Deen Track

Hadith 31

hasan

True Asceticism

الزهد الحقيقي

عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و سلم فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! دُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ إذَا عَمِلْتُهُ أَحَبَّنِي اللهُ وَأَحَبَّنِي النَّاسُ؛ فَقَالَ: ازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا يُحِبَّك اللهُ، وَازْهَدْ فِيمَا عِنْدَ النَّاسِ يُحِبَّك النَّاسُ. حديث حسن، رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ، وَغَيْرُهُ بِأَسَانِيدَ حَسَنَةٍ

Translation

On the authority of Abu al-’Abbas Sahl bin Sa’ad as-Sa’idee (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, direct me to an act which, if I do it, [will cause] Allah to love me and the people to love me.” So he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Renounce the world and Allah will love you, and renounce what the people possess and the people will love you.” A hasan hadeeth related by Ibn Majah and others with good chains of authorities

Narrated by

Sahl ibn Sad al-Saidi

سهل بن سعد الساعدي رضي الله عنه

Source

Sunan Ibn Majah

ابن ماجه

Verify on Sunnah.com

Explanation

Asceticism (zuhd) is not poverty but detachment. Not desiring what others have earns both divine and human love. This hadith balances material and spiritual concerns.

Key Lessons

  • 1Detachment from world earns Allah's love
  • 2Not coveting earns people's love
  • 3Zuhd is about the heart, not appearance
  • 4Balance material and spiritual