The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عُفَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ، حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي خَارِجَةُ بْنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، أَنَّ أُمَّ الْعَلاَءِ ـ امْرَأَةً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ بَايَعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهُمُ اقْتَسَمُوا الْمُهَاجِرِينَ قُرْعَةً. قَالَتْ فَطَارَ لَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مَظْعُونٍ، وَأَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي أَبْيَاتِنَا، فَوَجِعَ وَجَعَهُ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ، فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ غُسِّلَ وَكُفِّنَ فِي أَثْوَابِهِ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ أَبَا السَّائِبِ، فَشَهَادَتِي عَلَيْكَ لَقَدْ أَكْرَمَكَ اللَّهُ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَمَا يُدْرِيكِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَكْرَمَهُ ". فَقُلْتُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ يُكْرِمُهُ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمَّا هُوَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ جَاءَهُ الْيَقِينُ، وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرْجُو لَهُ الْخَيْرَ، وَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي وَأَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ مَاذَا يُفْعَلُ بِي ". فَقَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُزَكِّي بَعْدَهُ أَحَدًا أَبَدًا.
Um Al-`Ala an Ansari woman who had given a pledge of allegiance to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) told me:, "The
Muhajirln (emigrants) were distributed amongst us by drawing lots, and we got `Uthman bin Maz'un
in our share. We made him stay with us in our house. Then he suffered from a disease which proved
fatal. When he died and was given a bath and was shrouded in his clothes. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came, I
said, (addressing the dead body), 'O Aba As-Sa'ib! May Allah be Merciful to you! I testify that Allah
has honored you.' Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'How do you know that Allah has honored him?" I replied, 'Let
my father be sacrificed for you, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! On whom else shall Allah bestow. His honor?'
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'As for him, by Allah, death has come to him. By Allah, I wish him all good
(from Allah). By Allah, in spite of the fact that I am Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), I do not know what Allah will do
to me.", Um Al-`Ala added, "By Allah, I will never attest the righteousness of anybody after that."
Narrated by Narrated Kharija bin Zaid bin Thabit:
Context
This hadith recounts an interaction between the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Um Al-`Ala regarding the death of `Uthman bin Maz'un. The Prophet's response to her assertion that Allah honored `Uthman serves as a reminder of divine justice and the uncertainty of one's fate after death. The takeaway is the humility in recognizing that only Allah knows the ultimate outcome for each individual.
Modern Application
In modern life, this teaching encourages humility and compassion towards others, reminding us that we cannot judge the worthiness of individuals based on their circumstances. It promotes a sense of empathy and understanding in our interactions.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Justice and Funeral Rites because it addresses the themes of divine judgment and the respect afforded to the deceased.
O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you or two others from outside if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allah if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange our oath for a price, even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of Allah. Indeed, we would then be of the sinful."
And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muhammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.
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.
And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished.
O you who have believed, do not be like those who disbelieved and said about their brothers when they traveled through the land or went out to fight, "If they had been with us, they would not have died or have been killed," so Allah makes that [misconception] a regret within their hearts. And it is Allah who gives life and causes death, and Allah is Seeing of what you do.
This hadith is #6744 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Interpretation of Dreams. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Kharija bin Zaid bin Thabit:.