Sunan Abu Dawud #4696
Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدُ بْنُ مُسَرْهَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مَنْصُورَ بْنَ الْمُعْتَمِرِ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ كُنَّا فِي جَنَازَةٍ فِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِبَقِيعِ الْغَرْقَدِ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَلَسَ وَمَعَهُ مِخْصَرَةٌ فَجَعَلَ يَنْكُتُ بِالْمِخْصَرَةِ فِي الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ " مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ مَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ مَنْفُوسَةٍ إِلاَّ قَدْ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ مَكَانَهَا مِنَ النَّارِ أَوْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ إِلاَّ قَدْ كُتِبَتْ شَقِيَّةً أَوْ سَعِيدَةً " . قَالَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ نَمْكُثُ عَلَى كِتَابِنَا وَنَدَعُ الْعَمَلَ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّعَادَةِ لَيَكُونَنَّ إِلَى السَّعَادَةِ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشِّقْوَةِ لَيَكُونَنَّ إِلَى الشِّقْوَةِ قَالَ " اعْمَلُوا فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ أَمَّا أَهْلُ السَّعَادَةِ فَيُيَسَّرُونَ لِلسَّعَادَةِ وَأَمَّا أَهْلُ الشِّقْوَةِ فَيُيَسَّرُونَ لِلشِّقْوَةِ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ " { فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى * وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى * وَأَمَّا مَنْ بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَى * وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَى * . فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَى } " .
We attended a funeral at Baql’ al-Gharqad which was also attended by the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) came and sat down. He had a stick (in his hand) by which he began to scratch up the ground. He then raised his head and said : The place which every one of you and every soul of you will occupy in Hell or in Paradise has been recorded, and destined wicked or blesses. A man from among the people asked : Prophet of Allah! Should we not then trust simply in what has been recorded for us and abandon (doing good) deeds? Those who are among the number of the blessed will be inclined to blessing, and those of us who are among the number of the wicked will be inclined to wickedness. He replied : Go on doing good actions, for everyone is helped to do that for which he was created. Those who are among the number of wicked will be helped to do wicked deeds. The Prophet of Allah (May peace be upon him) then recited: “So he who gives (in charity) and fears (Allah), and in all sincerity testifies to the best, we will indeed make smooth for him the path to bliss. But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, and gives the lie to the best, We will indeed make smooth for him the path of misery.”
Narrated by ‘Ali said:
Context
This hadith conveys a profound message about divine decree and the importance of action. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) reassures that while destinies are predetermined, individuals are encouraged to engage in good deeds. The conversation reflects a balance between faith in divine will and the necessity of personal effort.
Modern Application
In modern life, this principle encourages individuals to take proactive steps towards their goals while maintaining faith in Allah's plan. It serves as a reminder that personal effort is essential in achieving success and fulfillment.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Decree and Funeral Rites because it discusses the balance between predestination and personal responsibility in the context of life and death.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًۭا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ
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.
سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Al-Israa (The Night Journey)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًۭا
[Mention, O Muhammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
سُورَةُ الشُّورَىٰ
Ash-Shura (Consultation)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يُبَشِّرُ ٱللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا ٱلْمَوَدَّةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةًۭ نَّزِدْ لَهُۥ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ شَكُورٌ
It is that of which Allah gives good tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not ask you for this message any payment [but] only good will through kinship." And whoever commits a good deed - We will increase for him good therein. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Appreciative.
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ مُّحْضَرًۭا وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِن سُوٓءٍۢ تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُۥٓ أَمَدًۢا بَعِيدًۭا ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ
The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it] and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that [evil] was a great distance. And Allah warns you of Himself, and Allah is Kind to [His] servants."
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
Common Words
94 total84 unique7 repeated
ٱلله4x
ولا3x
على2x
يوم2x
كل2x
عملت2x
من2x
تصل1x
أحد1x
منهم1x
مات1x
أبدا1x
تقم1x
قبره1x
إنهم1x
كفروا1x
بٱلله1x
ورسوله1x
وماتوا1x
وهم1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #4696 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by ‘Ali said:.