Hadith Reflections: Before Seven Things Overtake You

 Abū Hurayrah ضر  narrates that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Hasten with good deeds before seven things overtake you. Are you waiting for poverty that makes you forgetful; or affluence that makes you transgress; or illness that disables you; or old age that makes you senile; or sudden death; or Dajjāl and what an evil unseen creation that is to be; or the Final Hour, which will be terrible and most bitter.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2306)

This hadith advises us to take advantage of what we have been given before it is taken away from us. The chapter this hadith originates from encompasses ahadith that encourage us to be quick and willing to grasp opportunities where we can earn reward, hence this hadith lists seven things that may become obstacles for us, and so we should avail those beneficial opportunities before it is too late. 

…Are you waiting for poverty that makes you forgetful;...When one is inflicted with poverty, they are busy simply providing for those under them, so it reduces their time and resources, and although fulfilling your obligations is more virtuous than voluntary acts, it does reduce our ability to do additional good. 

…or affluence that makes you transgress;...Affluence or an abundance of blessings can make one forgetful of the favors of Allah. We know of a truth revealed in the Quran that man remembers Allah when they are being tested, but as soon as their trial is lifted, they forget Him, and so knowing the fitrah of man, we are bound to be so wrapped up in our blessings that we start getting forgetful of the boundaries of the shari’ah and start engaging in acts that bring about the displeasure of Allah.

…or illness that disables you;...Illness can reduce the quantity and quality of your worship, where one used to be engaged in long hours of standing in qiyam, they will be unable to do so when they are sick. Although we know from a hadith that when one is used to consistently doing a good deed, and unforeseen circumstances make him unable to follow through sometimes, Allah continues to reward that person as if they did that action. 

…or old age that makes you senile;...It is known through sources in the Quran and Sunnah that the worship done in one’s youth is more rewardable because they are at the peak of their strength, resources, and are surrounded by fitnah. The fact that they choose to remain true to the pleasure of Allah brings about greater rewards.

…or sudden death;...Death will put an end to your good deeds, and whatever you have collected so far will be what you will be judged on. We know from ahadith that those who have passed away, even as shaheed, wish to return to offer two more nawafil in salah, or to spend one more year of Ramadan. Hence we should live with an akhirah-focused mindset and engage in good as long as we have breath in our lungs. The reminder of death is also a catalyst in thinking about engaging in acts that become a form of sadaqah-e-jariya for us.

…or Dajjāl and what an evil unseen creation that is to be;...The time before the Last Day will be very testing, we will be surrounded by more and more fitnah then, and we know from ahadith that following the straight path will be like walking on hot coals. It is better to do as many good deeds as we can now before fitnah overtakes us. 

…or the Final Hour, which will be terrible and most bitter. The Last Day will be a frightening reality, so much so that we know from the Quran that on the Last Day a nursing mother will become forgetful of her baby. The signs of a nearing Qiyamah surround us, and so we should do what we can now.