Sahih al-Bukhari #6258
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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُذَيْفَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدِيثَيْنِ رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَهُمَا وَأَنَا أَنْتَظِرُ الآخَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا " أَنَّ الأَمَانَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِي جَذْرِ قُلُوبِ الرِّجَالِ، ثُمَّ عَلِمُوا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، ثُمَّ عَلِمُوا مِنَ السُّنَّةِ ". وَحَدَّثَنَا عَنْ رَفْعِهَا قَالَ " يَنَامُ الرَّجُلُ النَّوْمَةَ فَتُقْبَضُ الأَمَانَةُ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ، فَيَظَلُّ أَثَرُهَا مِثْلَ أَثَرِ الْوَكْتِ، ثُمَّ يَنَامُ النَّوْمَةَ فَتُقْبَضُ فَيَبْقَى أَثَرُهَا مِثْلَ الْمَجْلِ، كَجَمْرٍ دَحْرَجْتَهُ عَلَى رِجْلِكَ فَنَفِطَ، فَتَرَاهُ مُنْتَبِرًا، وَلَيْسَ فِيهِ شَىْءٌ، فَيُصْبِحُ النَّاسُ يَتَبَايَعُونَ فَلاَ يَكَادُ أَحَدٌ يُؤَدِّي الأَمَانَةَ، فَيُقَالُ إِنَّ فِي بَنِي فُلاَنٍ رَجُلاً أَمِينًا. وَيُقَالُ لِلرَّجُلِ مَا أَعْقَلَهُ وَمَا أَظْرَفَهُ وَمَا أَجْلَدَهُ. وَمَا فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةِ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ، وَلَقَدْ أَتَى عَلَىَّ زَمَانٌ وَمَا أُبَالِي أَيَّكُمْ بَايَعْتُ لَئِنْ كَانَ مُسْلِمًا رَدَّهُ الإِسْلاَمُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ نَصْرَانِيًّا رَدَّهُ عَلَىَّ سَاعِيهِ، فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَمَا كُنْتُ أُبَايِعُ إِلاَّ فُلاَنًا وَفُلاَنًا ". قَالَ الْفِرَبْرِيُّ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ عَاصِمٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عُبَيْدٍ يَقُولُ قَالَ الأَصْمَعِيُّ وَأَبُو عَمْرٍو وَغَيْرُهُمَا جَذْرُ قُلُوبِ الرِّجَالِ الْجَذْرُ الأَصْلُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ، وَالْوَكْتُ أَثَرُ الشَّىْءِ الْيَسِيرُ مِنْهُ، وَالْمَجْلُ أَثَرُ الْعَمَلِ فِي الْكَفِّ إِذَا غَلُظَ.
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) narrated to us two narrations, one of which I have seen (happening) and I am waiting
for the other. He narrated that honesty was preserved in the roots of the hearts of men (in the
beginning) and then they learnt it (honesty) from the Qur'an, and then they learnt it from the
(Prophet's) Sunna (tradition). He also told us about its disappearance, saying, "A man will go to sleep
whereupon honesty will be taken away from his heart, and only its trace will remain, resembling the
traces of fire. He then will sleep whereupon the remainder of the honesty will also be taken away
(from his heart) and its trace will resemble a blister which is raised over the surface of skin, when an
ember touches one's foot; and in fact, this blister does not contain anything. So there will come a day
when people will deal in business with each other but there will hardly be any trustworthy persons
among them. Then it will be said that in such-and-such a tribe there is such-and-such person who is
honest, and a man will be admired for his intelligence, good manners and strength, though indeed he
will not have belief equal to a mustard seed in his heart." The narrator added: There came upon me a
time when I did not mind dealing with anyone of you, for if he was a Muslim, his religion would
prevent him from cheating; and if he was a Christian, his Muslim ruler would prevent him from
cheating; but today I cannot deal except with so-and-so and so-and-so. (See Hadith No. 208, Vol. 9)
Narrated by Narrated Hudhaifa:
Context
In this narration, the Prophet (ﷺ) discusses the concept of honesty and its gradual decline in society. He explains that honesty was initially a core value in people's hearts, learned through the Qur'an and the Sunnah. However, as time passes, the essence of honesty diminishes, leading to a situation where trustworthiness becomes rare, and people are admired for superficial qualities rather than genuine integrity.
Modern Application
This principle is particularly relevant today as we navigate a world where integrity can often be compromised. It serves as a reminder to prioritize honesty in our personal and professional lives, fostering trust and reliability in our interactions with others.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Truthfulness and Ethical Behavior because it highlights the importance of honesty and the ethical standards that should govern interpersonal relationships.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
۞ وَمِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ بِقِنطَارٍۢ يُؤَدِّهِۦٓ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ بِدِينَارٍۢ لَّا يُؤَدِّهِۦٓ إِلَيْكَ إِلَّا مَا دُمْتَ عَلَيْهِ قَآئِمًۭا ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا فِى ٱلْأُمِّيِّۦنَ سَبِيلٌۭ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
And among the People of the Scripture is he who, if you entrust him with a great amount [of wealth], he will return it to you. And among them is he who, if you entrust him with a [single] silver coin, he will not return it to you unless you are constantly standing over him [demanding it]. That is because they say, "There is no blame upon us concerning the unlearned." And they speak untruth about Allah while they know [it].
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ كَاتِبًۭا فَرِهَٰنٌۭ مَّقْبُوضَةٌۭ ۖ فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًۭا فَلْيُؤَدِّ ٱلَّذِى ٱؤْتُمِنَ أَمَٰنَتَهُۥ وَلْيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ ۗ وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ ۚ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُۥٓ ءَاثِمٌۭ قَلْبُهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌۭ
And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit [should be] taken. And if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allah, his Lord. And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it - his heart is indeed sinful, and Allah is Knowing of what you do.
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ ۛ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ ۛ سَمَّٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّٰعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِۦ ۖ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَٱحْذَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُۥ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌۭ ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌۭ
O Messenger, let them not grieve you who hasten into disbelief of those who say, "We believe" with their mouths, but their hearts believe not, and from among the Jews. [They are] avid listeners to falsehood, listening to another people who have not come to you. They distort words beyond their [proper] usages, saying "If you are given this, take it; but if you are not given it, then beware." But he for whom Allah intends fitnah - never will you possess [power to do] for him a thing against Allah. Those are the ones for whom Allah does not intend to purify their hearts. For them in this world is disgrace, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.
سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَخُونُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓا۟ أَمَٰنَٰتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].
Common Words
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ٱلله6x
ومن5x
من5x
ٱلذين5x
لا4x
فى4x
إن3x
لم3x
تأمنه2x
يؤده2x
إليك2x
ما2x
قالوا2x
على2x
وهم2x
وإن2x
ولم2x
بما2x
يأيها2x
قلوبهم2x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #6258 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Hudhaifa:.