However, anyone who made mischief or turned on his heels after he has accepted Islam will be the most miserable person on that fateful day. Though believers of a low grade then, they will be brought near the Haud e Kauthar where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will be waiting for his followers and after showing them the rewards of drinking from the sacred Heavenly pond, they will be made to turn away to the blazing fire of hell.
This is the subject of the hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 81: To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq) / كتاب الرقاق / Chapter 53: Regarding Al-Haud / باب فِي الْحَوْضِ / as Hadith 6593, given herein under:
Narrated Asma 'bint Abu Bakr:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I will be standing at the Lake-Fount so that I will see whom among you will come to me; and some people will be taken away from me, and I will say, 'O Lord, (they are) from me and from my followers.' Then it will be said, 'Did you notice what they did after you? By Allah, they kept on turning on their heels (turned as renegades).' " The sub-narrator, Ibn Abi Mulaika said, "O Allah, we seek refuge with You from turning on our heels, or being put to trial in our religion."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، عَنْ نَافِعِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنِّي عَلَى الْحَوْضِ حَتَّى أَنْظُرُ مَنْ يَرِدُ عَلَىَّ مِنْكُمْ، وَسَيُؤْخَذُ نَاسٌ دُونِي فَأَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ مِنِّي وَمِنْ أُمَّتِي. فَيُقَالُ هَلْ شَعَرْتَ مَا عَمِلُوا بَعْدَكَ وَاللَّهِ مَا بَرِحُوا يَرْجِعُونَ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِمْ ". فَكَانَ ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ نَرْجِعَ عَلَى أَعْقَابِنَا أَوْ نُفْتَنَ عَنْ دِينِنَا. {أَعْقَابِكُمْ تَنْكِصُونَ} تَرْجِعُونَ عَلَى الْعَقِبِ.
Explanation:
This hadith speaks about a moment that will occur on the Day of Judgment, when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will be at the Haud — a large, blessed pool that Allah has granted him, which will be a source of relief and comfort for his followers. It is reported that the Prophet will recognize his followers as they approach to drink from the water.
What is Haud e Kauthar?
Before we expand the meaning of the hadith, let us know what is Haud e Kauthar and its significance. There is a mention of this sacred pond in the 108th chapter / Surah of the Qur'an:
اِنَّاۤ اَعۡطَيۡنٰكَ الۡكَوۡثَرَؕ
(108:1) (O Prophet), We have surely bestowed upon you good in abundance.
But thereafter no details are given. However, in a number of Hadiths, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself has explained what Al Kauthar is.
About this Heavenly pool (Haud means pool) Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said that water will be supplied to it from the River Kauthar of Paradise. "Two channels from Paradise will flow into it and supply water to it." (Muslim: Kitab al-Fada il). According to another tradition: "A canal from the River Kauthar of Paradise will be opened towards this Fountain. " (Musnad Ahmad Marwiyyat `Abdullah bin Mas`ud). Its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. There are birds in it whose necks are (long) like carrots." Umar said, "O Messenger of Allah! Verily, they (the birds) will be beautiful." The Prophet replied: "The one who eats them (i.e., the people of Paradise) will be more beautiful than them, O Umar."
Read more about Haud e Kauthar from our following previous posts:
While the blessed believers will rush towards this blessed pool where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ be in waiting for them, some of them will be turned away by the angels. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will call out, expressing his concern, saying, "O Lord, they are from me and from my followers." But the reply will be that these people turned away from the path of Islam after the Prophet's death — they abandoned the faith, became renegades, or apostates. The words "turned on their heels" refer to people who rejected or deviated from the correct path of Islam, essentially turning back to disbelief.
The history is replete with many such people and so called fake prophets who soon after the death of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ proclaimed prophethood and became miscreants to create wedge in the hitherto forth firm ranks of the early Muslims. even today, some believers have digressed from their path and are true example of Muslims who have turned on their heels. This hadith is specific to such people.
Key Points and Lessons:
- Warning of Apostasy: This hadith serves as a warning against apostasy, turning away from Islam after having embraced it. It highlights the danger of abandoning the faith and the severe consequences on the Day of Judgment when those who turn away from Islam will be turned away from the Prophet’s Haud.
- The Test of Faith: The people who are turned away had once followed the Prophet, but their actions after his passing led them to turn back from the true teachings of Islam. This indicates that it is not enough to simply follow Islam initially; one must remain steadfast and committed to the faith throughout their life. The hadith emphasizes the importance of remaining firm in one’s belief, even after the death of the Prophet, through ongoing sincerity and adherence to the teachings of Islam.
- The Role of Deviation: The hadith also points out that some of those who initially accepted Islam may later deviate from it, whether through rejecting the faith, indulging in bid‘ah (innovation), or engaging in actions that contradict the teachings of the Prophet. This shows the importance of not just being a follower in name, but of staying true to the principles of Islam in both belief and practice.
- Seeking Refuge from Deviance: Ibn Abi Mulaika’s prayer at the end of the hadith — "O Allah, we seek refuge with You from turning on our heels, or being put to trial in our religion" — highlights the humility and caution that believers should have. We are reminded to constantly ask Allah for guidance and protection from straying away from the faith, as even the strongest among us can be tested with trials that could lead to deviation.
Spiritual Reflection:
This hadith serves as a reminder that one must remain vigilant in one's faith. The Prophet's concern for his followers on the Day of Judgment, as they approach his Haud, demonstrates his deep care for the well-being of his ummah. It also reflects the critical need for the believer to hold on firmly to the teachings of Islam, avoid innovations, and seek Allah's protection from deviation or apostasy.
Let us Muslims brothers and sisters stay on Siraat e Mustaqeem and remain steadfast on the religion we have willingly adopted and let no Satanic whisperings or coercion by people of other religions make us turn on our heels and be among those who will be denied a drink from the Haud e Kauthar and thrown into hell for being renegades.
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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