Hadith 2733

Hanzalah ibn Ar-Rabi' al-Usaydi reported: Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) met me and asked, "How are you, Hanzalah?" I said, "Hanzalah has become a hypocrite." He exclaimed, "SubhanAllah! What are you saying?" I replied, "When we are with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reminding us of Hell and Paradise, it is as if we see them with our eyes. But when we leave the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and attend to our wives, children, and livelihoods, we forget much." Abu Bakr said, "By Allah, we experience the same!" So I went with Abu Bakr until we entered upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I said, "Hanzalah has become a hypocrite, O Messenger of Allah!" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "How so?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah, when we are with you reminding us of Hell and Paradise, it is as if we see them. But when we leave you and attend to our families and work, we forget much." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if you remained in the state you are in with me and in constant remembrance, the angels would shake hands with you in your beds and on your paths. But, O Hanzalah, there is a time for this and a time for that (he repeated this three times)."