Bukhari

Hadith Commentary: Poverty and debt are extremely dangerous afflictions.
My prayer day and night is that Allah protects me, my relatives, and the devotees of Sahih Bukhari from debt and poverty until the end of our lives.
Especially, those of my sincere followers who continually request prayers for the repayment of their debts—may Allah, the Most Pure, settle all their debts, and grant me death in such a state that I do not owe even a single penny to anyone.
May Allah settle all debts before death.
Ameen, O Lord of the worlds. (Raaz)

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Poverty and destitution are extremely dangerous afflictions.
If, along with poverty and hardship, there is no patience and contentment, and as a result a person begins to engage in unlawful acts, then this is a punishment from Allah Ta’ala.
In this supplication, the evil and tribulation of wealth and poverty from which refuge is sought is precisely this, and it is something from which one should seek refuge a thousand times over, because where there is no contentment in the heart, humility and submissiveness disappear.
(2)
The tribulation of poverty is that a person may resort to unlawful means to earn a livelihood, or may become displeased with Allah Ta’ala in his heart and complain about Allah Ta’ala with his tongue.
Such a person has failed the test of poverty, the consequences of which he will have to bear in this world and the Hereafter.
Wallahu al-musta‘an.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
The tribulation (fitnah) of the Dajjal is the greatest of all tribulations.
He will possess such means of misguidance that no one else has ever been granted.
Therefore, it is necessary to seek refuge with Allah, the Exalted, in order to remain protected from his deceit, trickery, and lies.
➋
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself used to recite in the tashahhud during prayer:
(Wa a‘udhu bika min fitnati al-Masih al-Dajjal)
“O Allah! I seek Your protection from the tribulation of the False Messiah (al-Masih al-Dajjal).”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Da‘awat, Hadith: 6368)
From this hadith, the severity of the tribulation of the Dajjal becomes evident, as the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself used to seek refuge with Allah, the Exalted, from it.

Hadith Commentary:

The example of the trial of wealth and riches is that of Qarun, whom Allah caused to be swallowed by the earth due to his arrogance and pride over his wealth. And the example of the blessing of wealth is that of Hazrat Uthman Ghani radi Allahu anhu, who became renowned in the history of Islam until the Day of Judgment—radi Allahu anhu wa ardah.

May Allah the Exalted make every Muslim like Hazrat Uthman Ghani.

Ameen.

Hadith Commentary:
Wealth and riches, in themselves, are not something bad; rather, they are a great blessing from Allah Ta’ala, provided one is granted the ability to fulfill their rights and spend them properly.

It was through his wealth that Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) attained such a status that his name will remain until the end of time.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) announced regarding him:
“After this, whatever Uthman does, there will be no questioning of him.”

However, if—unfortunately—wealth and prosperity give rise to arrogance and pride, and one is not granted the ability to use wealth and riches properly, then this is the lifestyle of Qarun.

It was the very trial of wealth and riches that caused Qarun to be swallowed up by the earth.

May Allah Ta’ala protect us from this.

Ameen.

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
مَأْثَمْ (Ma’tham):
If taken as a verbal noun, it means "sin."
Or it may refer to an act that becomes a cause or reason for sin.
مَغْرَمْ (Maghram):
That is, debt, or an act that leads to debt.

Benefits and Issues:
All the past and future sins of the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam have been forgiven.
Despite this,
he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would seek refuge from the punishment of the grave and Hellfire. The scholars have mentioned several explanations for this:

➊ For the purpose of teaching and encouraging the Ummah (community) to supplicate (make du’a).

➋ To show that making supplication (du’a) is a Sunnah (prophetic practice).

➌ To express humility and servitude (‘ubudiyyah and bandagī).

➍ Due to the overwhelming sense of Allah’s greatness, awe, and fear.

➎ To express the servant’s neediness and poverty before Allah.

➏ In compliance with Allah’s command and His instruction to seek forgiveness (istighfar).

➐ To encourage and motivate the Ummah towards seeking forgiveness (istighfar), so that if I, despite having such an exalted and lofty status, seek forgiveness, then how much more should you be diligent and consistent in it.

➑ To warn against sins and the punishment of the grave and Hellfire, for these are very difficult and perilous stages—so be concerned about them.

➒ Supplication (du’a) and seeking forgiveness (istighfar) are, in themselves, means of attaining Allah’s closeness, mercy, and elevation of ranks.

Therefore, it is not necessary
that a person should only supplicate or seek forgiveness when in need or when sinful.
Rather, these acts should be performed for the attainment of good deeds and the elevation of ranks.
For this reason, even though the emergence of the False Messiah (Masih Dajjal) will occur after the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and near the Day of Judgment, he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would still seek refuge from his evil and tribulation.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: "Dajl" means falsehood and deception. Since he will be a very great liar, he has been given this name. The meaning of "dajl" is to cover or conceal. He will cover the earth with his followers, or he will cover the truth with falsehood, or it is derived from "dujila al-athar" (the footprints have been erased), because his eye will be erased. For this reason, he is called "Masih," that is, "Mamsuh al-‘Ayn" (the one whose eye is erased).

Hadith Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:
Weak resolve,
helplessness,
laziness,
sluggishness,
cowardice, and miserliness
are such weaknesses
due to which a person is unable to undertake those courageous and resolute actions, and those works of effort and sacrifice,
without which neither success in this world can be attained, nor can one, by achieving triumph and prosperity in the Hereafter, obtain the pleasure and approval of Allah, nor, in the presence of these weaknesses, can the religious and worldly obligations and rights be properly upheld.
The trial (fitnah) of life refers to becoming enamored with the world during one's lifetime,
or becoming a captive to the desires of the self, and the trial (fitnah) of death refers to
either making a wrong decision at the time of death,
or being subjected to the trial of the grave.

Explanation:
1:
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the trial of Hellfire (from the deeds that lead to Hellfire), from the punishment of Hellfire, and from the punishment of the grave, and from the trial of the grave (from the questioning of Munkar and Nakir, for which one may not be able to answer), from the evil of the trial of wealth (from arrogance and earning the unlawful), and from the evil of the trial of poverty (from envy and greed), and from the evil of the Antichrist (Masih ad-Dajjal). O Allah! Wash away our sins with the water of snow and hail, and purify my heart from sins just as You purify a white garment from dirt, and create distance between me and my sins as You have made distance between the East and the West. O Allah! I seek refuge in You from laziness, from old age, from sin, and from the burden of debt.

1543. Commentary:
➊ By «فتنة النار» are meant such deeds that become a cause for entering Hell, or it refers to those questions from the keepers of Hell which they will ask as a form of reprimand and admonition. The statement of Allah, the Exalted, is: ﴿كُلَّما أُلقِىَ فيها فَوجٌ سَأَلَهُم خَزَنَتُها أَلَم يَأتِكُم نَذيرٌ‌ ﴾ [الملك:8]
"Whenever a group is cast into it, its keepers will ask them: 'Did no warner come to you?'" And "the punishment of the Fire" means that a person becomes among the people of Hell and suffers its torment. And Allah knows best.

➋ "The evil of the wealthy" is that a person, upon becoming wealthy, may become boastful, rebellious, and commit oppression, or he may earn unlawfully and spend in unlawful ways.

➌ And "the evil of poverty" is that a person may become envious of the rich, or may not be content with Allah's decree, or may covet their wealth without right, or may compromise his own honor before them, or may even turn away from Islam itself, and so on.

880. Commentary:
➊ The meaning of «دجال» is "extremely deceptive," and by «مسيح» is meant «ممسوح العين», that is, one who is blind in one eye. As for why ‘Isa (alayhis salam) is called al-Masih, it is in the sense of «ماسح», meaning that by his touch (passing his hand), the sick would be cured, or, according to Jewish terminology, every person who was appointed by Allah Ta’ala for the reformation of creation was called "Masih."
➋ By "the trial of life" is meant that a person becomes entangled in worldly affairs and fails to fulfill the demands of religion.
➌ By "the trial of death" is meant that at the final moment, one is deprived of the testimony of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), or utters some inappropriate word or performs some improper deed. «اعاذنا الله»
➍ Prayer (salah) is an occasion for nearness to Allah; therefore, a person should be eager to ask for his needs of this world and the Hereafter (especially at the end of tashahhud and in prostrations).
➎ One should avoid debt as much as possible; if it becomes unavoidable, then one should take on only as much debt as can be repaid according to one’s means and promise, so that there is no need to lie or break promises.

The meaning of the tribulation (fitnah) of the world is that I become so absorbed in the allurements of the world that I become heedless of the Hereafter, or it refers to those severe hardships that are beyond human capacity.

Benefit: For details, see Hadith: 5444.

1310. Commentary:

➊ "The Messiah Dajjal": From authentic hadiths, it is understood that before the Day of Judgment, a man will gain dominance over the world. He will be advanced in worldly matters and will impress people with his scientific and other achievements. Religiously, he will claim to be the Lord and will try to make everyone recite his creed. He will be a severe deceiver and trickster. This is the meaning of Dajjal. He is called "Messiah" because he will be "mamsuh al-ayn" (one-eyed). The Jews will consider him their savior. They are waiting for him, whereas the true Messiah has already come, whom they did not accept. They will accept this false Messiah, who will be from among them. He will be defective in both eyes. When the Jews dared to crucify the true Messiah, Isa (alayhis salam), Allah, to protect him from the evil of the Jews, raised him alive to the heavens, and near the Day of Judgment, Allah will send him down to earth again. He will kill this false, deceptive Messiah, exposing his false messiahship, and will deliver the world from his tyranny and oppression. With his killing, Judaism will come to an end, and Christianity will be abolished by Isa (alayhis salam) himself, both by his words and his hands. The symbols of Christianity—the cross and the pig—will be eradicated. Pure Islam will prevail. InshaAllah.

➋ "The trial of life" is that a person remains disobedient to the Lord Almighty during his life, turns away from the true religion, becomes lost in the allurements of life, and becomes heedless of the Almighty. And "the trial of death" is that at the time of death, Satan leads one astray, the testimony of tawhid (the declaration of the oneness of Allah) is not granted, and death comes in a bad state—may Allah protect us. It is possible that what is meant is the punishment of the grave, i.e., failure in the questioning and answering. Ya Muqallib al-qulub, thabbit qulubana 'ala dinik (O Turner of the hearts, make our hearts firm upon Your religion).

➌ Taking on debt beyond one's means, such that it cannot be repaid later, is not permissible.

➍ Breaking promises and lying are forbidden (haram).

➎ One should continually seek Allah's protection from the aforementioned matters.

Benefits and Issues:

➊ The trial of Hell and the trial of poverty refer to those sins which lead to Hell or become the cause of the punishment of the grave.

➋ The trial of wealth is that a person, becoming arrogant, starts committing oppression, or refuses to accept the truth, or spends wealth on sinful activities. Such a person has failed the trial with which Allah tested him by granting wealth.

➌ The trial and test of destitution is that a person adopts unlawful (haram) means to earn his livelihood, or harbors resentment against Allah in his heart, or complains about Allah with his tongue. Such a person has failed the test of poverty.

➍ The Masih Dajjal is a specific individual who will appear near the Day of Judgment and will claim divinity. Whoever supports him will attain abundance of worldly wealth and comfort; whoever refuses to accept his claim as true will face hardships and be deprived of wealth and riches. Many people, out of greed for wealth or fear of poverty, will become his followers and lose their faith. Many people, seeing his strange and wondrous feats, will accept his claim as true; therefore, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has described him in detail so that the believers may safeguard their faith. In the end, he will be killed at the place of Lud in the land of Palestine at the hands of the true Messiah, that is, ‘Isa (alayhis salam).

➎ Mistakes and sins are related to the fire of Hell; therefore, they are likened to fire, and supplication is made to wash them away with water and ice. The meaning is that the heart may be purified from sins and granted the coolness of tranquility and peace.

➏ Laziness deprives a person of many good deeds and benefits of this world and the Hereafter. A believer should be alert in matters of righteousness.

➐ By extreme old age is meant that stage of life when a person becomes dependent on others. All his faculties become weak, so he cannot perform good deeds as before.

➑ By liability is meant the obligation to make a payment that is unpleasant and difficult, for example: if someone suffers a loss unintentionally and it must be compensated, or if someone is killed unintentionally and blood money must be paid, or if a crime is committed and its penalty must be paid. In this supplication, refuge is sought from all such situations.

Benefit:
This hadith proves that taking a loan is not a good thing. One should avoid it by all possible means, but there is no harm in taking a loan out of necessity. If a loan is taken, there should also be the intention to repay it; Allah Ta'ala enables the repayment of the loan, and a person should always continue to make this supplication, «للـهـم اني اعوذ بك من غلبة الدين».