Hadith Reference:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: مَنْ ظَلَمَ قِيدَ شِبْرٍ مِنْ الْأَرْضِ: طُوِّقَهُ مِنْ سَبْعِ أَرَضِينَ
Narrated by Aisha (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever unlawfully takes even a span of land, he will be made to wear a collar (of burden) from the seven earths on the Day of Judgment."
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 2453; Sahih Muslim: 1612]
The mention of "a handspan" is a form of hyperbole, meaning that if seizing such a small piece of land is so severely condemned, then taking more than that is undoubtedly more sinful.
[Sharḥ ʿUmdat al-Aḥkām: 3/226]
Imam al-Khaṭṭābī (رحمه الله) further elaborates:
The wrongdoer will have a collar made from seven layers of the earth placed around his neck. Allah will stretch his neck as a form of punishment, just as He increases the skin thickness of the disbeliever.
[ʿUmdat al-Qārī by al-‘Aynī: 21/298]
This Hadith strongly warns against the injustice of encroaching on or seizing the land of others. Such actions will carry grave consequences in the Hereafter, demonstrating how Islam upholds the sanctity of others' property.
This content is derived from the Urdu commentary on ‘Umdat al-Aḥkām min Kalām Khayr al-Anām, translated by Hafiz Faizullah Nasir.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: مَنْ ظَلَمَ قِيدَ شِبْرٍ مِنْ الْأَرْضِ: طُوِّقَهُ مِنْ سَبْعِ أَرَضِينَ
Narrated by Aisha (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever unlawfully takes even a span of land, he will be made to wear a collar (of burden) from the seven earths on the Day of Judgment."
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 2453; Sahih Muslim: 1612]
✿ Explanation of Terminology:
- طُوِّقَهُ (Ṭuwwiqahū): He will be made to wear a collar. This is a past passive verb in Arabic grammar, implying that a heavy burden or punishment will be placed upon him.
- شِبْرٍ (Shibr): A handspan – used here to emphasize even the smallest unjust acquisition.
✿ Explanation of the Hadith:
Ibn Daqīq al-‘Īd (رحمه الله) explains:The mention of "a handspan" is a form of hyperbole, meaning that if seizing such a small piece of land is so severely condemned, then taking more than that is undoubtedly more sinful.
[Sharḥ ʿUmdat al-Aḥkām: 3/226]
Imam al-Khaṭṭābī (رحمه الله) further elaborates:
The wrongdoer will have a collar made from seven layers of the earth placed around his neck. Allah will stretch his neck as a form of punishment, just as He increases the skin thickness of the disbeliever.
[ʿUmdat al-Qārī by al-‘Aynī: 21/298]
This Hadith strongly warns against the injustice of encroaching on or seizing the land of others. Such actions will carry grave consequences in the Hereafter, demonstrating how Islam upholds the sanctity of others' property.
This content is derived from the Urdu commentary on ‘Umdat al-Aḥkām min Kalām Khayr al-Anām, translated by Hafiz Faizullah Nasir.