´Abu As-Safr narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said:` "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) passed by us while we were repairing a hut of ours, so he said: 'What is this?' We said:"It has become weak, so we are repairing it.' He said: 'I do not think but that the matter (of life) is more in fleeting than that."
Hadith Referenceسنن ترمذي / كتاب الزهد عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / 2335
1؎: The meaning of your statement is not that the plastering and repair of the house should not be done, but rather the intent is to remind of death, so that death remains before a person at all times and he never becomes heedless of it.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation: 1: The meaning of the statement of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is not that one should not plaster or repair the house, but rather the intent is to remind of death, so that death remains ever-present before a person and he is never heedless of it at any time.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2335
´It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said:` “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by us when we were fixing a hut of ours, and said: ‘What is this?’ I said: ‘It is a hut of ours that has fallen into disrepair.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The matter (of death) may come sooner than that.’”
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
➊ By “haste in the matter” is meant that one does not know when death may come. Perhaps one may or may not get the chance to live in the repaired house.
➋ One should keep in mind the appropriateness of time and place when giving advice.
➌ A house is needed for sheltering the head, but one should not forget death. Just as one strives for the necessities of this world, it is even more necessary to be concerned about the home of the Hereafter.
➍ One should avoid unnecessary formalities as much as possible.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 4160