Question
What is the reference for this narration?
الغنى الأكبر اليأس عما في أيدي الناس
‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “The greatest of riches is to despair of obtaining what other people possess.”
Answer
This narration appears in unreliable sources like Nahjul Balaghah.
The following Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) should be quoted instead:
Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Al Ansari (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported:
“A man came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said, ‘O Rasulullah, teach me and be concise.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘When you stand to offer Salah then perform Salah as it is a farewell Salah, do not utter such words for which you will have to apologize and have no hope in the [possessions] of people”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 4171)
Also see here for another Hadith with similar meaning.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
__________
التخريج من المصادر العربية
سنن ابن ماجه:
(٤١٧١) – حدثنا محمد بن زياد، حدثنا الفضيل بن سليمان، حدثنا عبد الله ابن عثمان بن خثيم، حدثني عثمان بن جبير مولى أبي أيوب
عن أبي أيوب، قال: جاء رجل إلى النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم -، فقال: يا رسول الله، علمني وأوجز. قال: «إذا قمت في صلاتك، فصل صلاة مودع، ولا تكلم بكلام تعتذر منه، وأجمع اليأس عما في أيدي الناس».