Hadith #334

Arabic Text

English Translation

ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim narrated: The cavalry of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ — or he said: the envoys of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ — came while I was at ʿAqrab, and they captured my aunt and some people. When they were brought before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, they were lined up before him. She said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the visitor has gone far, the child is lost, and I am an old woman with no ability to serve. Grant me your favor, and Allah will grant you His.' He said: 'Who is your visitor?' She said: 'ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim — the one who fled from Allah and His Messenger.' She said: So he showed me favor. When she returned — and a man beside her whom we think was ʿAlī — he said: 'Ask him for a mount.' She asked and he provided one. She came to me and said: 'You have done something your father would never have done. Go to him, willingly or reluctantly, for so-and-so went to him and gained from him.' So I went to him, and there was a woman and children near the Prophet ﷺ, and I recognized that his was not the kingdom of Kisrā or Caesar. He said: 'O ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim, what made you flee from saying "There is no god but Allah"? Is there any god but Allah? What made you flee from saying "Allah is the Greatest"? Is anything greater than Allah عز وجل?' So I accepted Islam, and I saw his face shine with joy. He said: 'Those upon whom is wrath are the Jews, and the astray are the Christians.' Then they asked him, and he praised Allah and said: 'As for what follows, O people, give in charity from your surplus. Let a person give a ṣāʿ, part of a ṣāʿ, a handful, part of a handful, a date, even half a date. Indeed, each of you will meet Allah عز وجل and He will say: "Did I not give you hearing and sight? Did I not give you wealth and children? So what have you sent forth?" He will look before him, behind him, to his right, and to his left and find nothing. He will have nothing to shield his face from the Fire except his own face. So guard yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date. If you cannot find that, then with a kind word. I do not fear poverty for you. Allah will surely help you and provide for you — or open for you — until a lone woman will travel between al-Ḥīrah and Yathrib, and the most she will fear is theft for her belongings.'