حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ أَخْبَرَنَا أَيُّوبُ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى كَرَجُلٍ اسْتَعْمَلَ عُمَّالًا فَقَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ أَلَا فَعَمِلَتْ الْيَهُودُ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ إِلَى صَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ عَلَى قِيرَاطٍ قِيرَاطٍ أَلَا فَعَمِلَتْ النَّصَارَى ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ لِي مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ عَلَى قِيرَاطَيْنِ قِيرَاطَيْنِ أَلَا فَأَنْتُمْ الَّذِينَ عَمِلْتُمْ فَغَضِبَ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى قَالُوا نَحْنُ كُنَّا أَكْثَرَ عَمَلًا وَأَقَلَّ عَطَاءً قَالَ هَلْ ظَلَمْتُكُمْ مِنْ حَقِّكُمْ شَيْئًا قَالُوا لَا قَالَ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ فَضْلِي أُوتِيهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ
مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 4508
It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Your likeness and that of the Jews and Christians is that of a man who hired some workers and said: 'Who will work from Fajr prayer until midday for one qiraat each?' And the Jews worked. Then he said: 'Who will work for me from midday until 'Asr prayer for one qiraat each?' And the Christians worked. Then he said: 'Who will work for me from 'Asr prayer until sunset for two qiraats each?' And you are those who worked. The Jews and Christians were upset and said: 'We did more work, but we received less.” He said: 'Have I been unjust to you with regard to your rights?' They said: 'No,’ He said 'Rather this is My bounty that I grant to whomever I will."
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020