Fear of Hanzalah ᴿᴬ and Abu Bakr ᴿᴬ that they were hypocrites because the fear of Allah slips from their minds

– and he was from the scribes of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ – I met Abu Bakr. He said: Who are you? He said: Hanzalah is a hypocrite! He (Abu Bakr) said: Hallowed be Allah, what are you saying? Thereupon he said: I say that when we are in the company of Messenger of Allah ﷺ we ponder over Hellfire and Paradise as if we are seeing them with our very eyes and when we are away from Messenger of Allah ﷺ we attend to our wives, our children, our business; most of these things slip out of our minds. Abu Bakr said: By Allah, I also experience the same.

So I and Abu Bakr went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said to him: Messenger of Allah, Hanzalah is a hypocrite. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Why is that?" I said: Messenger of Allah, when we are in your company, we are reminded of Hellfire and Paradise as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but whenever we go away from you and attend to our wives, children, and business, much of these things go out of our minds. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if your state of mind remains the same as it is in my presence and you are always busy in remembrance ˹of Allah˺, the Angels will shake hands with you in your beds and in your paths but, Hanzalah, ˹there is˺ time ˹for reminders of the Hereafter˺ and ˹there is˺ time ˹for worldly affairs˺," and he said this thrice.

– وَكَانَ مِنْ كُتَّابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ – قَالَ لَقِيَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ: كَيْفَ أَنْتَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ: نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ! قَالَ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ! مَا تَقُولُ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ: نَكُونُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُذَكِّرُنَا بِالنَّارِ وَالْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى كَأَنَّا رَأْىَ عَيْنٍ، فَإِذَا خَرَجْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَافَسْنَا الأَزْوَاجَ وَالأَوْلاَدَ وَالضَّيْعَاتِ فَنَسِينَا كَثِيرًا۔ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّا لَنَلْقَى مِثْلَ هَذَا۔

فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ حَتَّى دَخَلْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ: نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «وَمَا ذَاكَ؟» قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَكُونُ عِنْدَكَ تُذَكِّرُنَا بِالنَّارِ وَالْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى كَأَنَّا رَأْىَ عَيْنٍ فَإِذَا خَرَجْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِكَ عَافَسْنَا الأَزْوَاجَ وَالأَوْلاَدَ وَالضَّيْعَاتِ نَسِينَا كَثِيرًا۔ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنْ لَوْ تَدُومُونَ عَلَى مَا تَكُونُونَ عِنْدِي وَفِي الذِّكْرِ لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ وَفِي طُرُقِكُمْ، وَلَكِنْ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً» ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ۔

We were in the company of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he delivered to us a sermon and made a mention of Hell-Fire. Then I came to my house and began to laugh with my children and sport with my wife. (Hanzala) further reported: I went out and met Abu Bakr and made a mention of that to him. Thereupon he said: I have done the same as you have mentioned. So we went to see Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said to him: Messenger of Allah, Hanzala has turned to he a hypocrite. And he (the Holy Prophet) said Show respite. And then I narrated to him the story, and Abu Bakr said: I have done the same as he has done. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Hanzala, there is a time for worldly affairs and a time for (worship and devotion), and if your state of mind is always the same as it is at the time of remembrance of Allah, the Angels would shake hands with you and would greet you on the path by saying: As-Salamu-Alaikum.

كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَوَعَظَنَا فَذَكَّرَ النَّارَ قَالَ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ فَضَاحَكْتُ الصِّبْيَانَ وَلاَعَبْتُ الْمَرْأَةَ قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ وَأَنَا قَدْ فَعَلْتُ مِثْلَ مَا تَذْكُرُ فَلَقِينَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ فَقَالَ مَهْ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ بِالْحَدِيثِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَأَنَا قَدْ فَعَلْتُ مِثْلَ مَا فَعَلَ فَقَالَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً وَلَوْ كَانَتْ تَكُونُ قُلُوبُكُمْ كَمَا تَكُونُ عِنْدَ الذِّكْرِ لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ حَتَّى تُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الطُّرُقِ

