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Fatwa CenterHadith: ‘Allah Hates Every Arrogant and Harsh Person…’
Question
warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. In one of your fatawas you mentioned this hadith“_Allah hates every arrogant and harsh person who speaks loudly in the markets, sleeps like carrion by night and gets involved in work like donkeys by day. He knows everything about this life and does not know anything about the Hereafter._” (ibn Hibbaan) (Al-Albaani: Saheeh) What does it mean especially the words "...sleeps like carrion by night and gets involved in work like donkeys by day..." Is working a lot impermissible if you adhere to shariah laws?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
This Hadith was narrated by Ibn Hibban 
in his Sahih, and he said: “Abu Hurayrah 
narrated that Messenger of Allah said: “Allah hates every arrogant and harsh person who speaks loudly in the markets, sleeps like carrion by night and gets involved in work like donkeys by day. He knows everything about this life and does not know anything about the Hereafter.”
Al-Albani classified it in as-Silsilah as-Sahihah and Sahih Al-Jami' as Sahih (authentic), but he retracted that and classified it as weak in as-Silsilah adh-Dha’eefah, and in his review of Sahih ibn Hibban.
The reason for classifying this Hadith as weak is the interruption of its chain of narrators, as a narrator was dropped between Sa’eed and Abu Hurayrah 
. Ibn Abu Hatim in “Al-Marasil” (p. 52) reported from his father who said: “Sa’eed did not meet Abu Hurayrah.” [End of quote]
The meaning of carrion at night, is a metaphor for his frequent sleep, laziness, and failure to pray at night. The meaning of donkey by day is that he is dull in his understanding, engaged in his worldly work and does not pay attention to other acts of obedience and worship. When night comes, he lies on his bed and stays like a carrion until morning.
He is, however, aware of worldly matters, but ignorant of his religion and does not care about it or ask about it.
There is nothing wrong with permissible earning throughout the day if it is not a reason for missing obligatory prayers or other obligations. 'Umar said: “I and an Ansari neighbor of mine from Bani Umayyah ibn Zaid who used to live in `Awali Al-Medina, used to visit the Prophet in turns. He used to go one day, and I another day. When I went, I would bring him the news of what had happened that day regarding the revelation and so forth and when he went, he used to do the same for me.” [Al-Bukhari] Ibn Hajar said: “This Hadith is evidence that the seeker of knowledge makes a time for himself to devote himself to his livelihood and care for the condition of his family.” [End of quote]
Allah knows best.
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