Question
Kindly provide the full narration regarding the Hadith on the four categories of people.
Answer
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith thrice with slight variation in each version. Hereunder is one version:
Sayyiduna Khuraym ibn Fatik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There are six types of actions and four categories of people. [From the six types of rewards for deeds], Two needs necessitate something, one deed rewards onefold, another credits ten rewards, and one is seven hundred fold.”
1&2) The two deeds that necessitate something are as follows: Whomsoever passes away without ascribing any partners to Allah will enter Jannah and whomsoever passes away while ascribing partners to Allah, will enter Jahannam.
3&4) The type of deed through which a person is rewarded onefold is: Whomsoever intends doing a good deed, his heart is set on carrying it out and Allah Ta’ala is aware that he wants to carry it out, then Allah Ta’ala will record for him one good deed [even before he carries it out] and whomsoever carries out an evil deed, one evil deed will be recorded against him.
5) Whomsoever carries out a good deed, will be rewarded tenfold.
6) Whomsoever spends in the path of Allah will be rewarded seven hundred fold.
As for the [four categories of] people:
1) People who are comfortable in this world but will be destitute and constrained in the Hereafter [Referring to sinners or disbelievers who lived a comfortable life but lived in the disobedience of Allah]
2) People who are destitute in this world, but will be comfortable in the Hereafter [Referring to practising Muslims who lived a worldly life of difficulty and hardship]
3) People who are wretched in this world as well as the Hereafter [Referring to sinners or disbelievers who lived a life of poverty/difficulty in this world and will be taken to task in the Hereafter]
4) People who are comfortable in this world as well as in the Hereafter [Referring to believers who live a comfortable life in this world and are good practising Muslims ensuring their safety in the Hereafter]
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4, pg. 322. Also see here and here)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar