Musnad Shihab

Benefit:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna ‘Amir bin Wathilah radi Allahu anhu that he heard Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ud radi Allahu anhu saying: “Wretched is the one who is wretched in his mother’s womb, and fortunate is the one who takes admonition from others.”

A person from among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came, whose name was Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Asid Ghifari radi Allahu anhu. ‘Amir narrated to him this statement of Ibn Mas‘ud. Upon this, he said: How can anyone be wretched without action? Then a person said to him: Do you find this astonishing? Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam say: “When forty-two nights pass over the drop (nutfah), Allah sends an angel to it, who shapes it, forms its hearing, its sight, its skin, its flesh, and its bones (etc.), then says: O Lord! Is it male or female? So your Lord decrees whatever He wills, and the angel writes it down. Then the angel says: O Lord! What is its lifespan? So your Lord decrees whatever He wills, and the angel writes it down. Then the angel departs with the record in his hand; there is neither any addition nor any deficiency in Allah’s command.” (Muslim: 2645)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik radi Allahu anhu that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Allah has appointed an angel over the womb. He says: O Lord! This is a drop (nutfah). O Lord! Now it has become a clot (alaqah). O Lord! Now it has become a morsel of flesh (mudghah). Then when Allah wills to complete its creation, the angel asks: O Lord! Is it a boy or a girl? What will be its provision? Is it fortunate or wretched? When will death come to it? Thus, all these things are written while it is still in the mother’s womb.” (Bukhari: 6596)