Hadith Text
وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ:
«إِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُ بَعْدِي أثَرَةٌ وَأُمُورٌ تُنكِرُونَهَا»قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا؟
قَالَ:«تُؤَدُّونَ الْحَقَّ الَّذِي عَلَيْكُمْ، وَتَسْأَلُونَ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَكُمْ».مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ.
Full Translation
On the authority of ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Indeed, after me there will be divergence (preference of some over others unjustly) and affairs you will deny and reject.”
They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what do you command us?”
He said: “You fulfill the right that is upon you, and you ask Allah for what belongs to you.”
Agreed upon.
Meanings of Key Words
- أَثَرَةٌ — unjust preference of some over others; giving people their due based on personal favoritism rather than justice. It can mean nepotism, tribalism, or taking sides in ways that break the law of Allah.
- أُمُورٌ تُنكِرُونَهَا — affairs you will deny and reject; things that go against the Sunnah, the religion, and the clear standards of right and wrong.
- تُؤَدُّونَ الْحَقَّ الَّذِي عَلَيْكُمْ — you fulfill the right that is upon you; the believer is commanded to do what is his duty, to give what he owes, to act rightly regardless of what others do.
- تَسْأَلُونَ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَكُمْ — you ask Allah for what belongs to you; the believer does not take what is not his, does not force his way, does not seize rights by his own hand. He asks Allah for what is due to him.
- الْحَقُّ الَّذِي عَلَيْكُمْ — the right that is upon you; your own duty, your responsibility, your obligation before Allah.
- الَّذِي لَكُمْ — what belongs to you; the reward, the justice, the right that Allah has promised you if you do your duty.
Hadith Lessons
This hadith is one of the most practical instructions for living in difficult times. The Prophet ﷺ tells the Companions that after him there will be atharah — people being favored over others for personal reasons — and other wrong things that their hearts will reject. He does not say this will not happen. He says it will happen, and then he tells them what to do when it happens.
The command is not to rise up in chaos, not to take the law into their own hands, and not to seize power by force. The command is simple and deep:
“You fulfill the right that is upon you, and you ask Allah for what belongs to you.”
This means:
- Do your duty even when others do not do theirs.
- Give what you owe even when others do not give what they owe.
- Ask Allah for your right, even when people deny it.
Life Example: The Workplace When Corruption Spreads
Imagine a workplace where promotion is not based on merit, but on favoritism. People who work harder are not rewarded. People who are close to the boss are given better positions. The employee feels the injustice. He wants to complain, to fight, to force his way, to take action that crosses the line.
The hadith says:
- He still does his duty. He still works with honesty, still gives what he owes, still does not steal time, still does not lie about his work.
- He does not take his right by force. He does not demand promotion in a way that violates the rules.
- He asks Allah for his right. He trusts that Allah will give him his reward, in this life or the next, in a way that he cannot see yet.
Example in Business
Imagine a business where people are not being paid what they are owed. Contracts are broken. Promises are not kept. The entrepreneur feels the injustice. He wants to break the law, to take revenge, to seize what is his by any means.
The hadith says:
- He still gives what he owes. He still pays his workers, still fulfills his contracts, still keeps his word.
- He does not take what is not his. He does not cheat others to get even.
- He asks Allah for what belongs to him. He trusts Allah to give him his right in a way that does not make him sin.
Example in Society
Imagine a society where justice is not given equally. Some people are treated harshly, others are treated gently. The believer sees this. He wants to fight in a way that makes him part of the same injustice.
The hadith says:
- He still does what is right. He still tells the truth, still keeps his word, still gives justice, even when others do not.
- He does not take justice into his own hands. He does not become like the people he is fighting against.
- He asks Allah for his right. He trusts that Allah will bring justice in a way that preserves his soul.
The Difference Between This Command and Something Else
This command is not passive. It is not “do nothing.” It is not “wait and see.” It is not “ignore everything.” It is active: fulfill the right that is upon you. That means the believer still does his duty. That is work. That is effort. That is sacrifice.
But the believer does not cross the line. The believer does not take his right by force. The believer does not become like the people who are doing wrong.
The Believer’s Position
The believer is in a position of strength. He does his duty. He trusts Allah for his right. He does not despair. He does not become bitter. He does not become like the people who are doing wrong.
This is the station of the believer who is living in difficult times and still keeps his connection with Allah.
Three Questions to Close With
- When I see injustice in my work, family, or society, do I still do my duty even when others do not?
- Do I ask Allah for my right, or do I try to take it by any means, even if it makes me sin?
- When I see favoritism, corruption, or wrong, do I become like the people I am fighting against, or do I stay on the path of the Prophet ﷺ?