What is Sahih Muslim 7240 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts), narrated by Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:, states: "Three things follow the bier of a dead man. Two of them come back and one is left with him: the members of his family, wealth and his good deeds. The members of his family and wealth come back and the…"

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 7240 in the Book of The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts.

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

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#7239

#7240

Sahih Muslim

#7241

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Sahih Muslim #7240

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.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِيُّ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَتْبَعُ الْمَيِّتَ ثَلاَثَةٌ فَيَرْجِعُ اثْنَانِ وَيَبْقَى وَاحِدٌ يَتْبَعُهُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعَمَلُهُ فَيَرْجِعُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَيَبْقَى عَمَلُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Three things follow the bier of a dead man. Two of them come back and one is left with him: the members of his family, wealth and his good deeds. The members of his family and wealth come back and the deeds alone are left with him.

Narrated by Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Context

In this narration, Anas bin Malik relays the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ's teaching about the inevitable separation that occurs at death. Three things follow a deceased person to their grave: their family, wealth, and deeds. However, only one's deeds remain with them after their loved ones and possessions return. This highlights the significance of one's actions in life and their lasting impact.

Modern Application

This hadith encourages individuals to reflect on what truly matters in life. It serves as a reminder to prioritize good deeds and personal character over material possessions, fostering a mindset that values spiritual growth and ethical living.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Afterlife and Funeral Rites because it emphasizes the enduring nature of one's deeds and the transient nature of worldly attachments at the time of death.

Afterlife Funeral Rites