Sunan at-Tirmidhī Ḥadīth [2345] – A case of two brothers and the blessings of the one who seeks knowledge
17 April 2025 · 19 Shawwāl 1446 AH
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ: كَانَ أَخَوَانِ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَكَانَ أَحَدُهُمَا يَأْتِي النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْآخَرُ يَحْتَرِفُ، فَشَكَا المُحْتَرِفُ أَخَاهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: >لَعَلَّكَ تُرْزَقُ بِهِ<
قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.
Reference
Book [36]: Chapters on zuhd [asceticism]
Chapter [33]: About reliance upon Allāh
Translation
Ḥadīth [2345]: It is narrated on the authority of Anas bin Mālik [d. 90H] (may Allāh be pleased with him) that he said: ‘There were two brothers during the time of the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). One of them used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), and the other had some business. The businessman among them complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) about his brother, so he (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Perhaps you are provided because of him.”’
Abū ‘Īsā [d. 279H] said: This ḥadīth is ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.
Grading
Commentary
Commentary by Dārussalām (Jāmi’ at-Tirmidhī)
This ḥadīth confirms the fact that, if two brothers live together and share their hearth, and if one of them devotes his time learning the tenets of religion and preaching them among the people, while the other engages in earning the bread, the latter should believe that perhaps he owes prosperity in his business to the blessing granted by Allāh for the efforts of his religion-loving brother, and hence any objection to his brother’s activities is unjustified.
• Reference: [2345 (4/373-374), Jāmi’ at-Tirmidhī, Dārussalām (Eng)]
Commentary by Maktabah Bayt-us-Salām (Sunan at-Tirmidhī)
A labourer complained that he (i.e., his brother) doesn’t cooperate in earning whilst eating with me (from my earned income). Upon this, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) explained the complainant that he stays with me in the pursuit of religious knowledge. Therefore, understand that the blessings in your earnings include his share, so, do not let arrogance overtake you. It must be evident that the other brother didn’t spend his time in vain or was an idler. On the contrary, he was occupied with acquiring religious knowledge. Hence, this ḥadīth doesn’t yield evidence of uselessness or idleness. It rather points out that those who are invested in Allāh’s path are to be supported and assisted by other family members.
• Reference: [2345 (3/327), Sunan at-Tirmidhī, Maktabah Bayt-us-Salām (Ur)]
Translated by Umm Rumayṣā'
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