Explanation of the Hadeeth: Being prevented from the worldly possessions

  بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

Qataadah Ibn al-Nu`maan رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:

❝When Allaah loves a slave, He prevents him from the world, just as one of you prevents his sick (relative) from water.❞

📚 [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2036) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan (669) and graded as “Saheeh as per the condition of Imaam Muslim” by Shaikh Shu`aib al-Arnaoot]

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📑 Explanation:

 It is from the Wisdom of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى that He afflicts His sincere believing righteous slave by preventing him from receiving some of the things of the world - the things which people think are beneficial and essential for having a comfortable life. But these afflictions serve a purpose:

One: The afflictions are as test of Faith, as Allaah تعالى said:

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ‎*‏ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ

{Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe” and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test).}

📚 [Surah al-`Ankaboot (29): 2-3]

And there are other similar Aayaat.

Two: The afflictions are for purifying the person of his sins, like how impurities are removed from gold and other precious metals.

Mus`ab bin Sa`d narrated from his father that a man said: O Messenger of Allaah ﷺ! Which of the people is tried most severely? He ﷺ said: ❝The Prophets, then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them. A man is tried according to his (firmness in) religion; if he is firm in his religion, then his trials are more severe, and if he is frail in his religion, then he is tried according to the strength of his religion. The servant shall continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sins.❞

📚 [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2398) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (4023) and graded as “Hasan-Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

 

Three: It is a great favor from Allaah:

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝When Allaah has previously decreed for a servant a rank which he has not attained by his action, He afflicts him in his body, or his property or his children. So that He may bring him to the rank previously decreed for him by Allaah.❞

📚 [Sunan Abu Dawood (3090), and graded as "Saheeh" by al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (2599)]

 

When a person whom Allaah loves fails to reach the rank that was decreed for him by Allaah because of his own shortcomings, then Allaah puts him in trials so that his rank is elevated.

So, when Allaah intends to do good to a person, he afflicts him. As the Prophet ﷺ had said: ❝If Allaah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.❞

📚 [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5645)]

A person who has been afflicted might not see or understand the reason why he is being prevented, nor does he know the reward he is receiving because of his patience.

In this Hadeeth, the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝When Allaah loves a slave, He prevents him from the world...❞, meaning: He تعالى keeps him away from everything that is harmful to him in his religious affairs and worldly matters.

Allaah تعالى prevents a person from some of the worldly possession, or wealth, or some high position, or from anything of this world which would be harmful to him, or whose consequences would be disastrous.

Allaah تعالى also prevents this from the person so that the person’s heart is not attached to the glamours of this world. As most people with sick hearts are those who are deceived by the worldly glitters, or those whose love for the world is ever great.

❝ Like the way one of you prevents his sick one from (drinking) water.❞, meaning: like how one of you prevents your sick ones from drinking water or eating certain food which might be harmful to them in their illness. For example, people suffering from jaundice are prescribed not to eat oily food that is high in fats, or the one who has undergone surgery is prevented from eating solid food, etc. This is to prevent him from getting even more sick, and as a means to recover quickly.

The example of water has been mentioned here because water is one of the cheapest commodities and it is found in abundance, and no one behaves miserly with water. But if a person is sick and the doctor has prescribed that water should not be given to him, his family will prevent him from consuming water, not out of hatred but out of love for him.

Similarly, to Allaah, the world has no value and He تعالى spends on His creation day and night without anything being reduced from His treasures. Yet, out of love for His slaves, He تعالى prevents them from having certain things so that it does not harm them, in regards to their Deen, Dunya, and Aakhirah.

This is prophetic teaching, guidance for the Muslims, and a means to keep them firm upon the religion during hardships. All this takes place by the Will of Allaah and His Decree. So, a person should not be alarmed by it. Rather, he should ponder over the Wisdom of Allaah, be patient during the hardships, and be at ease that whatever Allaah has decided for him is only good and beneficial.

From this Hadeeth, one also learns that when Allaah تعالى prevents a thing from His righteous slaves, it is not because He is angry at them, or displeased with them, rather, it is because He تعالى loves them and is preventing from them that which is harmful to them in the worldly matter or regards to their Hereafter.

📚 [See also: مرقاة المفاتيح 8/3286]