Islamic Stories

The King and the Grateful Minister

3:49New

Sources: A traditional taleSahih Muslim 2999Sahih (authentic)
Collection
Sahih Muslim
Narration
Sahih Muslim 2999In-book reference: Book 55 (The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts), Hadith 82
Grading
Sahih (authentic)Sahih Muslim 2999, HadeethEnc
Verses
2:216
Also reported in
Riyad as-Salihin 27

Translation: Abdul Hamid Siddiqui

Open on sunnah.com

He lost a finger and said Alhamdulillah. Days later, that loss saved his life.

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The hadith and the verse

A traditional tale

This episode tells a well-known traditional tale, told for its lesson; it is not a hadith and is not attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him). What is authentic in it is the hadith of Sahih Muslim 2999 and the verse Al-Baqarah 2:216 quoted at its end.

Hadith

Arabic text

حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الأَزْدِيُّ، وَشَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِشَيْبَانَ - حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لأَحَدٍ إِلاَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation

Suhaib reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.

English translation by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui, as published on Sunnah.com. Sahih Muslim 2999

Verses

  1. Al-Baqarah 2:216

    كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

    Battle has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allāh knows, while you know not.

Translation: Saheeh International, as shown on Quran.com (footnote markers omitted).

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