detestable in people's eyes.' He touched him and it was cured, and he was given beautiful hair. He said: 'What kind of wealth is dearest to you?' He said: 'Cattle.' So he was given a pregnant cow. He said: 'May Allah bless it for you.' Then he came to the blind man and said: 'What thing is dearest to you?' He said: 'For Allah to restore my sight so that I may see the people.' He touched him, and Allah restored his sight. He said: 'What kind of wealth is dearest to you?' He said: 'Sheep.' So he was given a pregnant sheep. (Time passed and) the animals produced plenty of offspring, and one had a valley full of camels, one had a valley full of cattle and one had a valley full of sheep. "Then he (the angel) came to the leper in his previous form and said: 'I am a poor man and I have lost my provisions and lost my way, and there is no one to help me reach my destination today except Allah, and then you. I am asking you, by the One Who gave you this beautiful color, beautiful skin, and wealth - for a camel to carry me on my journey.' He said: 'I have many duties.' He said: 'It is as if I know you. Were you not the leper whom people regarded as detestable, a poor man to whom Allah gave wealth?' He said: 'No; I inherited this wealth from my great forefathers.' He said: 'If you are lying, then may Allah put you back as you were.' "Then he came to the bald man in his previous form, and said to him what he had said to the leper, and he replied as the leper had replied. He said: 'If you are lying, then may Allah put you back as you were.' "Then he came to the blind man in his previous form, and said: 'I am a poor man, and a wayfarer. I have lost my provisions and lost my way, and there is no one to help me reach my destination today except Allah, and then you. I am asking you, by the One Who restored to you your sight, for a sheep that will help me on my journey.' He said: 'I was blind, then Allah restored to me my sight. Take whatever you want, and leave whatever you want, for by Allah, I will not expect you to pay back anything that you take in the Name of Allah.' He said: 'Keep your wealth, for you were being tested, and Allah is pleased with you, and angry with your two companions."'

حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِى طَلْحَةَ حَدَّثَنِى عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِى عَمْرَةَ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقُولُ « إِنَّ ثَلاَثَةً فِى بَنِى إِسْرَائِيلَ أَبْرَصَ وَأَقْرَعَ وَأَعْمَى فَأَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْتَلِيَهُمْ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ مَلَكًا فَأَتَى الأَبْرَصَ فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَوْنٌ حَسَنٌ وَجِلْدٌ حَسَنٌ وَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّى الَّذِى قَدْ قَذِرَنِى النَّاسُ. قَالَ فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ عَنْهُ قَذَرُهُ وَأُعْطِىَ لَوْنًا حَسَنًا وَجِلْدًا حَسَنًا قَالَ فَأَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الإِبِلُ - أَوْ قَالَ الْبَقَرُ شَكَّ إِسْحَاقُ - إِلاَّ أَنَّ الأَبْرَصَ أَوِ الأَقْرَعَ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا الإِبِلُ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ الْبَقَرُ - قَالَ فَأُعْطِىَ نَاقَةً عُشَرَاءَ فَقَالَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِيهَا - قَالَ - فَأَتَى الأَقْرَعَ فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ شَعَرٌ حَسَنٌ وَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّى هَذَا الَّذِى قَذِرَنِى النَّاسُ.قَالَ فَمَسَحَهُ فَذَهَبَ عَنْهُ وَأُعْطِىَ شَعَرًا حَسَنًا - قَالَ - فَأَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الْبَقَرُ. فَأُعْطِىَ بَقَرَةً حَامِلاً فَقَالَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِيهَا - قَالَ - فَأَتَى الأَعْمَى فَقَالَ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ أَنْ يَرُدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ بَصَرِى فَأُبْصِرَ بِهِ النَّاسَ - قَالَ - فَمَسَحَهُ فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ بَصَرَهُ. قَالَ فَأَىُّ الْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ الْغَنَمُ. فَأُعْطِىَ شَاةً وَالِدًا فَأُنْتِجَ هَذَانِ وَوَلَّدَ هَذَا - قَالَ - فَكَانَ لِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الإِبِلِ وَلِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الْبَقَرِ وَلِهَذَا وَادٍ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ. قَالَ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَتَى الأَبْرَصَ فِى صُورَتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ قَدِ انْقَطَعَتْ بِىَ الْحِبَالُ فِى سَفَرِى فَلاَ بَلاَغَ لِىَ الْيَوْمَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذِى أَعْطَاكَ اللَّوْنَ الْحَسَنَ وَالْجِلْدَ الْحَسَنَ وَالْمَالَ بَعِيرًا أَتَبَلَّغُ عَلَيْهِ فِى سَفَرِى. فَقَالَ الْحُقُوقُ كَثِيرَةٌ. فَقَالَ لَهُ كَأَنِّى أَعْرِفُكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَبْرَصَ يَقْذَرُكَ النَّاسُ فَقِيرًا فَأَعْطَاكَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا وَرِثْتُ هَذَا الْمَالَ كَابِرًا عَنْ كَابِرٍ. فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا كُنْتَ. قَالَ وَأَتَى الأَقْرَعَ فِى صُورَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ لِهَذَا وَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ مَا رَدَّ عَلَى هَذَا فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَاذِبًا فَصَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَى مَا كُنْتَ. قَالَ وَأَتَى الأَعْمَى فِى صُورَتِهِ وَهَيْئَتِهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِسْكِينٌ وَابْنُ سَبِيلٍ انْقَطَعَتْ بِىَ الْحِبَالُ فِى سَفَرِى فَلاَ بَلاَغَ لِىَ الْيَوْمَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ بِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِالَّذِى رَدَّ عَلَيْكَ بَصَرَكَ شَاةً أَتَبَلَّغُ بِهَا فِى سَفَرِى فَقَالَ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْمَى فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ بَصَرِى فَخُذْ مَا شِئْتَ وَدَعْ مَا شِئْتَ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ أَجْهَدُكَ الْيَوْمَ شَيْئًا أَخَذْتَهُ لِلَّهِ فَقَالَ أَمْسِكْ مَالَكَ فَإِنَّمَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ فَقَدْ رُضِىَ عَنْكَ وَسُخِطَ عَلَى صَاحِبَيْكَ.