“What is wrong with you, O Hanzalah?” He replied: “Hanzalah has become a hypocrite O Abu Bakr! When we are with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ we remember the Fire and Paradise as if we are looking at them with the naked eye. But when we return we busy ourselves with our wives and livelihood and we forget so much.” He(Abu Bakr) said: “By Allah! The same thing happens to me. Let us go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” (Hanzalah said:) “So he went." When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw him, he said: “What is wrong with you O Hanzalah?” He said: “Hanzalah has become a hypocrite O Messenger of Allah! When we are with you we remember the Fire and Paradise as if we can see them with the naked eye. But when we return we are busy with our wives and livelihood, and we forget so much.” He said: “So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'If you were to abide in the state that you are in when you are with me, then the Angels would shake hands with you in your gatherings, and upon your bedding, and in your paths. But O Hanzalah! There is a time for this and a time for that.'” (Sahih)

وَكَانَ مِنْ كُتَّابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ مَرَّ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ قَالَ نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ نَكُونُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُذَكِّرُنَا بِالنَّارِ وَالْجَنَّةِ كَأَنَّا رَأْىَ عَيْنٍ فَإِذَا رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الأَزْوَاجِ وَالضَّيْعَةِ نَسِينَا كَثِيرًا قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّا لَكَذَلِكَ انْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَانْطَلَقْنَا فَلَمَّا رَآهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَا لَكَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ قَالَ نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَكُونُ عِنْدَكَ تُذَكِّرُنَا بِالنَّارِ وَالْجَنَّةِ كَأَنَّا رَأْىَ عَيْنٍ فَإِذَا رَجَعْنَا عَافَسْنَا الأَزْوَاجَ وَالضَّيْعَةَ وَنَسِينَا كَثِيرًا قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْ تَدُومُونَ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّذِي تَقُومُونَ بِهَا مِنْ عِنْدِي لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ فِي مَجَالِسِكُمْ وَفِي طُرُقِكُمْ وَعَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً

“We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and we spoke of Paradise and Hell until it was as if we could see them. Then I got up and went to my family and children, and I laughed and played (with them). Then I remembered how we had been, and I went out and met Abu Bakr, and said: ‘I have become a hypocrite!’ Abu Bakr said: ‘We all do that.’” So Hanzalah went and mentioned that to the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “O Hanzalah, if you were (always) as you are with me, the angels would shake hands with you in your beds and in your streets. O Hanzalah, there is a time for this and a time for that.”

كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ حَتَّى كَأَنَّا رَأْىَ الْعَيْنِ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَوَلَدِي فَضَحِكْتُ وَلَعِبْتُ قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُ الَّذِي كُنَّا فِيهِ فَخَرَجْتُ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ نَافَقْتُ نَافَقْتُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّا لَنَفْعَلُهُ فَذَهَبَ حَنْظَلَةُ فَذَكَرَهُ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ كَمَا تَكُونُونَ عِنْدِي لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ أَوْ عَلَى طُرُقِكُمْ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةٌ وَسَاعَةٌ

“We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and we spoke of Paradise and Hell until it was as if we could see them. Then I got up and went to my family and children, and I laughed and played (with them). Then I remembered how we had been, and I went out and met Abu Bakr, and said: ‘I have become a hypocrite!’ Abu Bakr said: ‘We all do that.’” So Hanzalah went and mentioned that to the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “O Hanzalah, if you were (always) as you are with me, the angels would shake hands with you in your beds and in your streets. O Hanzalah, there is a time for this and a time for that.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4239)

كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ حَتَّى كَأَنَّا رَأْيَ عَيْنٍ فَأَتَيْتُ أَهْلِي وَوَلَدِي فَضَحِكْتُ وَلَعِبْتُ وَذَكَرْتُ الَّذِي كُنَّا فِيهِ فَخَرَجْتُ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ نَافَقْتُ نَافَقْتُ فَقَالَ إِنَّا لَنَفْعَلُهُ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ تَكُونُونَ كَمَا تَكُونُونَ عِنْدِي لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ أَوْ فِي طُرُقِكُمْ أَوْ كَلِمَةً نَحْوَ هَذَا هَكَذَا قَالَ هُوَ يَعْنِي سُفْيَانَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً

