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 Sunan Ibn Majah, which contains 4,345 hadiths across 38 books. It is hadith number 3948 in the Book of Zuhd.

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

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#3947

#3948

Sunan Ibn Majah

#3949

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Sunan Ibn Majah #3948

Q: What is Sunan Ibn Majah 3948 about?

This hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah (Book of Zuhd), narrated by It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:, states: "“Envy consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood, and charity extinguishes bad deeds just as water extinguishes fire. Prayer is the light of the believer and fasting is a shield against the Fire.”"

Zuhd

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَمَّالُ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ الأَزْهَرِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ أَبِي عِيسَى الْحَنَّاطِ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْحَسَدُ يَأْكُلُ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ وَالصَّلاَةُ نُورُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

“Envy consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood, and charity extinguishes bad deeds just as water extinguishes fire. Prayer is the light of the believer and fasting is a shield against the Fire.”

Narrated by It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

Context

This hadith, narrated by Anas, conveys a profound warning about the destructive nature of envy. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) likens envy to fire consuming wood, indicating that it can erode our good deeds. He also emphasizes the power of charity, prayer, and fasting as means to counteract negative actions and enhance our spiritual light.

Modern Application

In everyday life, this principle reminds us to cultivate a spirit of generosity and gratitude rather than envy. Engaging in charitable acts, maintaining regular prayers, and observing fasts can help us stay grounded and focused on our spiritual growth.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Charity and Reward of Deeds because it discusses the impact of good deeds and the importance of charity in mitigating sins.

Charity Reward of Deeds