What truly brings a person closer to Allah — the prayers we offer, the knowledge we acquire, or the kindness we extend to others? Islam teaches that these are not competing paths but interconnected responsibilities that together shape a true believer. In an age when personal success is often measured by wealth, status, influence, and recognition, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ offers a profoundly different measure of human worth. In Sahih Muslim 2699a, he reminds us that easing another person's suffering, protecting human dignity, seeking beneficial knowledge, and studying the Qur’an are all means of attaining Allah's mercy and drawing closer to Paradise. This remarkable Hadith invites us to look beyond outward religiosity and ask a deeply personal question: Are we merely striving to become better Muslims for ourselves, or are we becoming a source of comfort, guidance, and goodness for others?
Sahih Muslim 2699a is an authentic and comprehensive Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA), in which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explains how helping others, seeking knowledge, studying the Qur’an, and performing righteous deeds bring a person closer to Allah.
The Hadith (Translation)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
He who alleviates the suffering of a brother out of the sufferings of the world, Allah would alleviate his suffering from the sufferings of the Day of Resurrection, and he who finds relief for one who is hard-pressed, Allah would make things easy for him in the Hereafter, and he who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in the world and in the Hereafter. Allah is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother, and he who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah would make that path easy, leading to Paradise for him and those persons who assemble in the house among the houses of Allah (mosques) and recite the Book of Allah and they learn and teach the Qur'an (among themselves) there would descend upon them tranquility and mercy would cover them and the angels would surround them and Allah mentions them in the presence of those near Him, and he who is slow-paced in doing good deeds, his (high) lineage does not make him go ahead.
Let us try to understand this Hadith and to steer our lives as prescribed by Prophet ﷺ:
What does the Prophet ﷺ teach?
This Hadith contains six closely connected teachings.
1. Relieving the suffering of others
The Prophet ﷺ teaches that whoever relieves a believer of worldly hardship will receive relief from Allah on the Day of Resurrection. This includes helping people facing hunger, illness, distress, loneliness, or other difficulties.
2. Making life easier for someone in difficulty
A person who eases the hardship of someone in financial distress is promised divine ease in this world and the Hereafter. This is especially relevant to creditors, employers, wealthy individuals, and anyone who has the means to assist others.
3. Concealing another person's faults
Allah promises protection to those who protect others from unnecessary humiliation and exposure. This does not mean concealing abuse, serious wrongdoing, or injustice that must be addressed.
4. Helping others brings Allah's assistance
One of the Hadith's most beautiful teachings is: "Allah is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother."
In simpler language, Allah continues to help His servant as long as that servant continues helping others.
5. Seeking knowledge opens the path to Paradise
The Prophet ﷺ teaches that whoever sincerely follows a path seeking knowledge will find Allah making a path to Paradise easier for them. This gives tremendous importance to studying the Qur’an, understanding the Sunnah, and acquiring beneficial religious knowledge.
The Hadith further describes four blessings for people who gather in a mosque to recite and study the Qur’an: tranquility descends, mercy surrounds them, angels encircle them, and Allah mentions them among those near Him.
6. Noble ancestry cannot replace righteous deeds
The Hadith concludes with a powerful warning: a person whose deeds hold them back cannot be advanced merely by their noble lineage. This rejects the idea that family status, ancestry, or inherited religious prestige can substitute for personal righteousness.
Why is this Hadith so important today?
It unites two essential dimensions of Islam: serving humanity and developing one's relationship with Allah.
A Muslim cannot consider religious knowledge sufficient while deliberately neglecting people in distress. Nor should good intentions become a substitute for learning, worship, and moral responsibility.
The Hadith also connects beautifully with several Qur’ānic teachings:
- 5:2 Cooperate in righteousness and piety
- 2:280 Grant respite to a debtor in difficulty
- 20:114 Pray for an increase in knowledge
- 49:13 True honor depends on taqwā, not ancestry
- 58:11 Allah raises those granted knowledge in rank
A compelling lesson for our times
The remarkable feature of Sahih Muslim 2699a is that the Prophet ﷺ does not separate intellectual development from compassion or spiritual devotion from social responsibility. The road to Paradise is illuminated not merely by what we know, but also by whom we help, whose dignity we protect, and how sincerely we translate knowledge into action. A person may possess wealth, education, influence, and distinguished ancestry, yet none of these can replace righteous deeds. The Hadith reminds us that true greatness lies in becoming a source of relief, knowledge, kindness, and goodness for others.
Conclusion: What Will Truly Matter When We Stand Before Allah?
Sahih Muslim 2699a leaves us with a powerful reminder: our journey towards Allah is inseparable from our responsibilities towards His creation. Every burden we lighten, every distressed person we assist, every dignity we preserve, and every sincere effort we make to acquire and share beneficial knowledge becomes part of our preparation for the Hereafter. Yet the Prophet ﷺ concludes with a warning that should humble even the most privileged among us: noble ancestry cannot elevate a person whose deeds have held them back. Neither wealth, family reputation, religious titles, nor worldly achievements can substitute for sincerity and righteous action. We should therefore ask ourselves, before the Day arrives when our deeds will speak for us: Whose hardship have I eased? Whom have I helped? What knowledge have I gained and acted upon? And what have I done to earn Allah's pleasure? For ultimately, the worth of our lives is not measured by how much we accumulated for ourselves, but by how faithfully we served Allah and fulfilled our responsibilities towards others.
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.
Please refer to our reference page: Collections of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Rewards 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.
Photo | Hadith Reference: Sahih Muslim 2699a | Book 48, Hadith 48 | Chapter: The Virtue of Gathering to Read the Qur’an and Remember Allah.
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