Sahih al-Bukhari #6242
To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، سَمِعْتُ أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْغَافِرِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
"ذَكَرَ رَجُلاً فِيمَنْ كَانَ سَلَفَ أَوْ قَبْلَكُمْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً وَوَلَدًا ـ يَعْنِي أَعْطَاهُ قَالَ ـ فَلَمَّا حُضِرَ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ أَىَّ أَبٍ كُنْتُ قَالُوا خَيْرَ أَبٍ. قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْتَئِرْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرًا ـ فَسَّرَهَا قَتَادَةُ لَمْ يَدَّخِرْ ـ وَإِنْ يَقْدَمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ يُعَذِّبْهُ فَانْظُرُوا، فَإِذَا مُتُّ فَأَحْرِقُونِي، حَتَّى إِذَا صِرْتُ فَحْمًا فَاسْحَقُونِي ـ أَوْ قَالَ فَاسْهَكُونِي ـ ثُمَّ إِذَا كَانَ رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ فَأَذْرُونِي فِيهَا. فَأَخَذَ مَوَاثِيقَهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَرَبِّي فَفَعَلُوا فَقَالَ اللَّهُ كُنْ. فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ قَائِمٌ، ثُمَّ قَالَ أَىْ عَبْدِي مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا فَعَلْتَ قَالَ مَخَافَتُكَ ـ أَوْ فَرَقٌ مِنْكَ ـ فَمَا تَلاَفَاهُ أَنْ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ ". فَحَدَّثْتُ أَبَا عُثْمَانَ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَلْمَانَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ زَادَ فَأَذْرُونِي فِي الْبَحْرِ. أَوْ كَمَا حَدَّثَ. وَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، سَمِعْتُ عُقْبَةَ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned a man from the previous generation or from the people preceding your age
whom Allah had given both wealth and children. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When the time of his death
approached, he asked his children, 'What type of father have I been to you?' They replied: You have
been a good father. He said, 'But he (i.e. your father) has not stored any good deeds with Allah (for the
Hereafter): if he should face Allah, Allah will punish him. So listen, (O my children), when I die, burn
my body till I become mere coal and then grind it into powder, and when there is a stormy wind,
throw me (my ashes) in it.' So he took a firm promise from his children (to follow his instructions).
And by Allah they (his sons) did accordingly(fulfilled their promise.) Then Allah said, "Be"' and
behold! That man was standing there! Allah then said. "O my slave! What made you do what you
did?" That man said, "Fear of You." So Allah forgave him.
Narrated by Narrated Abu Sa`id:
Context
This hadith recounts a story of a man from a previous generation who, despite having wealth and children, feared for his afterlife due to a lack of good deeds. His extreme measures to avoid punishment illustrate the seriousness of accountability in the Hereafter.
Modern Application
In modern times, this story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of good deeds and intentions. It encourages individuals to prioritize their spiritual well-being and to act righteously, regardless of their worldly possessions.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Justice and Afterlife because it highlights the concept of accountability before Allah and the importance of good deeds in determining one's fate in the Hereafter.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ لُقۡمَانَ
Luqman (Luqman)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ وَٱخْشَوْا۟ يَوْمًۭا لَّا يَجْزِى وَالِدٌ عَن وَلَدِهِۦ وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ هُوَ جَازٍ عَن وَالِدِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.
سُورَةُ الأَحۡقَافِ
Al-Ahqaf (The Dunes)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّۢ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
But one who says to his parents, "Uff to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allah for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former people" -
سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ
Maryam (Mary)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّيْطَٰنِ وَلِيًّۭا
O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire]."
سُورَةُ التَّغَابُنِ
At-Taghaabun (Mutual Disillusion)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌۭ
Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward.
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَٰسِكَكُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًۭا ۗ فَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَٰقٍۢ
And when you have completed your rites, remember Allah like your [previous] remembrance of your fathers or with [much] greater remembrance. And among the people is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world," and he will have in the Hereafter no share.
Common Words
101 total86 unique11 repeated
ٱلله4x
من4x
ٱلناس2x
عن2x
ولا2x
إن2x
وعد2x
حق2x
ٱلدنيا2x
أن2x
فى2x
يأيها1x
ٱتقوا1x
ربكم1x
وٱخشوا1x
يوما1x
لا1x
يجزى1x
والد1x
ولده1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #6242 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:.