The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى الْمِصْرِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، . أَنَّ الْمِسْوَرَ بْنَ مَخْرَمَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ، - وَهُوَ حَلِيفُ بَنِي عَامِرِ بْنِ لُؤَىٍّ وَكَانَ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بَعَثَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاحِ إِلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَأْتِي بِجِزْيَتِهَا وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ هُوَ صَالَحَ أَهْلَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَلاَءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ فَقَدِمَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِمَالٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ فَسَمِعَتِ الأَنْصَارُ بِقُدُومِ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ فَوَافَوْا صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ انْصَرَفَ فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهُ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ حِينَ رَآهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَظُنُّكُمْ سَمِعْتُمْ أَنَّ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ قَدِمَ بِشَىْءٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ " . قَالُوا أَجَلْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " أَبْشِرُوا وَأَمِّلُوا مَا يَسُرُّكُمْ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا الْفَقْرَ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَكِنِّي أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُبْسَطَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا بُسِطَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَتَنَافَسُوهَا كَمَا تَنَافَسُوهَا فَتُهْلِكَكُمْ كَمَا أَهْلَكَتْهُمْ " .
‘I think you have
heard that Abu ‘Ubaidah has brought something
from Bahrain?’ They
said: ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Be of
good cheer
and hope for that which will make you happy. By Allah, I do
not fear
poverty for you, rather I fear that you will enjoy ease and
plenty
like those who came before you, and that you will compete with
one
another as they did, and you will be destroyed as they were.’”
Narrated by It was narrated from ‘Amr bin ‘Awf, who was an ally of Banu ‘Amir
bin
Lu’ai and was present at (the battle of) Badr with the
Messenger of
Allah (ﷺ), that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent
‘Ubaidah bin
Jarrah to Bahrain to collect the Jizyah, and the
Prophet (ﷺ) had
made a treaty with the people of Bahrain, and he
appointed as their
governor ‘Ala’ bin Hadrami. Abu ‘Ubaidan
came with the wealth from
Bahrain and the Ansar heard that Abu
‘Ubaidah had come, so they
attended the Fajr prayer with the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). When the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had
prayed, he went away, so they intercepted
him. The Messenger of Allah
(ﷺ) smiled when he saw them, then he
said:
Context
This hadith recounts an event where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) expressed concern that the community might become overly attached to worldly pleasures, leading to their downfall. The message is a warning against materialism and a reminder to prioritize spiritual values over material gains. The takeaway is the importance of maintaining balance in life.
Modern Application
In modern life, this principle can be applied by focusing on personal growth and community service rather than excessive pursuit of wealth. Striving for balance helps individuals lead fulfilling lives without losing sight of their values.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Community and Warning because it warns against the dangers of materialism and emphasizes the importance of spiritual integrity.
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.
Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them - that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Have you not seen those who were told, "Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah"? But then when fighting was ordained for them, at once a party of them feared men as they fear Allah or with [even] greater fear. They said, "Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting? If only You had postponed [it for] us for a short time." Say, The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allah. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]."
So you see those in whose hearts is disease hastening into [association with] them, saying, "We are afraid a misfortune may strike us." But perhaps Allah will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful.
This hadith is #3734 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of Tribulations. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from ‘Amr bin ‘Awf, who was an ally of Banu ‘Amir
bin
Lu’ai and was present at (the battle of) Badr with the
Messenger of
Allah (ﷺ), that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent
‘Ubaidah bin
Jarrah to Bahrain to collect the Jizyah, and the
Prophet (ﷺ) had
made a treaty with the people of Bahrain, and he
appointed as their
governor ‘Ala’ bin Hadrami. Abu ‘Ubaidan
came with the wealth from
Bahrain and the Ansar heard that Abu
‘Ubaidah had come, so they
attended the Fajr prayer with the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). When the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had
prayed, he went away, so they intercepted
him. The Messenger of Allah
(ﷺ) smiled when he saw them, then he
said:.
