Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in one of his hadiths cautioned and forewarned his companions about what they may encounter in the life of the Hereafter unless they heed to what is written in Qur'an or conveyed to them by him personally and tried to ward off the Satanic enticements and continued to live a life as expected of them as true believers.
This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 83 Oaths and Vows / كتاب الأيمان والنذور / Chapter 3: How did the oaths of the Prophet (saws) use to be? / بَابُ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ يَمِينُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ) as Hadith 6637, given herein under:
Narrated by Abu Huraira:
Abu-l-Qasim (the Prophet) said, "By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, if you know that which I know, you would weep much and laugh little."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَام ٌ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ يُوسُفَ ـ عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ هَمَّامٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا، وَلَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلاً ".
This hadith, narrated by Abu-l-Qasim (another name for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), expresses a profound message about the gravity of the knowledge that the Prophet possessed, particularly concerning the realities of the afterlife, the unseen, and the consequences of human actions.
Key Points of the Hadith:
- Oath Emphasizing the Seriousness: The Prophet begins with an oath, "By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is," emphasizing the truth and seriousness of his statement. This kind of oath underscores the weight of what he is about to say and demands the attention of the listener.
- The Depth of the Prophet’s Knowledge: The phrase "if you know that which I know" suggests that the Prophet had knowledge of profound and often unseen realities, including the consequences of sin, the severity of the Day of Judgment, the reality of Hellfire, the trials of the grave, and the fate of humanity in the Hereafter. This knowledge was given to him through divine revelation.
- Weeping Much and Laughing Little: The Prophet states that if people were fully aware of these realities, their behavior would change drastically: they would "weep much and laugh little." This reflects how the awareness of the spiritual consequences and the gravity of the afterlife would lead to a more serious, contemplative, and repentant demeanor, rather than one filled with excessive joy or heedlessness.
Implications of the Hadith:
- Awareness of the Afterlife: The hadith calls on believers to reflect deeply on the reality of life after death. It serves as a reminder of the Day of Judgment, the trials of the grave, and the accountability every soul will face. Awareness of these matters should encourage believers to live their lives with mindfulness, humility, and repentance.
- Balance Between Fear and Hope: While Islam encourages believers to have hope in Allah’s mercy, this hadith reminds them not to be complacent or neglectful of their spiritual responsibilities. The weeping mentioned here is not meant to induce despair but to inspire a sense of responsibility, introspection, and a balanced emotional response to life’s realities.
- Avoiding Excessive Heedlessness: Laughing in excess or being overly carefree about worldly matters often indicates a lack of awareness or concern for one's spiritual state. The hadith warns against this kind of heedlessness, reminding believers to keep in mind the serious and transient nature of life.
- Motivation for Good Deeds and Repentance: Understanding the severity of what awaits after death should motivate Muslims to increase in good deeds, seek forgiveness, and strive to live in accordance with Allah’s guidance. It encourages a life of awareness, where one's actions are aligned with the understanding of the greater spiritual realities.
This hadith thus serves as a powerful reminder of the unseen realities that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was privy to and urges the believers to reflect on these matters. It calls for a deeper consciousness of the afterlife, fostering an attitude of humility, repentance, and mindfulness in one's daily life. By contemplating this message, Muslims are encouraged to live with a balance of fear and hope, always mindful of their ultimate return to Allah.
Let us then, our sisters and brothers in Islam, live a life exactly as demanded of us by the Divine Commandments contained in the Qur'an and prompted by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in a large number of Hadiths. Time for us is too limited as death can catch us anytime completely by surprise, leaving us not even a fraction of second to repent our sins and wrong doings so as to seek forgiveness of Allah.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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