ONE HADITH A DAY

What do I have to do with this worldly life? I am in this worldly life like a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he goes away and leaves it

Narrated by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Mājah · Authentic

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ قَالَ: نَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى حَصِيرٍ، فَقَامَ وَقَدْ أَثَّرَ فِي جَنْبِهِ، فَقُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، لَوِ اتَّخَذْنَا لَكَ وِطَاءً، فَقَالَ: «مَا لِي وَلِلدُّنْيَا، مَا أَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ كَرَاكِبٍ اسْتَظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا».

“‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was sleeping upon a straw mat, and then he got up, and it had left marks on his side. We said: O Messenger of Allah, we could get a mattress for you. He said: "What do I have to do with this worldly life? I am in this worldly life like a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he goes away and leaves it."”

Explanation

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) slept on a small mat woven of some plants. When he got up, the straw mat had left marks on the skin of his side. We said: O Messenger of Allah, if we made for you a soft mattress, it would be better than lying on this rough straw mat. Thereupon, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: I have no love or affection for this world to desire it. My example in this world is like a rider who sought shade under a tree, then departed and left it behind.

Benefits

• Highlighting the Prophet's asceticism in this worldly life and how he turned away from it.
• The Hadīth does not indicate abandoning what is necessary in this world, but rather being distracted by this world from the Hereafter. The man sought shade under a tree and derived benefit from it for his journey, but he did not incline to it.
• Deriving lessons from the Prophet's condition, as he is the best example to follow. Whoever follows his footsteps will be guided and will succeed in both this world and the Hereafter.
• The Companions' great care about the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and their love for him.
• The permissibility of using examples in Da‘wah (the call to Allah) and education.

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