This chapter trains the heart to live with death in view and to keep wishes short. To restrain wishes (qisar al-amal) does not mean having no plans; it means not assuming a long future that lulls you into delay. Remembering death is meant to wake the soul, not to depress it, urging good deeds while there is still time.
The Prophet's vivid images here, lines and squares sketched in the dust, a stranger passing through, the destroyer of pleasures, all press one point: life is short and uncertain, so act now. Notice how the chapter moves from how to see this world, to settling your affairs, to hastening good before some affliction overtakes you.
Hadith 573
'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: أخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بمنكبي فقال: "كن فى الدنيا كأنك غريب أو عابر سبيل" . وكان ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما يقول: إذا أمسيت، فلا تنتظر الصباح، وإذا أصبحت، فلا تنتظر المساء، وخذ من صحتك لمرضك، ومن حياتك لموتك “ ((رواه البخاري)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took hold of my shoulders and said, "Be in the world like a stranger or a wayfarer." Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) used to say: When you survive till the evening do not expect to live until the morning; and when you survive till the morning do not expect to live until the evening. While in good health (do good deeds) before you fall sick; and while you are alive (do good deeds) before death strikes. [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
Live in this world like a passing stranger or traveller, not settling into it; do good while healthy before sickness comes and while alive before death arrives, never assuming the next day is guaranteed.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 573 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 573
Hadith 574
'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “ ما حق امرئ مسلم ، له شئ يوصي فيه ، يبيت ليلتين إلا ووصيته مكتوبة عنده” ((متفق عليه)) هذا لفظ البخاري. وفى رواية لمسلم” يبيت ثلاث ليال: قال ابن عمر: ما مرت على ليلة منذ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ذلك إلا وعندي وصيتي.
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is the duty of a Muslim who has something which is to be given as a bequest not to have it for two nights without executing a written will." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. In the narration of Muslim it is narrated as 'three nights'. Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said: Since I heard the Messenger of Allah say this, I have never spent a night without having my will with me.
In plain words
A Muslim with something to leave behind should not let nights pass without a written will ready, and Ibn Umar took this so seriously he always kept his will with him.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 574 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 574
Hadith 575
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: خط النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خطوطا فقال: "هذا الإنسان، وهذا أجله، فبينما هو كذلك إذ جاء الخط الأقرب” ((رواه البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) drew a few lines and said, "One of them represents man and another indicates death; and a man continues like this until the nearest line (i.e., death) overtakes him." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
The Prophet drew lines to picture a person moving through life until the nearest line, death, finally reaches him, a simple reminder that death is always close ahead.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 575 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 575
Hadith 576
Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: خط النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خطا مربعا، وخط خطاً فى الوسط خارجاً منه، وخط خططاً صغاراً إلى هذا الذى فى الوسط من جانبه الذى فى الوسط، فقال: “هذا الإنسان، وهذا أجله محيطا به -أو قد أحاط به- وهذا الذى هو خارج أمله، وهذه الخطط الصغار الأعراض فإن أخطأه هذا ، نهشه هذا، وإن أخطأه هذا نهشه هذا” ((رواه البخاري))
The Prophet (ﷺ) drew up a square and in the middle of it he drew a line, the end of which jutted out beyond the square. Further across the middle line, he drew a number of smaller lines. Then he (ﷺ) said, "The figure represents man and the encircling square is the death which is encompassing him. The middle line represents his desires and the smaller lines are vicissitudes of life. If one of those misses him, another distresses him, and if that one misses him, he falls victim to another." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
With a sketch of a figure inside a square crossed by lines, the Prophet showed how death surrounds us, desires stretch beyond our reach, and life's troubles strike one after another.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 576 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 576
Hadith 577
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: قال: “بادروا بالأعمال سبعاً، هل تنتظرون إلا فقراً منسياً، أو غنى مطغياً، أو مرضاً مفسداً، أو هرماً مفنداً، أو موتاً مجهزاً، أو الدجال، فشر غائب ينتظر، أو الساعة، فالساعة أدهى وأمر؟!” ((رواه الترمذى وقال: حديث حسن)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Hasten to do good deeds before you are overtaken by one of the seven afflictions." Then (giving a warning) he said, "Are you waiting for poverty which will make you unmindful of devotion, or prosperity which will make you corrupt, or a disease which will disable you, or senility which will make you mentally unstable, or sudden death which will take you all of a sudden, or Ad-Dajjal who is the worst expected, or the Hour; and the Hour will be most grievous and most bitter." [At- Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].
In plain words
Hurry to do good now, before you are overtaken by troubles that can derail you: poverty, corrupting wealth, illness, old age, sudden death, or the great trials of the end.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 577 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 577
Hadith 578
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “أكثروا ذكر هاذم اللذات” ((يعنى الموت)) ((رواه الترمذى وقال: حدث حسن)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Remember more often the destroyer of pleasures - death." [At-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].
In plain words
Keep death, which ends all worldly pleasures, often in mind, so that remembering it keeps you mindful and ready.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 578 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 578
Hadith 579
Ubayy bin Ka'b (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي بن كعب رضي الله عنه: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إذا ذهب ثلث الليل، قام فقال: "يا أيها الناس اذكروا الله، جاءت الراجفة، تتبعها الرادفة، جاء الموت بما فيه، جاء الموت بما فيه” قلت: يا رسول الله إنى أكثر الصلاة عليك، فكم أجعل لك من صلاتى؟ قال: “ما شئت” قلت: الربع؟ قال: “ما شئت، فإن زذت فهو لك” قلت: فالنصف؟ قال: ما شئت فإن زذت فهو لك قلت ” فالثلثين؟ قال: ما شئت فإن زدت فهو خير لك” قلت: أجعل لك صلاتى كلها؟ قال: “إذا تكفى همك، ويغفر لك ذنبك” ((رواه الترمذى وقال: حديث حسن)).
When one- third of the night would pass, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would get up and call out, "O people, remember Allah. The Rajifah (i.e., the first Blowing of the Trumpet which will shake the whole universe and thus cause all life to cease) has come, followed by Ar-Radifah (i.e., the second Blowing of the Trumpet which will restore life and thus mark the Resurrection Day). Death has approached with all that it comprises. Death has approached with all that it comprises." I said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I frequently invoke Allah to elevate your rank. How much of my supplications should I devote to you?" He said, "You may devote as much as you wish." When I suggested a quarter, he said, "Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase it." I suggested half, and he said, "Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase." I suggested two- thirds, and he said, "Do whatever you wish but it will be better for you if you increase it." I said, "Shall I devote all my supplications invoking Allah to elevate your rank?" He said, "Then you will be freed from your worries and your sins will be forgiven." [At- Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].
In plain words
Rising in the night, the Prophet called people to remember Allah as death and the Resurrection draw near; he then taught that devoting more of one's prayers to blessing him brings relief from worries and forgiveness of sins.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 579 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 579