Juz min al-Kalam ala Hadith Shaddad ibn Aws "Idha kanaza al-nas al-dhahab wa al-fidda
- Author died
- 795 AH
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- al-Fārūq al-Ḥadīthah lil-Ṭibā‘ah wal-Nashr
Juzʾ min al-Kalām ʿalā Ḥadīth Shaddād ibn Aws: "Idhā Kanaza al-Nās al-Dhahab wa-l-Fiḍḍa" (A Treatise on the Exposition of the Hadith of Shaddad ibn Aws: "When People Treasure Up Gold and Silver") is a short devotional and explanatory treatise by the Hanbali traditionist and jurist Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d. 795 AH / 1393 CE). The work is dedicated to analyzing and explaining a comprehensive prophetic supplication recorded from the Companion Shaddad ibn Aws.
Background and Hadith Text
Ibn Rajab opens the treatise by citing the hadith as recorded by Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad, along with its transmissions in Sunan al-Tirmidhi (in abridged form), Sahih Ibn Hibban, and al-Mustadrak of al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, who authenticated it. He notes that the narration has multiple transmission paths from Shaddad, some of which specify that the Prophet taught the Companions to make this supplication during prayer or at the conclusion of prayer.
The full text of the hadith expounded in the book is:
إِذَا كَنَزَ النَّاسُ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ، فَاكْنِزُوا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ الْكَلِمَاتِ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الثَّبَاتَ فِي الْأَمْرِ، وَالْعَزِيمَةَ عَلَى الرُّشْدِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ شُكْرَ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَحُسْنَ عِبَادَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قَلْبًا سَلِيمًا، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لِسَانًا صَادِقًا، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا تَعْلَمُ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ "When people hoard gold and silver, then hoard these words: O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in the matter, determination upon right guidance, and I ask You for gratitude for Your blessing, excellence in Your worship, a sound heart, and a truthful tongue; and I ask You for the good of what You know, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of what You know, and I seek Your forgiveness for what You know; truly You are the Knower of the unseen."
Content and Method
The treatise focuses on contrasting ephemeral worldly wealth with enduring spiritual gain. Ibn Rajab explains that the Prophet's instruction to "hoard" these words indicates that storing up such supplications is far more beneficial than hoarding gold and silver, as material riches inevitably vanish while righteous words and spiritual rewards endure. He illustrates this point with scriptural proofs, early ascetic sayings, and stories, observing that the utility of worldly currency lies solely in expending it in obedience to God.
The author systematically analyzes each phrase of the supplication:
- Steadfastness in the matter (الثبات في الأمر): Ibn Rajab defines "the matter" as religion and obedience to God. He underscores humanity's fundamental inability to remain firm on uprightness (istiqama) without divine assistance, stressing the volatility of human hearts and the critical need for perseverance throughout life, at the time of death, and during questioning in the grave.
- Determination upon right guidance (العزيمة على الرشد): He addresses the necessity of possessing resolve to execute righteous deeds and maintain spiritual discipline.
- Gratitude and worship: He discusses cultivating gratitude for divine benefaction and striving for perfection and sincerity in devotional acts.
- Soundness of heart and truthfulness of tongue: He examines the purification of the inner self from spiritual ailments and safeguarding the tongue from falsehood.
- Seeking comprehensive good and asking forgiveness: He concludes the exposition by reflecting on seeking divine goodness, seeking refuge from evil, and entreating God's forgiveness based on His encompassing knowledge of unseen faults.
Throughout the text, Ibn Rajab combines hadith analysis with moral exhortation (waʿẓ), ascetic reflections (zuhd), and lines of poetry to inspire dedication and vigilance against worldly distractions.
Transmission and Publication
The monograph has been preserved and published as part of the collected treatises of the author (Majmūʿ Rasāʾil Ibn Rajab).
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