Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The thing I am afraid of most for your sake, is the worldly blessings which
Allah will bring forth to you." It was said, "What are the blessings of this world?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
"The pleasures of the world." A man said, "Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet (ﷺ) kept quiet for
a while till we thought that he was being inspired divinely. Then he started removing the sweat from
his forehead and said," Where is the questioner?" That man said, "I (am present)." Abu Sa`id added:
We thanked the man when the result (of his question) was such. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Good never brings
forth but good. This wealth (of the world) is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and all the vegetation
which grows on the bank of a stream either kills or nearly kills the animal that eats too much of it,
except the animal that eats the Khadira (a kind of vegetation). Such an animal eats till its stomach is
full and then it faces the sun and starts ruminating and then it passes out dung and urine and goes to
eat again. This worldly wealth is (like) sweet (fruit), and if a person earns it (the wealth) in a legal way
and spends it properly, then it is an excellent helper, and whoever earns it in an illegal way, he will be
like the one who eats but is never satisfied."
Narrated by Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:
Context
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) expresses his concern about the worldly blessings that may distract people from their spiritual duties. He describes these blessings as sweet and tempting, warning that they can lead to greed and dissatisfaction if not handled properly. The discussion highlights the importance of earning and spending wealth in a lawful manner, as well as the dangers of excess and mismanagement.
Modern Application
In today's world, this hadith encourages individuals to seek lawful income and practice wealth stewardship. It reminds us to avoid extravagance and to be mindful of how we earn and spend our money, ensuring that our financial decisions align with ethical principles and contribute positively to our communities.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Good Deeds and Worldly Life because it emphasizes the importance of earning wealth legally and using it wisely for good purposes.
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.
But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters."
[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allah, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.
Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.
And it will be said to those who feared Allah, "What did your Lord send down?" They will say, "[That which is] good." For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous -
This hadith is #6188 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:.