Umm ad-Darda narrated that she said to Abu ad-Darda: “Why don’t you seek 1 as so-and-so seeks?” He replied: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Before you is a steep ascent 2 that the heavily burdened will not cross.’ So I wish to lighten myself for that ascent.”
(1) Her statement: “Seek”: This means wealth or status. (As stated in Al-Mirqat.)
Note 2
Before you is a steep ascent
(2) His statement: “Before you is a steep ascent”: This refers to death, the grave, the resurrection, and their terrors and hardships, likened to climbing a steep pass and enduring its challenges. (As stated in Al-Mirqat.)
Note 1
قوله
(١) قوله : مالك لا تطلب : أي مالا أو منصبا. قاله في «المرقاة».
Note 2
قوله
(۲) قوله : أمامكم عقبة : المراد بها الموت والقبر والحشر وأهوالها وشدائدها شبهها بصعود العقبة ومكابدة ما يلحق الرجل من قطعها. كذا في «المرقاة»
Commentary and footnotes (4)
Note 1
(1) Her statement: “Seek”: This means wealth or status. (As stated in Al-Mirqat.)
Note 2
(2) His statement: “Before you is a steep ascent”: This refers to death, the grave, the resurrection, and their terrors and hardships, likened to climbing a steep pass and enduring its challenges. (As stated in Al-Mirqat.)
Note 1
(١) قوله : مالك لا تطلب : أي مالا أو منصبا. قاله في «المرقاة».
Note 2
(۲) قوله : أمامكم عقبة : المراد بها الموت والقبر والحشر وأهوالها وشدائدها شبهها بصعود العقبة ومكابدة ما يلحق الرجل من قطعها. كذا في «المرقاة»