[Machine] "We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and we talked about Paradise and Hell until it was as if we could see them with our own eyes. Then I went to my family and I laughed and played with them and my children. But then I remembered what I had been with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , so I went out and met Abu Bakr and said, 'O Abu Bakr, the hypocrisy of Hanthala has become apparent.' He asked, 'What is that?' I said, 'We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and we talked about Paradise and Hell until it was as if we could see them with our own eyes. Then I went to my family and I laughed and played with my children and family.' He said, 'We do that too.' So I went to the Prophet ﷺ and told him about it. He said, 'O Hanthala, if you were to remain in this state, as you are with me, the angels would shake hands with you while you are in your beds and on your roads, O Hanthala, for an hour and then for an hour.'"

كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ حَتَّى كَانَا رَأْيَ عَيْنٍ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَضَحِكْتُ وَلَعِبْتُ مَعَ أَهْلِي وَوَلَدِي فَذَكَرْتُ مَا كُنْتُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَخَرَجْتُ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ نَافَقَ حَنْظَلَةُ قَالَ وَمَاذَاكَ ذَاكَ؟ قُلْتُ كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ حَتَّى كَأَنَّا رَأْيَ عَيْنٍ فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَضَحِكْتُ وَلَعِبْتُ مَعَ وَلَدِي وَأَهْلِي فَقَالَ إِنَّا لَنَفْعَلُ ذَاكَ قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ تَكُونُونَ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ كَمَا تَكُونُونَ عِنْدِي لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأَنْتُمْ عَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ وَبِالطُّرُقِ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةً وَسَاعَةً

[Machine] We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when he mentioned Paradise and Hell. We were overwhelmed with joy and I went back to my family and laughed with them. Something then occurred to me and I met Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, "Indeed, I have become a hypocrite." He asked, "And what is that?" So I said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he mentioned Paradise and Hell, and it was as if we saw them with our own eyes. But when I came back to my family, I laughed with them." Abu Bakr said, "We also do the same." So I went to the Prophet ﷺ and told him about it. He said, "O Hanthalah, if you were to remain in the state you are in while you are with your family, angels would shake hands with you on your beds and on your paths, O Hanthalah, for an hour and an hour."

كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ فَكُنَّا رَأْىَ عَيْنٍ فَخَرَجْتُ فَأَتَيْتُ أَهْلِي فَضَحِكْتُ مَعَهُمْ فَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي شَيْءٌ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي نَافَقْتُ قَالَ وَمَا ذَلِكَ؟ فَقُلْتُ كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ وَكُنَّا كَأَنَّا رَأْى عَيْنٍ فَأَتَيْتُ أَهْلِي فَضَحِكْتُ مَعَهُمْ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّا لَنَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ قَالَ «يَا حَنْظَلَةُ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ عِنْدَ أَهْلِيكُمْ كَمَا تَكُونُونَ عِنْدِي لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ وَفِي الطَّرِيقِ يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةٌ وَسَاعَةٌ»

“We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and we spoke of Paradise and Hell until it was as if we could see them. Then I got up and went to my family and children, and I laughed and played (with them). Then I remembered how we had been, and I went out and met Abu Bakr, and said: ‘I have become a hypocrite!’ Abu Bakr said: ‘We all do that.’” So Hanzalah went and mentioned that to the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “O Hanzalah, if you were (always) as you are with me, the angels would shake hands with you in your beds and in your streets. O Hanzalah, there is a time for this and a time for that.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4239)

كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ حَتَّى كَأَنَّا رَأْيُ عَيْنٍ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَوَلَدِي فَضَحِكْتُ وَلَعِبْتُ فَذَكَرْتُ الَّذِي كُنَّا فِيهِ فَخَرَجْتُ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ؓ فَقُلْتُ نَافَقْتُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ إِنَّا لَنَفْعَلُهُ فَذَهَبَ حَنْظَلَةُ فَذَكَرَهُ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ «يَا حَنْظَلَةُ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ كَمَا تَكُونُونَ عِنْدِي لَصَافَحَتْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عَلَى فُرُشِكُمْ أَوْ طُرُقِكُمْ أَوْ نَحْوِ ذَا يَا حَنْظَلَةُ سَاعَةٌ وَسَاعَةٌ»