What is Sahih Muslim 7238 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts), narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:, states: "A servant says, My wealth. my wealth, but out of his wealth three things are only his: whatever he eats and makes use of or by means of which he dresses himself and it wears out or he gives as charity…"

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih Muslim, which contains 7,459 hadiths across 57 books. It is hadith number 7238 in the Book of The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#7237

#7238

Sahih Muslim

#7239

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Sahih Muslim #7238

The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنِي سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي، هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ مَالِي مَالِي إِنَّمَا لَهُ مِنْ مَالِهِ ثَلاَثٌ مَا أَكَلَ فَأَفْنَى أَوْ لَبِسَ فَأَبْلَى أَوْ أَعْطَى فَاقْتَنَى وَمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ ذَاهِبٌ وَتَارِكُهُ لِلنَّاسِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

A servant says, My wealth. my wealth, but out of his wealth three things are only his: whatever he eats and makes use of or by means of which he dresses himself and it wears out or he gives as charity, and this is what he stored for himself (as a reward for the Hereafter), and what is beyond this (it is of no use to you) because you are to depart and leave it for other people.

Narrated by Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Context

In this hadith, Abu Huraira conveys a teaching of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the true nature of wealth. The Prophet emphasizes that a person's possessions are limited to what they consume, wear out, or give in charity, highlighting the importance of generosity and the impermanence of material wealth.

Modern Application

This principle encourages individuals today to focus on charitable giving and the impact of their wealth. It serves as a reminder that true wealth lies in what one shares with others and the good deeds performed, rather than in material accumulation.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Charity and Wealth because it highlights the significance of generosity and the transient nature of material possessions.

Charity Wealth