Hadith 4538

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ , أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ , عَنْ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ , سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ يُحَدِّثُ ، عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ، قَالَ : وَسَمِعْتُ أَخَاهُ أَبَا بَكْرِ بْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ يُحَدِّثُ , عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ , قَالَ : قَالَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ : يَوْمًا لِأَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " فِيمَ تَرَوْنَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَهُ جَنَّةٌ سورة البقرة آية 266 ؟ " قَالُوا : اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ ، فَغَضِبَ عُمَرُ , فَقَالَ : قُولُوا : " نَعْلَمُ أَوْ لَا نَعْلَمُ " , فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ : فِي نَفْسِي مِنْهَا شَيْءٌ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ , قَالَ عُمَرُ : " يَا ابْنَ أَخِي قُلْ وَلَا تَحْقِرْ نَفْسَكَ " , قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ : ضُرِبَتْ مَثَلًا لِعَمَلٍ ، قَالَ عُمَرُ : " أَيُّ عَمَلٍ " ، قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ : لِعَمَلٍ , قَالَ عُمَرُ : لِرَجُلٍ غَنِيٍّ يَعْمَلُ بِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ، ثُمَّ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الشَّيْطَانَ ، فَعَمِلَ بِالْمَعَاصِي حَتَّى أَغْرَقَ أَعْمَالَهُ " .
Narrated Ubaid bin Umair: Once `Umar (bin Al-Khattab) said to the companions of the Prophet "What do you think about this Verse:--"Does any of you wish that he should have a garden?" They replied, "Allah knows best." `Umar became angry and said, "Either say that you know or say that you do not know!" On that Ibn `Abbas said, "O chief of the believers! I have something in my mind to say about it." `Umar said, "O son of my brother! Say, and do not under estimate yourself." Ibn `Abbas said, "This Verse has been set up as an example for deeds." `Umar said, "What kind of deeds?" Ibn `Abbas said, "For deeds." `Umar said, "This is an example for a rich man who does goods out of obedience of Allah and then Allah sends him Satan whereupon he commits sins till all his good deeds are lost."
Hadith Reference صحيح البخاري / كتاب تفسير القرآن / 4538
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
In another narration, it is stated that a person continues to perform righteous deeds throughout his life, but when the end of his life approaches—and at that time, the need for good deeds is even greater—he begins to commit evil deeds, and all his previous good deeds are ruined.
(Fath al-Bari)
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 4538
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:

The condition of such a person is that in old age he is in utmost need of the garden and its produce, and there is no opportunity to plant a new garden. His children, due to their weakness, are unable to help him; in fact, they are even more in need than he is. Therefore, after performing a righteous deed, such as giving charity, it is also necessary to fully safeguard it. It should not happen that by reminding others of favors, exploiting others, or falling into shirk, he burns down his own garden, so that in the Hereafter he is left with nothing from his deeds, at a time when he is in dire need of them.


In this hadith, the dominance of Shaytan refers to a person becoming so engrossed in the acquisition of wealth that he becomes heedless of obedience to Allah, or becomes involved in such acts of disobedience—such as shirk and innovation (bid‘ah)—that all his good deeds are rendered void. The meaning is that charity and almsgiving are like a fruit-bearing garden, whose fruit will benefit in the Hereafter. When the intention is corrupt, the garden is burned; then how can its fruit, which is the reward, be attained?
And Allah knows best.


Umar (radi Allahu anhu) added the condition of being wealthy along with action, which is derived from the parable. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah), for further clarification of this example, has quoted a narration from Ibn Jarir Tabari (rahimahullah). What is meant by this is action: a person needs the garden most when his age declines and his family increases, and a servant will need his deeds the most when he is resurrected on the Day of Judgment.
(Fath al-Bari: 8/254)
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 4538