All hadith qudsi

The 40 Hadith Qudsi · Hadith 13

A time of overflowing provision

Trust the promise

"كُنْتُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلَانِ: أَحَدُهُمَا يَشْكُو الْعَيْلَةَ(1)، وَالْآخَرُ يَشْكُو قَطْعَ السَّبِيلِ(2)، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَمَّا قَطْعُ السَّبِيلِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَأْتِي عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ، حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ الْعِيرُ إِلَى مَكَّةَ بِغَيْرِ خَفِيرٍ. وَأَمَّا الْعَيْلَةُ، فَإِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا تَقُومُ حَتَّى يَطُوفَ أَحَدُكُمْ بِصَدَقَتِهِ، لَا يَجِدُ مَنْ يَقْبَلُهَا مِنْهُ، ثُمَّ لَيَقِفَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ اللَّهِ، لَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ حِجَابٌ وَلَا تَرْجُمَانٌ يُتَرْجِمُ لَهُ، ثُمَّ لَيَقُولَنَّ لَهُ: أَلَمْ أُوتِكَ مَالًا؟ فَلَيَقُولَنَّ: بَلَى، ثُمَّ لَيَقُولَنَّ: أَلَمْ أُرْسِلْ إِلَيْكَ رَسُولًا؟ فَلَيَقُولَنَّ: بَلَى، فَيَنْظُرُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، فَلَا يَرَى إِلَّا النَّارَ، ثُمَّ يَنْظُرُ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ، فَلَا يَرَى إِلَّا النَّارَ، فَلْيَتَّقِيَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ"

I was with the Messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and there came to him two men: one of them was complaining of penury (being very poor), while the other was complaining of brigandry (robbery). The Messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: As for brigandry, it will be but a short time before a caravan will [be able to] go out of Mecca without a guard. As for penury, the Hour (Day of Judgement) will not arrive before one of you takes his charity around without finding anyone to accept it from him. Then (1) one of you will surely stand before Allah, there being no screen between Him and him, nor an interpreter to translate for him. Then He will say to him: Did I not bring you wealth? And he will say: Yes. Then He will say: Did I not send to you a messenger? And he will say: Yes. And he will look to his right and will see nothing but Hell-fire, then he will look to his left and will see nothing but Hell-fire, so let each of you protect himself against Hell-fire, be it with even half a date - and if he finds it not, then with a kind word. (1) i.e. at the time of the Hour.

On the authority of Adiyy ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

Speaking to a Companion who had seen war and want, the Prophet ﷺ foretold a future hard to imagine: a day when a traveller will journey from one famed city to another fearing nothing but Allah, and when a person will carry their wealth searching for someone poor enough to receive it, and find no one. A promise of safety and abundance that came true, and that teaches us to trust the One who makes such promises.

Where this hadith comes from

This is a hadith qudsi in the broad sense: the Prophet (peace be upon him) speaks of a future that only Allah could disclose, conveying His promise rather than a ruling of his own. It is narrated by the noble Companion Adiyy ibn Hatim (ra), recorded by al-Bukhari, and graded sahih.

Adiyy heard this while sitting with the Prophet (peace be upon him) as two men complained, one of poverty and one of highway robbery. The answer he received was not advice for that moment but a promise reaching far past it, of a day of such safety and plenty that the troubles before him would vanish.

The key words

What it means, line by line

To the man fearing the roads, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gives a near promise: soon a caravan will leave Mecca with no armed guard, the land made that safe. To the man fearing poverty, he gives a farther one: the Hour will not come until a person carries his charity about and finds no one poor enough to accept it.

Then the scene shifts to the meeting with Allah, with no screen and no interpreter between them. He will ask, did I not give you wealth, did I not send you a messenger? The promise of provision is wrapped in a reminder: every gift will be asked about, so guard yourself from the Fire, even with half a date, even with a kind word.

The Qur'an gives this promise its anchor. Allah pledges to the believers who do righteous deeds that He will establish them, and exchange their fear for security, the very safety this hadith foretold and that came to pass.

Allah keeps His word

The Companion who first heard this could scarcely believe it; the world he knew was full of raiding and scarcity. Yet within generations the prophecy unfolded: security spread, and wealth so increased that givers struggled to find the needy. The lesson reaches past the prediction itself to the One behind it: when Allah, or His Messenger ﷺ by His revelation, promises something, it comes to pass, however unlikely it looks from where you stand.

So trust Him with your tomorrow

If Allah could turn a frightened, hungry land into one of safety and plenty, He can certainly carry you through your own fears for the future. Provision and security are in His hand, not the economy's, not the times'. The believer plans and works, but does not gnaw at tomorrow, because tomorrow belongs to the One who has never broken a promise.

Carry this with you

Allah's promises come true; trust Him with your future.

  • Allah keeps His word.

    A prophecy that seemed impossible came fully true. What He promises comes to pass.

  • Provision is in His hand.

    Safety and wealth are His to give, not the economy's or the times'.

  • Do not gnaw at tomorrow.

    Plan and work, but leave the future to the One who has never failed a promise.

  • Set fear beside His record.

    Measure your worries against a Lord whose word has always come true.

A du'a to carry

وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ

Wa man yatawakkal 'ala llahi fa-huwa hasbuh, inna llaha balighu amrih

And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. (At-Talaq 65:3)

A du'a of trust

A promise that once sounded impossible became history, because the One who made it does not fail. Your future rests in those same hands.

O Allah, You who keep every promise, free our hearts from fear of tomorrow. Make us rely on You, and be our sufficiency, for whoever relies on You, You are enough for him. Ameen.

The hadith qudsi is from sunnah.com: the Prophet's ﷺ foretelling of future safety and abundance, narrated by Adiyy ibn Hatim (ra), recorded by al-Bukhari, graded sahih. The supporting Qur'an (65:3) is in Uthmani script verified via quran.ai (ar-uthmani-minimal) with the Saheeh International translation. Per the editorial policy this stays with the spiritual meaning (trust in Allah's promise and provision). FOR SCHOLAR REVIEW before publication.

Questions

What did the Prophet ﷺ foretell in this hadith?
A future of remarkable safety and abundance: a traveller crossing long distances fearing only Allah, and a person seeking someone poor enough to accept their charity and finding none. He was reassuring a Companion who lived amid war and scarcity that better times would come by Allah's decree.
Did this prophecy come true?
Yes. Within generations, Islamic lands saw widespread security and prosperity, with periods in which charity-givers struggled to find recipients. Its fulfillment is part of why the hadith strengthens trust in Allah's and His Messenger's promises.
What is the lesson for me today?
To trust Allah with the future. If He transformed a fearful, hungry land into one of plenty, He can carry you through your own worries. Provision and safety are in His hand; the believer works and plans but does not let anxiety about tomorrow consume the heart.

What stayed with you?

A private note, kept only on this device. Find it again on your journey page.

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