Today we share a hadith the content of which have recently been authenticated by modern science. The hadith refers the number joints in the human body as a metaphor whereby the movement of joints in the human body engaged in good deeds will benefit a believer on the Day of Judgment, or even otherwise in this world too.
As per scientific research, the human body is an amazing machine with 270 bones at birth, which decreases to 206 as we age as parts of our bones fuse together. Thus, there are 360 joints in our body, connecting one bone to another. Mention of 360 joints in a hadith which dates back to more than 1400 years back make men of wisdom wonder how could Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had known a fact which has only recently been discovered? This clearly shows that whatever Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said was in fact from the Divine knowledge provided to him so that people of later time when would discover this fact would know that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was really a messenger of God, for otherwise a precise guesswork could not have been so accurate.
This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book 12 The Book of Zakat / كتاب الزكاة / Chapter 16: The word charity (Sadaqah) may apply to all good deeds Ma'ruf / باب بَيَانِ أَنَّ اسْمَ الصَّدَقَةِ يَقَعُ عَلَى كُلِّ نَوْعٍ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ / as Hadith number # 2722 as under:
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
"Every one of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints; so he who declares the Glory of Allah, praises Allah, declares Allah to be One, Glorifies Allah, and seeks forgiveness from Allah, and removes stone, or thorn, or bone from people's path, and enjoins what is good and forbids from evil, to the number of those three hundred and sixty joints, will walk that day having saved himself from the Fire."
Abu Taubah said: "Perhaps he said: 'Will reach the evening.'"
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا حَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو تَوْبَةَ الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلاَّمٍ - عَنْ زَيْدٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَلاَّمٍ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ، تَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّهُ خُلِقَ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ عَلَى سِتِّينَ وَثَلاَثِمَائَةِ مَفْصِلٍ فَمَنْ كَبَّرَ اللَّهَ وَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَهَلَّلَ اللَّهَ وَسَبَّحَ اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ اللَّهَ وَعَزَلَ حَجَرًا عَنْ طَرِيقِ النَّاسِ أَوْ شَوْكَةً أَوْ عَظْمًا عَنْ طَرِيقِ النَّاسِ وَأَمَرَ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ نَهَى عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ عَدَدَ تِلْكَ السِّتِّينَ وَالثَّلاَثِمِائَةِ السُّلاَمَى فَإِنَّهُ يَمْشِي يَوْمَئِذٍ وَقَدْ زَحْزَحَ نَفْسَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ " . قَالَ أَبُو تَوْبَةَ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ " يُمْسِي " .
This hadith emphasizes the importance of gratitude, worship, and performing small acts of goodness, which collectively serve as a form of "charity" for each joint in our bodies, helping us attain Allah’s protection and salvation.
Explanation of the Hadith
"Every one of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints":
This part highlights the human body’s complexity and Allah’s remarkable creation. The mention of "joints" suggests that each movement, capability, and function in our body is a blessing from Allah, and we should acknowledge and thank Him for it.
Good Deeds as Charity for Each Joint:
The hadith mentions various good deeds, such as glorifying Allah, seeking forgiveness, and removing harmful objects from people’s paths, as acts of gratitude or "charity" for each joint.
These acts show a wide variety of ways to show thanks to Allah: through dhikr (remembrance of Allah), helping others, promoting good, and discouraging harm. Performing these good deeds symbolically "pays" for the blessings in our body.
"Will walk that day having saved himself from the Fire":
By consistently engaging in good deeds throughout the day, a person earns Allah’s mercy and protection from Hellfire. This serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a steady, conscious connection with Allah and living a life of kindness, worship, and integrity.
The phrase "will reach the evening" (or "reach the morning") suggests that a person who performs these acts consistently can expect Allah's protection and blessings for that day.
Lessons from the Hadith:
- Gratitude for Allah’s Blessings: Every joint, muscle, and limb is a gift from Allah, enabling us to live a full life. Expressing gratitude through good deeds acknowledges the blessings Allah has bestowed upon us.
- The Variety of Good Deeds: The deeds mentioned include both acts of worship (like dhikr) and social good (like removing harmful objects from the path). Islam values worship as well as practical acts that benefit society, emphasizing a well-rounded life that serves both spiritual and social dimensions.
- Daily Habit of Goodness: This hadith encourages forming a habit of engaging in small acts of goodness every day. Consistency in these actions helps a person remain conscious of Allah, fostering mindfulness and purpose.
- Protection from the Fire: Through these regular acts of worship and service, we seek Allah's mercy and protection from Hellfire. This shows that even small acts, done sincerely and consistently, have the power to contribute to our ultimate salvation.
- Positive Social Impact: Acts like "removing a stone, thorn, or bone from people’s path" symbolize the importance of making life easier and safer for others, reinforcing the social responsibility Islam places on individuals to ensure community well-being.
Application in Daily Life:
- Consistent Dhikr and Worship: Reciting SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), and seeking forgiveness daily can fulfill part of our gratitude to Allah and strengthen our relationship with Him.
- Engaging in Small Acts of Kindness: Small acts like picking up trash, smiling, or lending a hand are easy ways to fulfill the spirit of this hadith. They remind us that acts of kindness, no matter how small, are valuable.
- Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil: Encouraging others to do good and discouraging wrongdoing (in a kind and wise manner) aligns with the teachings of this hadith and helps establish a supportive, positive community environment.
Thus, this hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of gratitude, not only through prayer and worship but also through small acts of kindness that benefit others. It teaches us that each part of our body deserves thanks, which we can fulfill through conscious acts of goodness throughout the day. Ultimately, this path of gratitude, worship, and kindness brings us closer to Allah’s mercy and protection from the Fire, emphasizing that consistent good deeds, however small, carry immense value in Islam.
Remember, on the Day of Judgement, each joint of our body will speak the way it was used by us - whether for good or otherwise. So let us move our body parts for performance of good only, lest on that fateful day we have our joints speaking against us and how we used them to commit sins.
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 exclusive reference page Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about As Salat for more Sunnah and Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad exclusive to As Salat.
Please refer to our exclusive reference page Etiquettes taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more etiquettes attributed to Prophet Muhammad.
You may refer to our reference: page: Supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more prophetic supplications
Please refer to our reference page: Oft asked Queries from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadiths on the subject
For Hadiths on the subject, please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Sadaqah صدقة / Voluntary Charity
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about As Salat - Prayers
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Saum - Fasting in Ramadan for more Hadiths on the subject
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject
Please refer to our reference page: Collections of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Rewards for more Hadiths on the subject
Please refer to our reference page: Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ related to Muslim Women for more Hadiths on the status of women in Islam.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadith e Qudsi (حدیثِ قُدسی) attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadith e Qudsi.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Hajj – the Fifth Pillar of Islam to know more about Hadiths related to Hajj.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Sabr / Patience to read more Hadiths on the subject.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to read more Sunnah attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Please refer to our reference page: Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Self-Reliance with Dignity and Value of Honest Labour to read more related Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
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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