Sahih al-Bukhari #3741
Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ عُبَيْدٍ ـ يَعْنِي ابْنَ حُنَيْنٍ ـ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ عَبْدًا خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ، وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ، فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَهُ ". فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَقَالَ فَدَيْنَاكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا. فَعَجِبْنَا لَهُ، وَقَالَ النَّاسُ انْظُرُوا إِلَى هَذَا الشَّيْخِ، يُخْبِرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ عَبْدٍ خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ فَدَيْنَاكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا. فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ الْمُخَيَّرَ، وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُوَ أَعْلَمَنَا بِهِ. وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ مِنْ أَمَنِّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، إِلاَّ خُلَّةَ الإِسْلاَمِ، لاَ يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ خَوْخَةٌ إِلاَّ خَوْخَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sat on the pulpit and said, "Allah has given one of His Slaves the choice of receiving
the splendor and luxury of the worldly life whatever he likes or to accept the good (of the Hereafter)
which is with Allah. So he has chosen that good which is with Allah." On that Abu Bakr wept and
said, "Our fathers and mothers be sacrificed for you." We became astonished at this. The people said,
"Look at this old man! Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) talks about a Slave of Allah to whom He has given the option
to choose either the splendor of this worldly life or the good which is with Him, while he says. 'our
fathers and mothers be sacrifice(i for you." But it was Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who had been given option,
and Abu Bakr knew it better than we. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) added, "No doubt, I am indebted to Abu Bakr
more than to anybody else regarding both his companionship and his wealth. And if I had to take a
Khalil from my followers, I would certainly have taken Abu Bakr, but the fraternity of Islam is.
sufficient. Let no door (i.e. Khoukha) of the Mosque remain open, except the door of Abu Bakr."
Narrated by Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:
Context
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) spoke of a servant who was given the choice between worldly delights and the rewards of the Hereafter, ultimately choosing the latter. This moment moved Abu Bakr deeply, showcasing the profound bond between them. The Prophet's acknowledgment of Abu Bakr's loyalty emphasizes the value of true companionship in faith.
Modern Application
This hadith encourages individuals to prioritize spiritual fulfillment over material gain. It serves as a reminder to seek deeper connections and to value relationships that uplift and inspire us in our spiritual journeys.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Reward of Deeds and Prophetic Conduct because it highlights the significance of choosing righteousness and the exemplary character of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
قُلْ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلٌ ٱقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَٰرَةٌۭ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَٰكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَجِهَادٍۢ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ
Say, [O Muhammad], "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people."
سُورَةُ المُمۡتَحنَةِ
Al-Mumtahana (She that is to be examined)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ فِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَءَٰٓؤُا۟ مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةُ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۖ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, "Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone" except for the saying of Abraham to his father, "I will surely ask forgiveness for you, but I have not [power to do] for you anything against Allah. Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًۭا
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًۭا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌۭ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًۭا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًۭا
And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.
سُورَةُ الحَجِّ
Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَجَٰهِدُوا۟ فِى ٱللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِۦ ۚ هُوَ ٱجْتَبَىٰكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍۢ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّىٰكُمُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِى هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ
And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you "Muslims" before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.
Common Words
164 total134 unique13 repeated
ٱلله8x
من7x
إبرهيم5x
فى4x
هو3x
حتى2x
بٱلله2x
لك2x
وما2x
وإليك2x
ومن2x
ملة2x
عليكم2x
قل1x
إن1x
كان1x
ءاباؤكم1x
وأبناؤكم1x
وإخونكم1x
وأزوجكم1x
Related Hadiths
About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #3741 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:.