Question

What does this mean, and is it correct?

عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
«كَفَى بِالْمَوْتِ وَاعِظًا، وَكَفَى بِالْيَقِينِ غِنًى، وَكَفَى بِالْعِبَادَةِ شُغْلا»

 

Answer

Translation

Sayyiduna ‘Ammar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Death is sufficient an admonition, yaqin (firm faith/conviction in Allah) is sufficient wealth, and worship is sufficient an occupation.”

This Hadith is recorded with a very weak chain in Tabarani and Bayhaqi.

This is more popularly cited as the statement of Fudayl ibn ‘Iyadh (rahimahullah).

(Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10, pg. 308 and Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 10072. Also see Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 6245, Al-Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 805, Sharhul Ihya, vol. 10, pg. 229)

Explanation

“Death is sufficient an admonition”

One who ponders over the phenomenon of death will take heed and rectify his/her affairs sufficiently. We should therefore make a habit of pondering over the reality of death.

“Yaqin (firm faith in Allah) is sufficient wealth”

One who has full conviction (yaqin) on Allah Ta’ala, will be content all the time and not have greed or any sort of want for wealth. His yaqin sufficiently satisfies his conscience.

“Worship is sufficient an occupation”

Engaging in Allah’s worship, is the best occupation. One who dedicates his life to the worship of Allah Ta’ala, will have his need taken care of by Allah himself.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar