Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Sir,

You made a mistake in your last email which I’m highlighting.

You have mentioned this quote in reverse order whereas it should be O Allah, You are my Lord & I’m your slave.

A’Hadiths

Guidance from The Prophet (saws)

Hadrat Anas ibn Malik (r.a.), the servant of the Messenger of Allah (saws) narrated: ‘The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has lost his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink. He, having lost all hopes (to get his camel and provisions back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his (lost) camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: `O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your lord. He commits this mistake out of extreme joy."’

Related by Muslim.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

No mistake in the quoted hadith

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: You made a mistake in your last email which I’m highlighting. You have mentioned this quote in reverse order whereas it should be O Allah, You are my Lord & I’m your slave.

Respected brother in Islam, we absolutely assure you that the statement quoted above (and highlighted by you) is exactly verbatim as quoted in the hadith and there is no mistake in the sequence.

As erroneous as the statement declared by the person who lost his camel ‘O Allah, You are my slave and I am your lord’ may be in its essence….that is exactly what he declares in his joy and his ecstasy at finding his camel and his provisions in the midst of the desert!!! The Messenger of Allah (saws) clarifies at the end of the hadith that the person made this mistake out of his extreme joy.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan