Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim Ḥadīth [1054]

If Allāh grants a person the wealth of faith and Islām, and at the same time provides enough worldly means for living so that there is no need to extend one’s hand in asking from others, and then Allāh bestows upon their heart the wealth of contentment and tranquility, then this is a great favor from Allāh upon them and a sole indication of their success and prosperity.

• Reference: [1054 (3/464-465), Tuḥfatul Muslim Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Nomani Kutub Khana (Ur)]

Translated by Shu’ayb Aḥmad (India)

a) Islām is the biggest form of wealth in this world, since Paradise in Hereafter could be gained only by Islām, and no wealth is more precious than Paradise.
b) ‘Sufficient provision’ means the amount of the livelihood that suffices one’s needs if he does not spend it lavishly, and he is not compelled to borrow money from others.
c) Success is not in accumulating headed-up sums of money, rather being thankful for what is at hand and being content with what exists is the great wealth.

• Reference: [4138 (5/308), Sunan ibn Mājah, Dārussalām (Eng)]

The real success of a man will be measured by his being blessed with Divine mercy and forgiveness in the Hereafter, and this is contingent on Islām alone. If he lacks the wealth of Islām, all the worldly possessions will not ensure his success in the next world. This ḥadīth tells us that richness is not to be defined in terms of a lot of belongings, and that the real richness is gauged by the contentment of the soul.

• Reference: [512 (1/456), Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn, Dārussalām (Eng)]

To be contended with the independent subsistence (kafāf) has been counted a merit by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) because this prevents one from begging of people. The ḥadīth points out the excellence of those people who remain satisfied with their limited resources and do not beg of people. Similarly, autarky has its own merit because affluence often makes a man proud, whereas penury lowers his image in the eyes of people. Yet adequate livelihood has no room for the pitfalls of the two other situations.

• Reference: [523 (1/470), Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn, Dārussalām (Eng)]

A believer who is content is deemed successful because, due to their faith, their afterlife is secured. By being satisfied with sufficient provision, worldly troubles and worries are alleviated. It is as if they have succeeded in both this world and the hereafter.

In contrast, a person who has faith but is also accustomed to greed and covetousness cannot enjoy the beauty and pleasure of faith, nor can they find peace in this world. This is because impatience, greed, and covetousness are constant sources of distress..

• Reference: [5165 (4/206), Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, Maktabah Muḥammadiyah (Ur)]

Translated by Shu’ayb Aḥmad (India)

• Mukhtaṣar Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (556 (1/151))
• Sunan at-Tirmidhī (2348)
• Sunan ibn Mājah (4138)
• Musnad Aḥmad (6572 (11/134-135)) ^{[Shu’ayb al-Arna’ūṭ]}
• Musnad Aḥmad (6609 (11/181)) ^{[Shu’ayb al-Arna’ūṭ]}
• Musnad Aḥmad (6572 (6/144)) ^{[Aḥmad Shākir]}
• Musnad Aḥmad (6609 (6/178)) ^{[Aḥmad Shākir]}
• Ṣaḥīḥ at-Targhīb (829 (1/503))
• Ṣaḥīḥ ibn Ḥibbān (670 (2/444-445))
• Bayhaqī’s Sunan al-Kubrā (7868 (4/328))
• Shu’ab al-Īmān (9862 (12/546-547))
• Al-Mustadrak ‘alā aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥayn (7345 (7/222))
• Sharḥ as-Sunnah (4043 (14/245))
• Ḥilyatul Awliyā’ (6/129)
• Kanzul ‘Ummāl (7103 (3/393))
• Al-Musnad al-Jāmi’ (8725 (11/283-284))
• Tuḥfatul Ashrāf (8848 (6/98))
• Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ (5165)
• Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn (512 & 523)
• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’ (4368 (2/805))
• Silsilah Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah (129 (1/251-252))
• Talkhīṣ al-Jāmi’ al-Kāmil (12630 (5/177); 13118 (5/366); & 15277 (6/253))

Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (Authentic)