Every now and then we hear news of natural calamities hitting some part of the world, devastating lives and properties and leaving behind sorry tales in the form of disastrous effects. Or for that matter ever wondered what happened to great civilizations that once thrived and ruled the world, but now only the traces remain leaving us ponder over what happened to their decline and destruction? Ever pondered over why men face such bad times? Read on!
This Hadith is mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah / Book (36) of Tribulations كتاب الفتن / Chapter # 22 Punishments /باب الْعُقُوبَاتِ) as Hadith number # 4019 as under:
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to us and said: ‘O Muhajirun, there are five things with which you will be tested, and I seek refuge with Allah lest you live to see them: Immorality never appears among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them. They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be stricken with famine, severe calamity and the oppression of their rulers. They do not withhold the Zakah of their wealth, but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall on them. They do not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, but Allah will enable their enemies to overpower them and take some of what is in their hands. Unless their leaders rule according to the Book of Allah and seek all good from that which Allah has revealed, Allah will cause them to fight one another.’”
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ " يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ خَمْسٌ إِذَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ بِهِنَّ وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ تُدْرِكُوهُنَّ لَمْ تَظْهَرِ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي قَوْمٍ قَطُّ حَتَّى يُعْلِنُوا بِهَا إِلاَّ فَشَا فِيهِمُ الطَّاعُونُ وَالأَوْجَاعُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ مَضَتْ فِي أَسْلاَفِهِمُ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا . وَلَمْ يَنْقُصُوا الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ إِلاَّ أُخِذُوا بِالسِّنِينَ وَشِدَّةِ الْمَؤُنَةِ وَجَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ عَلَيْهِمْ . وَلَمْ يَمْنَعُوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلاَّ مُنِعُوا الْقَطْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَلَوْلاَ الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوا وَلَمْ يَنْقُضُوا عَهْدَ اللَّهِ وَعَهْدَ رَسُولِهِ إِلاَّ سَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَخَذُوا بَعْضَ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ . وَمَا لَمْ تَحْكُمْ أَئِمَّتُهُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَخَيَّرُوا مِمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ " .
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
This hadith is a profound warning from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to the Muhajirun (the early Muslims who emigrated from Mecca to Medina) and, by extension, to all believers. In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) outlines five significant moral and social transgressions that, if committed, will bring severe consequences upon a society.
Explanation of the Hadith
- Immorality and Open Sinning: “Immorality never appears among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them.”
- Meaning: This refers to the widespread acceptance of immoral behavior (such as adultery, corruption, and obscenity) that becomes so blatant and public that it loses its stigma. The Prophet warns that when such actions become widespread, Allah will send new plagues and diseases that were previously unknown.
- Context: When a society becomes lax in upholding moral standards and allows immoral acts to become normalized, it opens the door for divine punishment in the form of epidemics and diseases, which affect not only individuals but society as a whole.
- Dishonesty in Business (Cheating in Weights and Measures): “They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be stricken with famine, severe calamity, and the oppression of their rulers.”
- Meaning: This refers to dishonesty in trade and commerce, such as giving less than what is due or cheating in weights and measures. When people indulge in this kind of dishonesty, they will be afflicted by famine (a scarcity of food), severe calamities, and will face the oppression of unjust rulers.
- Context: In the Islamic tradition, fairness and honesty in business dealings are highly emphasized. Dishonesty in commerce disrupts social trust and economic stability, which leads to hardship, including scarcity and political instability.
- Withholding Zakah (Charity): “They do not withhold the Zakah of their wealth, but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall on them.”
- Meaning: Zakah is the obligatory charity that Muslims must give from their wealth to help the poor and needy. The Prophet warns that if people withhold their Zakah, Allah will withhold the rain, which is a metaphor for blessings and prosperity. If it weren't for the animals' benefit (who might still find rain), the entire community could suffer.
- Context: Zakah plays a critical role in the Islamic social welfare system, ensuring the needs of the poor and reducing inequality. Withholding Zakah disrupts this system and brings about divine consequences such as drought or lack of provision.
- Breaking the Covenant with Allah and His Messenger: “They do not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, but Allah will enable their enemies to overpower them and take some of what is in their hands.”
- Meaning: This refers to the breaking of the covenant with Allah and His Messenger (which in this case refers to fulfilling the teachings and commandments of Islam). If Muslims fail to honor their obligations to Allah’s commands and disregard the guidance of the Prophet, Allah will allow their enemies to gain power over them, causing them to lose their wealth and influence.
- Context: The covenant with Allah involves adherence to His commands, and breaking it leads to weakness and humiliation. If the society turns away from the teachings of Islam, they will be subjected to the dominance of external forces.
- Ruling According to the Book of Allah: “Unless their leaders rule according to the Book of Allah and seek all good from that which Allah has revealed, Allah will cause them to fight one another.”
- Meaning: If the leaders of the society do not rule based on the principles set forth in the Quran and the Sunnah (teachings and practices of the Prophet), and instead act out of their desires or worldly concerns, division and conflict will arise. The Prophet warns that internal conflict and civil strife will erupt within such a society.
- Context: Leadership in Islam is a sacred responsibility, and rulers are expected to govern justly and in accordance with the teachings of Islam. If they abandon the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah, the society will suffer from division and disorder.
General Message
The overall message of this hadith is a strong reminder to Muslims about the dangers of moral decay, economic dishonesty, neglecting obligatory acts of worship, disobedience to the divine covenant, and the failure to establish justice based on the teachings of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) cautions that when these acts become widespread in a society, it will lead to calamities such as diseases, famine, oppression, defeat by enemies, and internal conflict.
This hadith underscores the importance of maintaining moral integrity, honesty in trade, fulfilling religious obligations, upholding divine covenants, and seeking justice in governance. By adhering to these principles, a society ensures its well-being and avoids the negative consequences foretold in this prophetic warning.
Unfortunately, all these warnings and cautions are unheeded to by Muslims in particular and others in general. All ills mentioned above are rampant in our societies and people and consequently we see see visible signs of moral and social degeneration around the world. We as Muslims need to take a stock of ourselves and be cautioned to reshape our lives as per dictates of Qur'an and Sunnah, lest wrath of Allah befalls on us. Let us not be in any vain hopes of being forgiven for we are Muslims. We need to pass all tests given to us by Allah before hoping for Divine forgiveness.
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 and hadiths about Morality
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.
Source of Hadith | Help taken from ChatGPT for expanding meaning of the Hadith
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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