❀ The Prophet’s Supplication for ‘Masakeen’ and Seeking Refuge from Poverty – A Reconciliatory Explanation ❀
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 181
The Prophet ﷺ reportedly said:
“O Allah, let me live as a miskīn (humble/poor), let me die as a miskīn, and resurrect me among the masākīn.”
Yet in other narrations, the Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from poverty (faqr), such as the duʿāʾ:
“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from disbelief, poverty, and the punishment of the grave.”
How can these two types of supplications be reconciled? And is the first narration authentic?
Yes, the first ḥadīth is authentic and has been verified by several renowned hadith scholars.
➤ Reported by Imām Tirmidhī (2/60), Ibn Mājah (2/4126), Imām al-Ḍiyāʾ al-Maqdisī in al-Mukhtār, and ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥumayd.
➤ Also mentioned in:
➤ Narrated through companions such as:
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله counted this narration among the fabricated (mawḍūʿ) ahādīth in al-Mawḍūʿāt.
However, his view was rejected by Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī and other hadith scholars, who upheld its authenticity.
According to Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله:
“The Prophet ﷺ did not mean poverty or destitution by 'masakeen'. Rather, he referred to humility, modesty, and lowliness.”
(al-Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr, p. 275)
Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله supported this explanation, stating:
“The Prophet ﷺ did not ask for poverty, but for a life of humility, lowliness, and reliance on Allah.”
Other scholars also remarked:
“‘Masakeen’ here means people who possess qualities of humility, simplicity, and detachment from materialism, not literal poverty.”
It is crucial to understand that poverty itself is not necessarily praiseworthy.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“True wealth is not in having many possessions, but in being content at heart.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6446, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1051)
Moreover, the Prophet ﷺ also mentioned:
“A poor person who is arrogant (‘ʿā’il mustakbir’)”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 107, Kitāb al-Īmān)
— showing that poverty does not guarantee humility.
Some scholars clarified:
“The Prophet’s ﷺ prayer for masakeen was for detachment from worldly wealth, not for destitution, as excessive wealth often leads people away from spiritual excellence.”
(Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ 10/11)
❖ The ḥadīth about living and dying among the masakeen is authentic and well-supported.
❖ The term “masakeen” refers to humility, simplicity, and reliance upon Allah, not literal destitution.
❖ The Prophet’s seeking refuge from poverty was to be protected from the type of poverty that leads to humiliation, disbelief, or religious deviation.
❖ There is no contradiction between the two supplications; rather, they complement each other in meaning and objective.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best what is correct.
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 181
❖ Question:
The Prophet ﷺ reportedly said:
“O Allah, let me live as a miskīn (humble/poor), let me die as a miskīn, and resurrect me among the masākīn.”
Yet in other narrations, the Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from poverty (faqr), such as the duʿāʾ:
“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from disbelief, poverty, and the punishment of the grave.”
How can these two types of supplications be reconciled? And is the first narration authentic?
❖ Answer:
Yes, the first ḥadīth is authentic and has been verified by several renowned hadith scholars.
✿ Authentication of the Ḥadīth
➤ Reported by Imām Tirmidhī (2/60), Ibn Mājah (2/4126), Imām al-Ḍiyāʾ al-Maqdisī in al-Mukhtār, and ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥumayd.
➤ Also mentioned in:
- al-Irwāʾ (ḥadīth 861)
- al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah (1/555, ḥadīth 308)
➤ Narrated through companions such as:
- Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī
- Anas ibn Mālik
- ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit
- Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهم)
✿ Response to Imām Ibn al-Jawzī's Objection
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله counted this narration among the fabricated (mawḍūʿ) ahādīth in al-Mawḍūʿāt.
However, his view was rejected by Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī and other hadith scholars, who upheld its authenticity.
✿ Meaning of “Masakeen” in the Prophet’s Supplication
According to Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله:
“The Prophet ﷺ did not mean poverty or destitution by 'masakeen'. Rather, he referred to humility, modesty, and lowliness.”
(al-Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr, p. 275)
Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله supported this explanation, stating:
“The Prophet ﷺ did not ask for poverty, but for a life of humility, lowliness, and reliance on Allah.”
Other scholars also remarked:
“‘Masakeen’ here means people who possess qualities of humility, simplicity, and detachment from materialism, not literal poverty.”
✿ Meaning of Seeking Refuge from Poverty
It is crucial to understand that poverty itself is not necessarily praiseworthy.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“True wealth is not in having many possessions, but in being content at heart.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6446, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1051)
Moreover, the Prophet ﷺ also mentioned:
“A poor person who is arrogant (‘ʿā’il mustakbir’)”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 107, Kitāb al-Īmān)
— showing that poverty does not guarantee humility.
Some scholars clarified:
“The Prophet’s ﷺ prayer for masakeen was for detachment from worldly wealth, not for destitution, as excessive wealth often leads people away from spiritual excellence.”
(Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ 10/11)
✔ Summary of the Ruling
❖ The ḥadīth about living and dying among the masakeen is authentic and well-supported.
❖ The term “masakeen” refers to humility, simplicity, and reliance upon Allah, not literal destitution.
❖ The Prophet’s seeking refuge from poverty was to be protected from the type of poverty that leads to humiliation, disbelief, or religious deviation.
❖ There is no contradiction between the two supplications; rather, they complement each other in meaning and objective.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best what is correct.
