Sunan Ibn Majah #3979
Zuhd
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَشْعَرِيُّ، عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ جَارِيَةَ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ : مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَلَى رَجُلٍ يُصَلِّي عَلَى صَخْرَةٍ فَأَتَى نَاحِيَةَ مَكَّةَ فَمَكَثَ مَلِيًّا ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَوَجَدَ الرَّجُلَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى حَالِهِ فَقَامَ فَجَمَعَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ : " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْقَصْدِ " . ثَلاَثًا : " فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا " .
“The Messenger of
Allah
(ﷺ) passed by a man who was praying on a rock, and he went
towards
Makkah and stayed a while, then he left and found the man
still
praying as he had been. He stood up and clasped his hands, then
said:
“O people, you should observe moderation,” three times, “for
Allah does not get tired (of giving reward) but you get tired.”
Narrated by It was
narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:
Context
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) encountered a man praying on a rock and observed him for a while. After noticing the man's prolonged prayer, he addressed the people, advising them to practice moderation in their worship. He repeated this message three times, emphasizing that while Allah does not tire of rewarding, humans can become fatigued. This teaches the importance of balance in religious practices.
Modern Application
Moderation in worship is relevant today as individuals strive to maintain a balance between spiritual obligations and daily responsibilities. Setting realistic goals for prayer and devotion can help prevent burnout and ensure consistent practice.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it highlights the importance of moderation in worship practices.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المُزَّمِّلِ
Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًۭا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًۭا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۢ
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
حَٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.
سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ
Al-A'raaf (The Heights)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّى بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍۢ وَٱدْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ
Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you maintain yourselves [in worship of Him] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in religion." Just as He originated you, you will return [to life] -
سُورَةُ القَلَمِ
Al-Qalam (The Pen)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]?' "
Common Words
129 total102 unique16 repeated
ٱلله7x
من5x
ٱلصلوة4x
إن3x
ٱليل2x
علم2x
أن2x
فٱقرءوا2x
ما2x
تيسر2x
وءاخرون2x
فى2x
وأقيموا2x
عند2x
فإذا2x
على2x
ربك1x
يعلم1x
أنك1x
تقوم1x
Related Hadiths
About Sunan Ibn Majah
This hadith is #3979 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of Zuhd. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:.