English
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out one day with us and saw a prominent dome. He said: “What is this?” His companions said: “It belongs to so-and-so, a man from the Ansar.” He remained silent but kept it in his heart. 1 When the man came and greeted him among the people, he turned away from him. He did this several times until the man recognized his anger and avoidance. He complained to his companions, saying: “By Allah, I find the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) strange.” They said: “He went out and saw your dome.” The man returned to his dome and razed it to the ground. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out another day and did not see it. He said: “What happened to the dome?” They said: “Its owner complained of your avoidance, so we told him, and he demolished it.” He said: “Indeed, every building is a liability 2 for its owner except what is necessary, except what is unavoidable.”
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Commentary and footnotes (4)
Note 1
(1) His statement: “Kept it in his heart”: This means he harbored anger toward its builder for the act. In Asas al-Balaghah: “I harbored resentment against him” means to hold it inwardly. (As stated in Al-Mirqat.)
Note 2
(2) His statement: “Indeed, every building is a liability…”: This refers to buildings for pride and luxury beyond need, not buildings for good, like mosques, schools, or hospices, which belong to the Hereafter, nor essential provisions, clothing, or housing. (As stated in Al-Mirqat.)
Note 1
(۱) قوله: حملها : أي أضمر تلك الفعلة في نفسه غضبا على فاعلها في فعلها، ففي أساس البلاغة: حملت الحقد عليه إذا أضمرته. كذا في «المرقاة».
Note 2
(۲) قوله: أما أن كل بناء وبال إلخ أراد ما بناه للتفاخر والتنعم فوق الحاجة، لا أبنية الخير من المساجد والمدارس والرباطات؛ فإنها من الآخرة، وكذا ما لا بد منه للرجل من القوت والملبس والمسكن. كذا في «المرقاة».