Hadith 6540

قَالَ الْأَعْمَشُ : حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو ، عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ ، قَالَ : قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " اتَّقُوا النَّارَ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ وَأَشَاحَ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : اتَّقُوا النَّارَ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ وَأَشَاحَ ثَلَاثًا ، حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهَا ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ " .
Narrated `Adi bin Hatim: The Prophet said, "Protect yourself from the Fire." He then turned his face aside (as if he were looking at it) and said again, "Protect yourself from the Fire," and then turned his face aside (as if he were looking at it), and he said so for the third time till we thought he was looking at it. He then said, "Protect yourselves from the Fire, even if with one half of a date and he who hasn't got even this, (should do so) by (saying) a good, pleasant word.'
Hadith Reference صحيح البخاري / كتاب الرقاق / 6540
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
In another narration, it is stated that without any barrier and without any interpreter, that is, openly, a person will see Allah the Exalted, and Allah Ta'ala will speak to him directly from His own Self.
It will not be that someone else speaks on His behalf as an interpreter.
Now, it is evident that in this world there are hundreds of languages, so Allah the Exalted will speak in every language, and this speech will be with letters and sound; otherwise, how would people understand His words and how would they hear them?
This hadith refutes those who say that there is no sound or letters in Allah’s speech. Rather, the Mu'tazilah and Jahmiyyah even say that He does not speak at all, but instead creates the power of speech in something else.
The further explanation of the words "fatastaqbiluhu al-nar" has come in Sahih Muslim as follows: if he looks to his right, he will see his deeds;
if he looks to his left, he will also see his deeds;
if he looks in front of him, he will see Hellfire before his face.
A good word is that by which someone receives guidance, or the words of Allah and His Messenger, or by which a dispute is resolved, or reconciliation occurs among people, or by which someone’s anger is removed. Even for saying such excellent words, there is reward.
This is the meaning of the last words of the hadith.
Speaking words of sympathy and compassion, love and kindness, unity and good character—all these are included among the good words (kalimat tayyibat), and for them too, one receives the reward of charity and alms. But how many people are there who are not even granted this? May Allah grant them sound understanding.
Ameen.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 6540
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In another narration, it is clarified that when he looks to his right, he will see his deeds; when he looks to his left, he will also see only his deeds; when he looks in front of him, he will see Hellfire right before his face. Therefore, you should strive to save yourselves from the Fire, even if it is by giving a piece of date or by saying a good word.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Tawhid, Hadith: 7512)
In another narration, it is mentioned that he will see the Fire on his right side and the Fire on his left side as well.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Zakat, Hadith: 1413)
(2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has mentioned the reason for this, quoting Ibn Hubayrah, in these words: His path will be over the Fire, and apart from this, he will have no other way available to him, because there is no alternative except to cross over the Bridge of Sirat.
(Fath al-Bari: 11/492)
(3)
The meaning is that you should keep giving charity (sadaqah) to save yourselves from the Fire of Hell.
If you have nothing except a dry piece of date, then give that in the way of Allah and be concerned about saving yourself from Hellfire.
If even this is not available, then you should try to attain this reward by saying a good word; but how many are there who are not even granted this.
May Allah Ta'ala grant us sound understanding.
Ameen, ya Rabb al-'Alamin.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6540