I came upon `Abdullah and he said, "When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) invited Quraish (to Islam), they
disbelieved him and stood against him. So he (the Prophet) said, "O Allah! Help me against them by
afflicting them with seven years of famine similar to the seven years of Joseph.' So they were stricken
with a year of drought that destroyed everything, and they started eating dead animals, and if one of
them got up he would see something like smoke between him and the sky from the severe fatigue and
hunger." `Abdullah then recited:--
'Then watch you for the Day that the sky will bring forth a kind of smoke plainly visible, covering the
people. This is a painful torment... (till he reached) ........ We shall indeed remove the punishment for a
while, but truly you will revert (to heathenism): (44.10-15) `Abdullah added: "Will the punishment be
removed from them on the Day of Resurrection?" He added," The severe grasp" was the Day of the
Battle of Badr."
Narrated by Narrated Masruq:
Context
This narration recounts the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) invocation for help against the Quraish, who rejected his message. He sought divine assistance by asking Allah to afflict them with famine, similar to the experience of Prophet Joseph. This event illustrates the challenges faced by the Prophet (ﷺ) and the consequences of disbelief, culminating in a severe drought that tested the community's resilience.
Modern Application
This hadith reminds us of the importance of patience and reliance on Allah during difficult times. In our lives, we may face challenges that test our faith, and it's crucial to seek divine support and maintain hope.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Revelation and Punishments (Hudud) because it reflects the consequences of rejecting divine guidance and the prophetic invocation for justice.
And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.
[Allah] said, "Then indeed, it is forbidden to them for forty years [in which] they will wander throughout the land. So do not grieve over the defiantly disobedient people."
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.
Which Allah imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees.
This hadith is #4617 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Masruq:.