Question

Please relate the incident of Sayyidah Ummud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anha) and Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu), wherein Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) responded that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, Verily, before you is a very difficult pass! The heavily burdened shall not cross through it with ease, so I desire to keep myself light for that passage.

Answer

The incident in question is related in various Hadith collections with variation in the wordings. Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) has recorded the following version:

Sayyidah Ummud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anha) once asked Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu), “What is the matter with you, why don’t you also earn [abundant] sustenance just as so and so does?’ Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, ‘I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say, ‘Verily, before you lies a very steep incline, the heavily burdened will not cross through it with ease, so I desire to keep myself light for that incline.'”

(Al Mu’jamul Kabir; Refer Targhib, vol. 4, pg. 131 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 3, pg. 97. ‘Allamah Mundhiri and Hafiz Haythami (rahimahumallah) have declared the chain of narrators reliable)

Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has also recorded this narration with slightly different words. He has declared the Hadith authentic and ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) concurs.

(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4, pg. 574. Also see Musnad Bazzar, Hadith: 4118, Targhib, vol. 4, pg. 130, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10, pg. 263 and Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 736)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar