Source: Monthly al-Hadīth Journal, Hazro✿ Statement of Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله:
"حدثنا حسن ، حدثنا حماد بن سلمة ، عن ثابت لبناني ، عن أنس بن مالك ، أن رسول الله ﷺ قال:
يؤتى برجل يوم القيامة من أهل الجنة، فيقول الله: يا ابن آدم كيف وجدت منزلك ؟ فيقول : أى رب ، خير منزل، فيقول له : سل وتمنه. فيقول : ما أسأل وأتمنى إلا أن تردني إلى الدنيا، فأقتل. لما رأى من فضل الشهادة، قال : ثم يؤتى برجل من أهل النار، فيقول له : يا ابن آدم ، كيف وجدت منزلك ؟ فيقول : أي رب، شر منزل. فيقول: أتفتدى منه بطلاع الأرض ذهبا، فيقول : نعم أى رب. فيقول : كذبت، قد سألتك ما هو أهل من ذا فلم تفعل فيرد إلى النار."
✿ Ḥadīth Translation:
Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
*“On the Day of Judgment, a man from among the people of Paradise will be brought forth. Allah ﷻ will say to him: ‘O son of Ādam, how did you find your home (Paradise)?’ He will reply: ‘O my Lord! The best home indeed.’
Allah ﷻ will then say: ‘Ask and wish for anything.’
He will say: ‘I do not ask or wish for anything except that You send me back to the world so I may be killed again (in Your path), for he will have seen the immense reward of martyrdom.’
Then a man from among the people of Hell will be brought. Allah ﷻ will say to him: ‘O son of Ādam, how did you find your home (Hell)?’
He will say: ‘O my Lord! A dreadful abode indeed.’
Allah ﷻ will ask: ‘Would you ransom yourself from it by offering all the gold in the world?’
He will say: ‘Yes, O my Lord.’
Allah ﷻ will respond: ‘You are lying. I had asked you for something much less than that, yet you did not do it.’ Then he will be returned to the Hellfire.”*
Takhrīj of the Ḥadīth:
This narration is found in:
- Musnad Aḥmad (Ḥadīth 13545, also 3/207, 3/131)
- Sunan al-Nasā’ī (Ḥadīth 3162)
- Musnad ʿAbd bin Ḥumayd (Ḥadīth 1329)
This narration is authentic upon the conditions of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. The narrator "Ḥasan" refers to Ḥasan ibn Mūsā al-Ashīb.
✦ Fiqh of the Ḥadīth:
◈ 1. The Supreme Virtue of Martyrdom (Shahādah)
This ḥadīth highlights the great reward and excellence of the Mujāhidīn who fight in the path of Allah ﷻ to uphold the true religion. Even on the Day of Judgment, a martyr will desire to return to the world to fight and be martyred again after witnessing the immense virtue of martyrdom.
◈ 2. Worldly Life is a Test
The world is Dār al-Imtiḥān (the abode of trial).
Once a person dies or is martyred, he cannot return to the world, except those whom the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah have specified.
◈ 3. The Reality of This World vs. Paradise
Even with all its treasures, the entire world cannot equal even a single blessing of Paradise.
So why are people of the world so heedless of Paradise and its everlasting blessings while this world is swiftly passing away?
◈ 4. The Person from Paradise Refers to a Martyr
The “man from Paradise” mentioned in the ḥadīth refers to a shahīd (martyr) — one who sacrificed his life for the cause of Allah ﷻ and for raising His Word. Imām al-Nasā’ī has narrated from ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit رضي الله عنه with a ḥasan chain:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"There is no person on the earth for whom, if good is destined by Allah, he would wish to return to the world after death — even if he were given the entire world — except the martyr. For he wishes to return and be killed again due to the honor he sees (in martyrdom)."
Reference: Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 3161
◈ 5. Explanation by ʿAllāmah Abū al-Ḥasan al-Sindī
In his commentary on Sunan al-Nasā’ī (6/343), he writes:
The statement “a man will be brought on the Day of Judgment” may refer to a martyr, or someone else who, upon witnessing the reward of martyrdom, desires to return to the world and be martyred.
However, when paired with the previous ḥadīth (of ʿUbādah), it becomes evident that the person mentioned is indeed a martyr.
Reconciliation between both narrations is possible by understanding that the first refers to the period of Barzakh (the life in the grave), while the second refers to the time after entering Paradise on the Day of Resurrection.
◈ 6. The Ḥadīth Affirms the Divine Attribute of Speech
This ḥadīth proves that Allah ﷻ speaks, and He will speak to His slaves on the Day of Judgment.
Hence, the one who denies Allah’s Attributes or distorts them like the Muʿaṭṭilah, or does not follow the methodology of the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn, is indeed in loss.
May Allah ﷻ count us among the people of Islam and truth.
