Sahih al-Bukhari #2183
Hiring
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
" مَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابَيْنِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ أُجَرَاءَ فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ غُدْوَةَ إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ الْيَهُودُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ إِلَى صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ فَعَمِلَتِ النَّصَارَى ثُمَّ، قَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنَ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى أَنْ تَغِيبَ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى قِيرَاطَيْنِ فَأَنْتُمْ هُمْ، فَغَضِبَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى، فَقَالُوا مَا لَنَا أَكْثَرَ عَمَلاً، وَأَقَلَّ عَطَاءً قَالَ هَلْ نَقَصْتُكُمْ مِنْ حَقِّكُمْ قَالُوا لاَ. قَالَ فَذَلِكَ فَضْلِي أُوتِيهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ ".
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your example and the example of the people of the two Scriptures (i.e. Jews and
Christians) is like the example of a man who employed some laborers and asked them, 'Who will
work for me from morning till midday for one Qirat?' The Jews accepted and carried out the work. He
then asked, Who will work for me from midday up to the `Asr prayer for one Qirat?' The Christians
accepted and fulfilled the work. He then said, 'Who will work for me from the `Asr till sunset for two
Qirats?' You, Muslims have accepted the offer. The Jews and the Christians got angry and said, 'Why
should we work more and get lesser wages?' (Allah) said, 'Have I withheld part of your right?' They
replied in the negative. He said, 'It is My Blessing, I bestow upon whomever I wish .'
Narrated by Narrated Ibn `Umar:
Context
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ compares Muslims to the people of the two Scriptures, illustrating a parable about laborers hired for different times of the day. The Muslims, who worked fewer hours but received greater rewards, highlight the concept of divine grace and the unique status of Muslims in the eyes of Allah. This hadith teaches about fairness and the blessings that come from Allah's discretion.
Modern Application
In the workplace today, this hadith can remind individuals that hard work is important, but so is recognizing that rewards may not always be proportional to effort. It encourages a mindset of gratitude for the opportunities and blessings one receives.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Wages and Labor because it discusses the dynamics of work and compensation, emphasizing the concept of divine grace in rewarding efforts.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النَّحۡلِ
An-Nahl (The Bee)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ فِى ٱلرِّزْقِ ۚ فَمَا ٱلَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا۟ بِرَآدِّى رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ ۚ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ
And Allah has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allah they reject?
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ وَٱلصَّٰبِـِٔينَ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ ٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ لَيْسَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
The Jews say "The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on," and the Christians say, "The Jews have nothing to stand on," although they [both] recite the Scripture. Thus the polytheists speak the same as their words. But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
سُورَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Az-Zumar (The Groups)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا رَّجُلًۭا فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًۭا سَلَمًۭا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allah presents an example: a slave owned by quarreling partners and another belonging exclusively to one man - are they equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! But most of them do not know.
سُورَةُ الشُّورَىٰ
Ash-Shura (Consultation)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يُبَشِّرُ ٱللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا ٱلْمَوَدَّةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةًۭ نَّزِدْ لَهُۥ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ شَكُورٌ
It is that of which Allah gives good tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not ask you for this message any payment [but] only good will through kinship." And whoever commits a good deed - We will increase for him good therein. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Appreciative.
Common Words
125 total101 unique16 repeated
على4x
ٱلذين4x
ٱلله4x
فيه3x
لا3x
فى2x
إن2x
ءامنوا2x
ولا2x
وقالت2x
ٱليهود2x
ليست2x
ٱلنصرى2x
شىء2x
يعلمون2x
مثلا2x
وٱلله1x
فضل1x
بعضكم1x
بعض1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #2183 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Hiring. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Ibn `Umar:.