The stingy person and the coward should make dhikr

Question

What is the reference of this Hadith?

من ضن منكم بالمال أن ينفقه، وخاف العدو أن يجاهده، وخاف الليل أن يكابده فليكثر من قول: لا إله إلا الله، وسبحان الله، والحمد لله، والله أكبر

Answer

This narration is recorded in Kitabuz Zuhd of Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) as the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) as part of a longer narration.

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Whoever is too stingy to spend wealth, fears to strive against the enemy, is afraid that the night will make him undergo difficulty [by spending the night in ‘ibadah] should excessively repeat ‘La ilaha illallah, Subhanallah, Al Hamdulillah and Allahu Akbar

(Kitabuz Zuhd, pg. 200, ‘ilmiyyah edition)

A similar statement of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) is also recorded in Al Adabul Mufrad, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah and other Hadith collections.

(Al Adabul Mufrad, Hadith: 275, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 30344, 35720)

See here for similar Hadiths of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar