The Aqeedah and Manhaj of AhlusSunnah wal Jamah

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Excellence of giving up Elegant Clothes for Humility

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Chapter 120
Excellence of giving up Elegant Clothes for Humility

802. Mu`adh bin Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever gives up wearing elegant and expensive garments out of humbleness, when he can do so, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection and before all the creations, He will give him the choice to wear whichever garment of Iman he would like to wear.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

Response to an Invitation extended to a Man observing Saum (Fasting)

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Response to an Invitation extended to a Man observing Saum (Fasting)

738. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When any of you is invited to a meal, he should accept the invitation. If he is observing Saum (fasting), he should supplicate for the betterment of the host and if he is not fasting, he should eat.”
Muslim].

What is to be said at the time of Sleeping

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Chapter 127
What is to be said at the time of Sleeping

814. Al-Bara’ bin `Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Whenever Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) went to bed, he would lie down on his right side and recite: “Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawwadtu amri ilaika, wa ‘alja’tu zahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja’a wa la manja illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabikal-ladhi anzalta, wa nabiyyikal-ladhi arsalta [O Allah! I have submitted myself to You, I have turned my face to You, committed my affairs to You, and depend on You for protection out of desire for You and out of fear of You (expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no refuge and no place of safety from You but with You. I believed in the Book You have revealed, and in the Prophet You have sent (i.e., Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)).]”
[Al-Bukhari].

815. Al-Bara’ bin `Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) directed me thus: “Whenever you go to bed, perform Wudu’ as you do for Salat then (before sleeping) recite: `O Allah! I have submitted myself to You, I have turned myself to You, committed my affairs to You and sought Your refuge for protection out of desire for You and fear of You (expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no refuge and no place of safety from You but with You. I believe in the Book You have revealed and in the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) You have sent.”’ Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) added: “If anyone recites these words and dies during the night, he will die on the true Deen, and if he remains alive till the morning, he will obtain good. And make this supplication your last words (before sleeping).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

816. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to offer eleven Rak`ah of optional Salat (prayers) in the latter part of night. When it was about dawn, he would offer two short Rak`ah and then would lie down on his right side till the Mu’adhdhin (one who calls for prayer) would come to inform him that the congregation had gathered (for prayer).
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

817. Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) lay down for sleep at night, he would place his (right) hand under his (right) cheek and supplicate: “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya [O Allah, with Your Name will I die and live (wake up)].” And when he woke up, he would supplicate: “Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba`da ma amatana, wa ilaihin-nushur (All praise is due to Allah, Who has brought us back to life after He has caused us to die, and to Him is the return).”
[Al-Bukhari].

818. Ya`ish bin Tikhfah Al-Ghifari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: My father said: I was lying down on my belly in the mosque when someone shook me with his foot and said, “Lying down this way is disapproved by Allah.” I looked up and saw that it was Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam).
[Abu Dawud].

819. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever sits in a place where he does not remember Allah (SWT), he will suffer loss and incur displeasure of Allah; and whoever lies down (to sleep) in a place where he does not remember Allah, he will suffer sorrow and incur displeasure of Allah.”
[Abu Dawud].

Prohibition of using the skin of the Leopard

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Chapter 124
Prohibition of using the skin of the Leopard

811. Mu`awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not ride on saddles made from silk or leopard’s skin.”
[Abu Dawud].

812. Abul-Malih on the authority of his father reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) prohibited the use of the skins of wild animals.
[Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i].

Another narration in At-Tirmidhi is: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) forbade the use of the skins of wild animals in making Firash (i.e., something to sit on or lie down on, such as cushions, pillows, covers, spreads, saddles, etc.).

Eating from what is in front of One

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Chapter 104
Eating from what is in front of One

740.  `Umar bin Abu Salamah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I was a boy under the care of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), and as my hand used to wander around in the dish, he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to me once, “Mention Allah’s Name (i.e., say Bismillah), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

741. Salamah bin Al-Akwa` (May Allah be pleased with him) reported on the authority of his father: A man ate with his left hand in the presence of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), whereupon he said, “Eat with your right hand.” The man said: “I cannot do that.” Thereupon he (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “May you not be able to do that.” It was vanity that prevented him from doing it and he could not raise it (the right hand) up to his mouth afterwards.
[Muslim].

Manners of Lying down on one’s back and placing one leg upon the Other

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Chapter 128
Manners of Lying down on one’s back and placing one leg upon the Other

820. `Abdullah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I saw Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) lying down on his back in the mosque, placing one leg on the other.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

821. Jabir bin Samurah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: After the Fajr (dawn) prayer the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to sit crossed legged in the same place in which he had prayed till the sun shone brightly.
[Abu Dawud].

822. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I saw Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sitting in the compound of the Holy Ka`bah, with the thighs against the stomach and arms around his legs.
[Al-Bukhari].

823. Qailah bint Makhramah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I saw the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) seated with his arms enfolding his legs; and when I saw him in such a state of humble guise I trembled with fear due to the awe (he showed in that posture).
[At-Tirmidhi].

824. Ash-Sharid bin Suwaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) passed by me when I was sitting with my left hand behind my back and leaning on my palm. On seeing me in this posture he said, “Do you sit like those upon whom the Wrath of Allah has descended?”
[Abu Dawud].

Excellence of Leading an Ascetic Life, and Virtues of Simple Life

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Chapter 55
Excellence of Leading an Ascetic Life, and Virtues of Simple Life

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Verily, the likeness of (this) worldly life is as the water (rain) which We send down from the sky; so by it arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle eat: until when the earth is clad in its adornments and is beautified, and its people think that they have all the powers of disposal over it, Our Command reaches it by night or by day and We make it like a clean-mown harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday! Thus, do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, laws, etc.) in detail for the people who reflect.” (10:24)

“And put forward to them the example of the life of this world: it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything. Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds that last, are better with your Rubb for rewards and better in respect of hope.” (18:45,46)

“Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It is) as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers-evildoers), and (there is) forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers-gooddoers). And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment”. (57:20).

“Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return (Jannah with flowing rivers) with Him.” (3:14).

“O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allah is true. So let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.” (35:5).

“The mutual rivalry (for piling up of worldly things) diverts you. Until you visit the graves (i.e., till you die). Nay! You shall come to know! Again nay! You shall come to know! Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge (the end result of piling up, you would not have been occupied yourselves in worldly things)”. (102:1-5).

“And this life of the world is only amusement and play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter is the real life if they but knew”.  (29:64).

457. `Amr bin `Auf Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sent Abu `Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) to Bahrain to collect (Jizyah). So he returned from Bahrain with wealth. The Ansar got news of it and joined with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in the Fajr prayer. When the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) concluded the prayer, they stood in his way. When he saw them, he smiled and said, “I think you have heard about the arrival of Abu `Ubaidah with something from Bahrain”. They said, “Yes! O Messenger of Allah!”. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Rejoice and hope for that which will please you. By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be opened up with its wealth for you as it was opened to those before you; and you vie with one another over it as they did and eventually it will ruin you as it ruined them”.
[Muslim].

458. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sat on the pulpit and we sat around him. He said: “What I am concerned most is the flourishment and the beauty of this world will be available to you”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

459. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The world is sweet and green (alluring); and verily, Allah is making you to succeed each other, generations after generations in it in order to see how you act. So beware of this world  and beware of women”.
[Muslim].

460. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “O Allah, there is no true life but the life of the Hereafter”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

461. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Three (things) follow a dead person: Members of his family, his property and his deeds. Two of them return; and one remains with him. The people and his wealth return; his deeds remain with him”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

462. Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Among the inmates of Hell, a person who had led the most luxurious life in this world will be brought up on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Fire and will be asked: `O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you happen to get any luxury?’ He will reply: `By Allah, no, my Rubb.’ And then one of the people of Jannah who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world will be dipped in Jannah. Then he will be asked: `O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?’ He will say: “By Allah, no my Rubb, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship”.
[Muslim].

463. Al-Mustaurad bin Shaddad (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “This world (i.e., its pleasures and duration) in comparison with the Hereafter is (similar to the amount of water) one gets when he puts his finger in the sea. Let him then see what it returns with”.
[Muslim].

464. Jabir bin `Abdullah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was passing through the bazaar with his Companions on his both sides, when he saw a dead skinny lamb. He held its ear and said, “Who of you would like to have it for a dirham”. They replied, “We do not like to get it for nothing, and what shall we do with it?”. Then he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked, “Would you like to have it for nothing?”. They replied, “Had it been alive, it would have been defective because it is skinny; but when dead it is of no use”. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Truly, the world is more contemptible to Allah than this (the dead lamb) is to you”.
[Muslim].

465. Abu Dharr (May allah be pleased with him) reported: I was walking with the Prophet on the stony ground in Al-Madinah in the afternoon when Uhud Mount came into sight. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “O Abu Dharr!” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, here I am responding to you”. He said, “If I had as much gold as the weight of Uhud, it would not please me to have a single dinar out of it with me after the passage of three days, but I would hold back something for the repayment of a debt. I would distribute it among the slaves of Allah like this and like this and like this.” And he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) pointed in front of him, and on his right side and on his left side. We then walked a little further and he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The rich would be poor on the Day of  Resurrection, except he who spent like this and like this and like this,”. and he pointed as he did the first time. “But such persons are few”. Then he said, “Stay where you are till I come back to you”. He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) walked ahead a little further in the darkness of the night and disappeared from my sight. I heard a loud voice. I said (to myself): “The Messenger of Allah might have met (mishap or an enemy)”. I wished I could go after him but I remembered his commanding me to stay till he came back. So I waited for him; and when he came, I made mention of what I had heard. He asked, “Did you hear it?”. I said, “Yes”. Then he said, “It was Jibril (Gabriel), who came to me and said: `He who dies among your Ummah without having associated anything with Allah (in worship) will enter Jannah.’ I said: `Even if he committed illicit sexual intercourse or steals?’ He (Jibril) said: `Even if he has committed illicit sexual intercourse or steals”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

466. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “If I had gold equal to Mount Uhud (in weight), it would not please me to pass three nights and I have a thing of it left with me, except what I retain for repayment of a debt”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

467. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Look at those who are inferior to you and do not look at those who are superior to you, for this will keep you from belittling Allah’s Favour to you.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

This is the wording in Sahih Muslim. The narration in Al-Bukhari is: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)  said: “When one of you looks at someone who is superior to him in property and appearance, he should look at someone who is inferior to him”.

468. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with ihm) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “May he be miserable, the worshipper of the dinar and dirham, and the worshipper of the striped silk cloak. If he is given anything, he is satisfied; but if not, he is unsatisfied”.
[Al-Bukhari]

469. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw seventy of the people of the Suffah and none of them had a cloak. They had either a lower garment or a blanket which they suspended from their necks. Some (cloaks) reached halfway down to the legs and some to the ankles; and the man would manage to keep it in his hand to avoid exposing his private parts.
[Al-Bukhari].

470. Abu Hurairah (May allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The world is the believer’s prison and the infidel’s Jannah”.
[Muslim].

471. `Abdullah bin `Umar (May allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) took hold of my shoulders and said, “Be in the world like a stranger or a wayfarer”.

Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) used to say: “When you survive till the evening, do not expect to live until the morning; and when you survive until the morning, do not expect to live until the evening; (do good deeds) when you are in good health before you fall sick, and (do good deeds) as long as you are alive before death strikes”.
[Al-Bukhari].

472. Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, guide me to such an action which, if I do Allah will love me and the people will also love me.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Have no desire for this world, Allah will love you; and have no desire for what people possess, and the people will love you.”
[Ibn Majah]

473. An-Nu`man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) spoke at length regarding the worldly prosperity that people had achieved and said: “I saw that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would pass his days in hunger and could not get even degraded dates to fill his stomach”.
[Muslim].

474. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) died when my house was void of any edible thing except for a small quantity of barley I had on a shelf and from which I kept eating it for a long time. Then when I measured what was left of it, it soon finished.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

475. `Amr bin Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with him) the brother of Juwairiyah (May Allah be pleased with her), the Mother of believers) reported: (When he died) Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) left neither a dinar nor a dirham nor a male slave nor a female slave, nor anything else except his white riding mule, his weapons and his land which he had given in charity to wayfarers.
[Al-Bukhari].

476. Al-Khabbab bin Al-Aratt (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We emigrated with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) seeking the pleasure of Allah and expecting our reward from Him. Some of us died without enjoying anything of it. Among them was Mus`ab bin `Umair (May Allah be pleased with him), who was killed in the battle of Uhud, leaving only a small coloured sheet of wool (which we used as his shroud). When we covered his head with it, his feet were exposed, and when we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered. So the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) told us to cover his head and to put some Idhkhir (i.e., fragrant grass) over his feet. Others among us enjoy prosperity.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

477. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Were this world worth a wing of mosquito, He would not have given a drink of water to an infidel.”

[At-Tirmidhi].

478. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily! The world is accursed and what it contains is accursed, except remembrance of Allah and those who associate themselves with Allah; and a learned man, and a learning person.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

479. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do not crave for property lest you should be absorbed in the desire of worldly life.”
[At-Tirmidhi]

480. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: We were repairing our thatchy hut when Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) passed by and asked us, “What are you doing?” We said, “The thatch had gone weak and we are repairing it.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I see the sure thing (death) approaching sooner than this.”
[Abu Dawud].

481. Ka`b bin `Iyad (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily, there is a Fitnah (trial) for every nation and the trial for my nation (or Ummah) is wealth.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

482. `Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There is no right for the son of adam except in these (four) things: A house to live in, a cloth to cover therewith his private parts, bread and water.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

483.  `Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) while he was reciting (Surat At-Takathur 102):

“The mutual rivalry (for hoarding worldly things) preoccupy you. Until you visit the graves (i.e., till you die). Nay! You shall come to know! Again nay! You shall come to know! Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge (the end result of hoarding, you would not have been occupied in worldly things). Verily, you shall see the blazing Fire (Hell)! And again, you shall see it with certainty of sight! Then (on that Day) you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)!” (102:1-8)

(After reciting) he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Son of adam says: `My wealth, my wealth.’ Do you own of your wealth other than what you eat and consume, and what you wear and wear out, or what you give in Sadaqah (charity) (to those who deserve it), and that what you will have in stock for yourself.”
[Muslim].

484. `Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I love you.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Think about what you are saying.” The man repeated thrice, “I swear by Allah that I love you.” He (Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “If you love me, you should be ready for acute poverty; because poverty comes to those who love me, faster than a flood flowing towards its destination.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

485. K`ab bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Two hungry wolves sent in the midst of a flock of sheep are no more destructive to them than a man’s greed for wealth and fame is to his Deen.”

[At-Tirmidhi]

486. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) slept on a straw mat and got up with the marks left by it on his body. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Messenger of Allah! Would that you make us spread out a soft bedding for you.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “What have I to do with the world? I am like a rider who had sat under a tree for its shade, then went away and left it.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

487. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The poor will enter Jannah five hundred years before the rich.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

488. Ibn `Abbas and `Imran bin Al-Husain (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I looked into Jannah and saw that most of its dwellers are the poor; and I looked into Hell and saw that most of its inmates were women.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

489. Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I stood at the gate of Jannah and saw that most of those who enter it were poor, whereas the rich were held back; but those who were destined to go to Hell were ordered to be sent there (immediately).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

490. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The most truthful statement a poet has ever made is the saying of Labid: Everything besides Allah is vain.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 

Remembrance of Death and Restraint of Wishes

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Chapter 65
Remembrance of Death and Restraint of Wishes

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Jannah, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” (3:185)

“No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die…” (31:34)

“…when their term comes, neither can they delay nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).” (16:61)

“O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers. And spend (in charity) of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you, and he says: `My Rubb! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e., return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e., Zakat) of my wealth, and be among the righteous [i.e., perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) and other good deeds].’ And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (63:9-11)

“Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says: `My Rubb! Send me back. So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!’ No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected. Then, when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no kinship among them that Day, nor will they ask of one another. Then, those whose Scales (of good deeds) are heavy, they are the successful. And those whose Scales (of good deeds) are light, they are those who lose their ownselves, in Hell will they abide. The Fire will burn their faces, and therein they will grin, with displaced lips (disfigured). `Were not My Verses (this Qur’an) recited to you, and then you used to deny them?’ They will say: `Our Rubb! Our wretchedness overcame us, and we were (an) erring people. `Our Rubb! Bring us out of this; if ever we return (to evil), then indeed we shall be Zalimun (polytheists, oppressors, unjust, wrong-doers, etc? He (Allah) will say: `Remain you in it with ignominy! And speak you not to Me!’ Verily! There was a party of My slaves, who used to say: `Our Rubb! We believe, so forgive us, and have mercy on us, for you are the Best of all who show mercy!’ `But you took them for a laughing stock, so much so that they made you forget My remembrance while you used to laugh at them! Verily! I have rewarded them this Day for their patience, they are indeed the ones that are successful. He (Allah) will say: `What number of years did you stay on earth?’ They will say: `We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account.’ He (Allah) will say: `You stayed not but a little, if you had only known! Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?”’ (23:99-115)

“Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allah’s Reminder (this Qur’an), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e., Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fasiqun (the rebellious, the disobedient to Allah).” (57:16)

574. `Abdullah bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) took hold of my shoulders and said, “Be in the world like a stranger or a wayfarer.” Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) used to say: When you survive till the evening do not expect to live until the morning; and when you survive till the morning do not expect to live until the evening. While in good health (do good deeds) before you fall sick; and while you are alive (do good deeds) before death strikes.
[Al-Bukhari].

575. `Abdullah bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “It is the duty of a Muslim who has something which is to be given as a bequest not to have it for two nights without executing a written will.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In the narration of Muslim it is narrated as `three nights’. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said: Since I heard the Messenger of Allah say this, I have never spent a night without having my will with me.

576. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) drew a few lines and said, “One of them represents man and another indicates death; and a man continues like this until the nearest line (i.e., death) overtakes him.”
[Al-Bukhari].

577. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) drew up a square and in the middle of it he drew a line, the end of which jutted out beyond the square. Further across the middle line, he drew a number of smaller lines. Then he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The figure represents man and the encircling square is the death which is encompassing him. The middle line represents his desires and the smaller lines are vicissitudes of life. If one of those misses him, another distresses him, and if that one misses him, he falls victim to another.”
[Al-Bukhari].

578. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Hasten to do good deeds before you are overtaken by one of the seven afflictions.’‘ Then (giving a warning) he said, “Are you waiting for poverty which will make you unmindful of devotion, or prosperity which will make you corrupt, or a disease which will disable you, or senility which will make you mentally unstable, or sudden death which will take you all of a sudden, or Ad-Dajjal who is the worst expected, or the Hour; and the Hour will be most grievous and most bitter.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

579. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Remember more often the destroyer of pleasures – death.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

580. Ubayy bin Ka`b (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When one-third of the night would pass, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would get up and call out, “O people, remember Allah. The Rajifah (i.e., the first Blowing of the Trumpet which will shake the whole universe and thus cause all life to cease) has come, followed by Ar-Radifah (i.e., the second Blowing of the Trumpet which will restore life and thus mark the Resurrection Day). Death has approached with all that it comprises. Death has approached with all that it comprises.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), I frequently invoke Allah to elevate your rank. How much of my supplications should I devote to you?” He said, “You may devote as much as you wish.” When I suggested a quarter, he said, “Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase it.” I suggested half, and he said, “Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase.” I suggested two-thirds, and he said, “Do whatever you wish but it will be better for you if you increase it.” I said, “Shall I devote all my supplications invoking Allah to elevate your rank?” He said, “Then you will be freed from your worries and your sins will be forgiven.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

 

Modesty and Courtesy towards the Believers

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Chapter 71
Modesty and Courtesy towards the Believers

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And be kind and humble to the believers who follow you.” (26:215)

“O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers.” (5:54)

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [he is one of the Muttaqun (the pious)].” (49:13)

“So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him [i.e., those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious)].” (53:32)

“And the men on Al-a`raf (the wall) will call unto the men whom they would recognise by their marks, saying: `Of what benefit to you were your great numbers (and hoards of wealth), and your arrogance (against Faith)?’ Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy. (Behold! It has been said to them): `Enter Jannah, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.”’ (7:48,49)

602. `Iyad bin Himar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah has revealed to me that you should humble yourselves to one another. One should neither hold himself above another nor transgress against another.”
[Muslim].

603. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Wealth does not diminish by giving Sadaqah (charity). Allah augments the honour of one who forgives; and one who serves another seeking the pleasure of Allah, Allah will exalt him in ranks.”
[Muslim].

604. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) passed by some children and greeted them (by saying As-salamu `alaikum to them). Then he said: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to do the same.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

605. Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A slave-girl of Al-Madinah would take hold of the hand of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and take him wherever she desired.
[Al-Bukhari].

606. Al-Aswad bin Yazid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) was asked: “What did Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to do inside his house?” She answered: “He used to keep himself busy helping members of his family, and when it was the time for Salat (the prayer), he would get up for prayer.”
[Al-Bukhari].

607. Tamim bin Usaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) while he was delivering a Khutbah and said: “O Messenger of Allah, a stranger (meaning himself) has come to inquire about his Deen. He is quite ignorant about his Deen.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) interrupted his Khutbah and turned to me. Then a chair was brought for him and he sat on it. He started instructing me what Allah had taught him. Then he resumed his Khutbah and completed it.
[Muslim].

608. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) finished eating his food, he would lick his three fingers (i.e., the forefinger, the middle finger and the thumb). He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “If anyone of you drops a morsel, he should remove anything harmful from it and then eat it. He should not leave it for Shaitan.” He commanded us to clean out the dish saying, “You do not know in what portion of your food the blessing lies.”
[Muslim].

609. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Every Prophet has tended sheep.” He was asked: “And did you?” He replied: “Yes, I tended them for a few carats for the Makkans.”
[Al-Bukhari].

610. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “If I am invited to a meal consisting of a sheep’s foot or shoulder, I would respond and I would accept as a gift a shoulder or a foot of a sheep.”
[Al-Bukhari].

611. Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had a she-camel called Al-`Adba’ which would not allow any other camel to surpass her. A bedouin came riding his camel which outstripped it. The Muslims were much grieved at this. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) perceived it and said, “It is Allah’s Way that he lowers whatever raises itself in the world.”
[Al-Bukhari].

Excellence of meeting with a smiling Countenance and Politeness in Speech

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Chapter 88
Excellence of meeting with a smiling Countenance and Politeness in Speech

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And lower your wings for the believers (be courteous to the fellow-believers).” (15:88)

“And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you.” (3:159)

693. `Adi bin Hatim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Guard yourselves against the Fire (of Hell) even if it be only with half a date-fruit (given in charity); and if you cannot afford even that, you should at least say a good word.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

694. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “It is also charity to utter a good word.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

695. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not disdain a good deed, (no matter how small it may seem) even if it is your meeting with your (Muslim) brother with a cheerful face.”
[Muslim].

Contentment and Self-esteem and avoidance of unnecessary begging ofPeople

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Chapter 57
Contentment and Self-esteem and avoidance of unnecessary begging of People

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And no moving (living) creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah.” (11:6)

“(Charity is) for Fuqara (the poor), who in Allah’s Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land (for trade or work). The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty. You may know them by their mark, they do not beg of people at all.” (2:273)

“And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes).” (25:67)

“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them (i.e., provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e., feed themselves or My creatures).” (51:56,57)

522. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Richness is not the abundance of wealth, rather it is self-sufficiency.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

523. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Successful is the one who has entered the fold of Islam and is provided with sustenance which is sufficient for his needs, and Allah makes him content with what He has bestowed upon him.”.
[Muslim].

524. Hakim bin Hizam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I begged Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and he gave me; I begged him again and he gave me. I begged him again and he gave me and said, “O Hakim, wealth is pleasant and sweet. He who acquires it with self-contentment, it becomes a source of blessing for him; but it is not blessed for him who seeks it out of greed. He is like one who goes on eating but his hunger is not satisfied. The upper hand is better than the lower one.” I said to him, “O Messenger of Allah, by Him Who sent you with the Truth I will not, after you, ask anyone for anything till I leave this world.” So Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) would summon Hakim (May Allah be pleased with him) to give his rations, but he would refuse.  Then ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would call him but he would decline to accept anything. So ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said addressing Muslims: “O Muslims, I ask you to bear testimony that I offer Hakim his share of the booty that Allah has assigned for him but he refuses my offer.” Thus Hakim did not accept anything from anyone after the death of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), till he died.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

525. Abu Burdah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him)  said: “Six of us accompanied Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in an expedition. We had one camel with us; we rode it in turn. Our feet got injured and my nails also fell out. We wrapped up our feet in rags; and because of this the campaign came to be known as Dhat-ur-Riqa` (the Campaign of Rags).” Abu Burdah (May Allah be pleased with him) says: Abu Musa reported this Hadith but regretted having done so. He said, “Would that I had not mentioned it!” He said so because he disliked to disclose anything concerning his deeds.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

526. `Amr bin Taghlib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some booty or prisoners of war were brought to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and he distributed them, giving some men and neglecting others. Then, he was informed that those whom he had not given a thing were displeased. On this the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) praised Allah and glorified Him and said, “It is a fact that I give to one and overlook another. The one I ignore is dearer to me than the one I give. I give to those in whose hearts I perceive anxiety; others I leave with the richness and contentment that Allah has put in their hearts. One of them is `Amr bin Taghlib.” Upon this `Amr bin Taghlib said, “By Allah I shall not accept a herd of red camels in exchange for what the Prophet said (about me).”
[Al-Bukhari].

527. Hakim bin Hizam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The upper hand is better than the lower one; and begin (charity) with those who are under your care; and the best charity is (the one which is given) out of surplus; and he who wishes to abstain from begging will be protected by Allah; and he who seeks self-sufficiency will be made self-sufficient by Allah.”  
[Al-Bukhari].

528. Abu Sufyan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not be importunate in begging. By Allah! If one of you asks me for something and I give it to him unwillingly, there is no blessing in what I give him.”
[Muslim].

529. `Auf bin Malik Al-Ashja`i (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Seven, eight or nine people, including myself, were with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) on an occasion when he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) remarked, “Would you pledge allegiance to Messenger of Allah?” As we had taken oath of allegiance shortly before, we said, “We have already done so, O Messenger of Allah.” He again asked, “Would you not pledge allegiance to Messenger of Allah?” So we stretched out our hands and said, “We have already made our pledge with you, O Messenger of Allah, on what should we make a pledge with you?” He said, “To worship Allah and not to associate anything with Him, to perform the five (daily) Salat and to obey.” Then he added in a low tone, “And not to ask people for anything.” Thereafter, I noticed that some of these people who were present did not ask anyone to pick up even the whip for them if it fell from their hands. [Muslim].

530. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “If one of you would keep begging (of people) until he meets Allah (on the Day of Resurrection) his face will be without a shred of flesh.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

531. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: While Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was on his pulpit (in the mosque) delivering a Khutbah (religious talk) about Sadaqah (charity) and begging, he said, “The upper hand is better than the lower hand, the upper hand is the one which gives and the lower hand is the begging one.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

532. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who begs to increase his riches is in fact asking only for a live coal. It is up to him to decrease it or increase it.”
[Muslim].

533. Samurah bin Jundub (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Begging is a cut that a person inflicts upon his face; except for asking a ruler, or under the stress of circumstances from which there is no escape.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

534. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who suffers poverty and seeks relief from people, he will not be relieved; but he who seeks relief from Allah Alone, he will be relieved sooner or later.”
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

535. Thauban (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who guarantees me that he will not beg anything from anyone, I will guarantee him (to enter) Jannah.” I said, “I give you the guarantee.” Then Thauban (May Allah be pleased with him) never begged anything from anyone.
[Abu Dawud].

536. Qabisah bin Al-Mukhariq (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I stood as surety for a debt and came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to seek his help in discharging it. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Wait till we receive charity and I shall give you out of it.’‘ He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) added, “O Qabisah, begging is not lawful except for three people. One who has incurred debt (for assuming guarantee), for him begging is permissible till the guarantee is discharged and he should then refrain; a person whose property has been destroyed by a calamity is allowed to beg till he attains self-sufficiency; a person who meets with dire necessity (due to hunger) provided that three men of understanding from his people affirm the genuineness (of his poverty), for him begging is lawful till he attains means of his subsistence. Other than these, O Qabisah, anything received through begging is unlawful, its recipient devours it unlawfully.”
[Muslim].

537. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A needy person is not the one who goes from door to door, begging and is turned away with a morsel or two or with a date or two. But a needy person is the one who does not have enough to live upon, and neither from his appearance it occurs that he is needy and should be given alms, nor does he himself beg anything from others.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Leading an Abstemious Life and refraining from the Doubtful

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Chapter 68
Leading an Abstemious Life and refraining from the Doubtful

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“…you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.” (24:15)

“Verily, your Rubb is Ever Watchful (over them).” (89:14)

588. An-Nu`man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “What is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are certain doubtful things which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and his honour blameless. But he who falls into doubtful things falls into that which is unlawful, just as a shepherd who grazes his cattle in the vicinity of a pasture declared prohibited (by the king); he is likely to stray into the pasture. Mind you, every king has a protected pasture and Allah’s involved limits is that which He has declared unlawful. Verily, there is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is healthy, the whole body is healthy,  and if it  is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

589. Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) found a dry date-fruit lying in the way and said, “Had it not been for fear of being from charity I would have eaten it.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

590. An-Nawwas bin Sam`an (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Piety is good manner, and sin is that which creates doubt and you do not like people to know of it.”
[Muslim].

591. Wabisah bin Ma`bad (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I went to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and he asked me, “Have you come to inquire about piety?” I replied in the affirmative. Then he said, “Ask your heart regarding it. Piety is that which contents the soul and comforts the heart, and sin is that which causes doubts and perturbs the heart, even if people pronounce it lawful and give you verdicts on such matters again and again.”
[Ahmad and Ad-Darmi].

592. `Uqbah bin Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that he had married a daughter of Abu Ihab bin `Aziz and a woman came to him and said she had suckled both `Uqbah and the woman whom he had married, to which he replied: “I am not aware that you suckled me, and you did not inform me.” So he (`Uqbah) rode to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in Al-Madinah and put the matter before him. The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “How can you continue (to be her husband) after what you have been told?” `Uqbah (May Allah be pleased with him) therefore divorced her and she married another man.
[Al-Bukhari].

593. Hasan bin `Ali (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I have retained these words of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), “Leave what causes you doubt and turn to what does not cause you doubt.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

594. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) had a slave who brought him his earnings and Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) would eat from it. One day he brought him something and when Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) had eaten some of it, the slave asked him whether he knew where he had got that (food) from, Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) asked what it was, and he replied: I acted as a soothsayer for a man in the pre-Islamic period, and not being good at it, I deceived him; today he met me and he rewarded me for that soothsaying what you have eaten. Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) put his hand in his mouth and vomited up all that he had eaten.
[Al-Bukhari].

595. Nafi` (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) fixed the payment amounting to four thousand dirhams for each of the early Emigrants, but for his son, he fixed only three thousand five hundred. He was asked: “He is also an (early) Emigrant, why have you fixed a lesser sum for him?” He said: “It was his father who took him along with him. He is not like one who emigrated by himself.”
[Al-Bukhari].

596. `Atiyyah bin `Urwah As-Sa`di (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “No one will attain complete righteousness until he abandons (certain) unobjectionable (but doubtful) things so as to remain on his guard against something objectionable.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

Good Conduct

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Chapter 73
Good Conduct

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And verily, you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) are on an exalted (standard of) character.” (68:4)

“The Jannah is prepared for those)… who repress anger, and who pardon men.” (3:134)

621. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was the best of all the people in behaviour.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

622. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I never felt any piece of velvet or silk softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), nor did I smell any fragrance more pleasant than the smell of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). I served him for ten years, and he never said `Uff’ (an expression of disgust) to me. He never said `why did you do that?’ for something I had done, nor did he ever say `why did you not do such and such’ for something I had not done.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

623. Sa`b bin Jaththamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I presented a wild ass to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as a gift but he returned it to me. When he perceived signs of despair on my face, he said, “I have declined to accept it because I am in the state of Ihram.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

624. Nawwas bin Sam`an (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) about virtue and sin, and he said, “Virtue is noble behaviour, and sin is that which creates doubt and you do not like people to know about it.”
[Muslim].

625. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) did not indulge in loose talk nor did he like to listen to it. He used to say, “The best of you is the best among you in conduct.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

626. Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the Scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

627. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was asked about the deed which will be foremost to lead a man to Jannah. He replied, “Fear of Allah and the good conduct.” Then he was asked about indulgence which will admit a man to Hell (Fire) and he answered, “The tongue and the genitals.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

628. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The most perfect man in his faith among the believers is the one whose behaviour is most excellent; and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

629. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying: “A believer will attain by his good behaviour the rank of one who prays during the night and observes fasting during the day.”
[Abu Dawud].

630. Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.”
[Abu Dawud].

631. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The dearest and nearest among you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be one who is the best of you in manners; and the most abhorrent among you to me and the farthest of you from me will be the pompous, the garrulous, and Al-Mutafaihiqun.” The Companions asked him: “O Messenger of Allah! We know about the pompous and the garrulous, but we do not know who Al-Mutafaihiqun are.” He replied: “The arrogant people.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

Listening Attentively

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Chapter 90
Listening Attentively

698. Jarir bin `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked me on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage to tell the people to keep silent, then he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not revert to disbelief after me, chopping the heads of one another.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Permissibility of Assistance without Greed

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Chapter 58
Permissibility of Assistance without Greed

538. Salim, son of Abdullah bin `Umar, from his father Abdullah; from `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would give me some gift, but I would say: “Give it to someone who needs it more than I.” Thereupon he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would say, “Take it when it comes to you without begging and without greed, and add it to your property. Then use it yourself or give it away in charity. As for the rest, do not covet it.” Salim said: `Abdullah bin `Umar would never ask anything from anyone, nor would he refuse accepting it when it was given to him.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Condemnation of Pride and Self-Conceit

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Chapter 72
Condemnation of Pride and Self-Conceit

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“That home of the Hereafter (i.e., Jannah), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun (the pious and righteous persons).” (28:83)

“And walk not on earth with conceit and arrogance.” (17:37)

“And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not any arrogant boaster.” (31:18)

“Verily, Qarun (Korah) was of Musa’s (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. Remember when his people said to him: `Do not exult (with riches, being ungrateful to Allah). Verily, Allah likes not those who exult (with riches, being ungrateful to Allah…(up to)… So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place.” (28:76-81)

612. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who has, in his heart, an ant’s weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah.” Someone said: “A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people.”
[Muslim].

613. Salamah bin Al-Akwa` (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man ate in the presence of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) with his left hand. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Eat with your right hand.” He said: “I cannot.” Thereupon he (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “May you never be able to do that.” It was arrogance that prevented him from doing it, and he could not raise it (the right hand) up to his mouth afterwards.
[Muslim].

614. Harithah bin Wahab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Shall I not inform you about the inmates of Hell? It is every violent, impertinent and proud person.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

615. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There was a dispute between Hell and Jannah, and Hell said: `The haughty and proud are in me.’ The Jannah said: `In me are the weak and the humble.’ Thereupon Allah, the Exalted, judged between them saying: `You the Jannah are My Mercy, and through you I shall show mercy to those whom I wish.’ (And addressing the Hell) He said: `You are My punishment to punish whom I wish amongst My slaves, and each one of you will have its fill.”’
[Muslim].

616. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at him who trails his lower garment out of pride.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

617. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There are three (types of) people to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, nor look at them, and they will have a painful punishment. These are: An aged man who commits Zina (illicit sexual act), a ruler who lies, and a proud poor person.”
[Muslim].

618. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah, the Exalted, says: `Honour is My Izar and Pride is My Cloak. Whoever vies with Me regarding one of them, shall be tormented.”’
[Muslim].

619. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “While a man was walking, dressed in clothes admiring himself, his hair combed, walking haughtily when Allah caused the earth to swallow him. Now he will continue to go down in it (as a punishment) until the Day of Resurrection.”
[Muslim].

620. Salamah bin Al-Akwa` (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Man continues to display haughtiness and arrogance until he is recorded among the arrogant and will be therefore afflicted with what afflicts them.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

Clemency, Tolerance and Gentleness

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Chapter 74
Clemency, Tolerance and Gentleness

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“…who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” (3:134)

“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e., don’t punish them).” (7:199)

“The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e., Allah orders the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly) then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient – and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of happiness in the Hereafter, i.e., Jannah and of a high moral character) in this world.” (41:34,35)

“And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah.” (42:43)

632. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to Ashaj Abdul-Qais (May Allah be pleased with him), “You possess two qualities that Allah loves. These are clemency and tolerance.”
[Muslim].

633. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah is Forbearer and loves forbearance in all matters.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

634. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah is Forbearer and He loves forbearance, and rewards for forbearance while He does not reward severity, and does not give for any thing besides it (forbearance).”
[Muslim]

635. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whenever forbearance is added to something, it adorns it; and whenever it is withdrawn from something, it leaves it defective.”
[Muslim].

636. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him up. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult.”
[Al-Bukhari].

637. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Make things easy and do not make them difficult, cheer the people up by conveying glad tidings to them and do not repulse (them).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

638. Jarir bin `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who is deprived of forbearance and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good.”
[Muslim].

639. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man asked the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to give him advice, and he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not get angry.” The man repeated that several times and he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied (every time), “Do not get angry.”
[Al-Bukhari].

640. Abu Ya`la Shaddad bin `Aus (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Verily Allah has prescribed Ihsan (kindness) for everything. So when you kill, you must make the killing in the best manner; when you slaughter, make your slaughter in the best manner. Let one of you sharpen his knife and give ease to his animal (in order to reduce his pain).”
[Muslim].

641. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was given a choice between two matters, he would (always) choose the easier as long as it was not sinful to do so; but if it was sinful he was most strict in avoiding it. He never took revenge upon anybody for his own sake; but when Allah’s Legal Bindings were outraged, he would take revenge for Allah’s sake.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

642. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Shall I not tell you whom the (Hell) Fire is forbidden to touch? It is forbidden to touch a man who is always accessible, having polite and tender nature.”
[At-Tirmidhii].

Brevity in Preaching

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Chapter 91
Brevity in Preaching

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Invite (mankind, O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) to the way of your Rubb (i.e., Islam) with wisdom (i.e., with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’an) and fair preaching.” (16:125)

699. Shaqiq bin Salamah reported: Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) used to preach to us once every Thursday. A man said to him: “O Abu `Abdur-Rahman, we love your talk and we wish that you preach us every day.” He said: “There is nothing to prevent me from doing so, but I don’t lest I bore you. I follow the same method in preaching to you that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) adopted in preaching to us for fear of boredom.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

700. `Ammar bin Yasir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Prolonging Salat (prayer) and shortening the Khutbah (religious talk) indicate the religious knowledge of the person. Make your Salat long and your sermon short.”
[Muslim].

701. Mu`awiyah bin Al-Hakam As-Sulami (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: While I was in Salat with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), a man in the congregation sneezed and I responded with: `Yarhamuk-Allah (Allah have mercy on you).’ The people stared at me with disapproving looks. So I said: “May my mother lose me. Why are you staring at me?” Thereupon, they began to strike their thighs with their hands. When I saw them urging to me to remain silent, I became angry but restrained myself. When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) concluded his Salat. I have never before seen an instructor who gave better instruction than he, may my father and mother be sacrificed for him. He neither remonstrated me, nor beat me, nor abused me. He simply said,“It is not permissible to talk during Salat because it consists of glorifying Allah, declaring His Greatness as well as recitation of the Qur’an,” or he said words to that effect.” I said: “O Allah’s Messenger, I have but recently accepted Islam,  and Allah has favoured us with Islam. There are still some people among us who go to consult soothsayers.” He said, “Do not consult them.” Then I said: “There are some of us who are guided by omens.” He said, “These things which come to their minds. They should not be influenced by them.”
(Muslim).

702. `Irbad bin Sariyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: One day, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) delivered a very effective speech, as a result, eyes shed tears and hearts became softened. A man said: “O Prophet of Allah! It sounds as if this is a farewell speech, so advise us.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I admonish you to fear Allah, and to listen and obey even if a black slave has been appointed as your leader. For whoever among you lives after me will see much discord. So hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who will come after me. Adhere to them and hold fast to them. Beware of Bid`ah (in religion) because every Bid`ah is a misguidance.”
[Abu Da wud and At-Tirmidhi].

Excellence of Generosity and Spending in a Good cause with Reliance on Allah – Riyad-us-Saliheen

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Chapter 60 : Excellence of Generosity and Spending in a Good cause with Reliance on Allah

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will replace it.” (34:39)

“And whatever you spend in good, it is for yourselves, when you spend not except seeking Allah’s Countenance. And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.” (2:272)

“And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it well.” (2:273)

544. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Allah gives wealth, and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allah gives knowledge which he applies and teaches it.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

545. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked, “Who of you loves the wealth of his heir more than his own wealth?” The Companions said: “O Messenger of Allah! There is none of us but loves his own wealth more.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “His wealth is that which he has sent forward, but that which he retains belongs to his heir.”
[Al-Bukhari].

546. `Adi bin Hatim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Protect yourself from Hell-fire even by giving a piece of date as charity.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

547. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) never said `no’ to anyone who asked him for anything.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

548. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Everyday two angels descend and one of them says, `O Allah! Compensate (more) to the person who gives (in charity)’; while the other one says, `O Allah! Destroy the one who withholds (charity, etc)”.
[Al-Bukhari ].

549. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah, the Exalted, says, `Spend, O son of Adam, you will also be spent upon.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

550. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: A man asked Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), “Which act in Islam is the best?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “To feed (the poor and the needy) and to greet those whom you know and those you do not know.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

551. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There are forty kinds of virtue, the highest of which is to gift a (milch) she goat. He who practises any of these virtues, expecting its reward (from Allah) and believing on the verity of the promise made for it, will enter Jannah.”
[Al-Bukhari].

552. Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “O son of Adam, if you spend the surplus, it will be better for you; and if you retain it, it will be bad for you. You will not be reprimanded for keeping what is enough for your need. Begin with those who are your dependents, and the upper hand (i.e., the one that spends in the way of Allah) is better than the lower hand (i.e., the one that receives charity.)”
[Muslim].

553. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was asked a thing by one who is about to accept Islam but he would give it. A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and he gave him a herd of sheep scattered between two mountains. When he returned to his people, he said to them: “O my people! Embrace Islam because Muhammad gives like one who has no fear of poverty.” Some people would embrace Islam only for worldly gains, but soon Islam becomes dearer to them than the world with all what it contains.
[Muslim].

554. `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) distributed some wealth and I said to him, “O Messenger of Allah! Do you not think that there are other people who are more deserving than these whom you gave.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “They had, in fact, left no alternative for me except either they should beg of me importunately or they would regard me as a miser; but I am not a miser.”
[Muslim].

555. Jubair bin Mut`im (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: While I was walking with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) on his return from the battle of Hunain, a few bedouins caught hold of him and began to demand their shares. They forced him to a tree and someone snatched away his cloak (which got entangled in that thorny tree). The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Give my cloak back to me. Were I to have camels equal to the number of these trees, I would have distributed them all among you, and you would not have found me a miser, or a liar, or a coward.”
[Al-Bukhari].

556. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Wealth is not diminished by giving (in charity). Allah augments the honour of one who forgives; and one who displays humbleness towards another seeking the pleasure of Allah, Allah exalts him in ranks.”
[Muslim].

557. Abu Kabshah `Amr bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I swear by Allah for three (qualities) which I am going to tell you about. Remember them well:

(1) The wealth of a man will not diminish by Sadaqah (charity).

(2) Allah augments the honour of a man who endures an oppression patiently.

(3) He who opens a gate of begging, Allah opens a gate of poverty (or he said a word similar to it).”

He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) also said, “Remember well what I am going to tell you: The world is for four kinds of people. (1) One upon whom Allah has bestowed wealth and knowledge and so he fears his Rubb in respect to them, joins the ties of blood relationship and acknowledges the Rights of Allah on him (and fulfills them); this type will have the best position (in Jannah). (2) One upon whom Allah has conferred knowledge but no wealth, and he is sincere in his intention and says: `Had I possessed wealth, I would have acted like so-and-so.’ If that is his intention, his reward is the same as that of the other. (3) One whom Allah has given wealth but no knowledge and he squanders his wealth ignorantly, does not fear Allah in respect to it, does not discharge the obligations of kinship and does not acknowledge the Rights of Allah. Such a person will be in the worst position (in the Hereafter). (4) One upon whom Allah has bestowed neither wealth nor knowledge and he says: `Had I possessed wealth, I would have acted like so-and-so (i.e., he would squander his wealth).’ If this is his intention, both will have equal sin.”  
[At-Tirmidhi].

558. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had slaughtered a sheep and distributed major portions of its meat. Then he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked, “Is there anything left?” She replied, “Nothing, except the shoulder.” Thereupon he said, “All of it is left except its shoulder.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

559. Asma’ bint Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to me, “Do not hoard; otherwise, Allah will withhold from you.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

560. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying: “The case of a miserly man and a generous man who gives in charity is similar to that of two persons who are clad in armour from their breasts up to their collar bones. When the generous man gives in charity, his armour expands so much as to cover his fingertips and toes. When the miser intends to spend something the armour contracts and every ring of it sticks to the place where it is (sinks into his flesh). He tries to loosen it but it does not expand.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

561. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who gives in charity the value of a date which he legally earned, and Allah accepts only that which is pure, Allah accepts it with His Right Hand and fosters it for him, as one of you fosters his mare, until it becomes like a mountain.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

562. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “While a man was walking through a barren land, he heard a voice coming out of a cloud saying: `Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.’ Thereupon the cloud drifted in a certain direction and discharged its water over a rocky plain. The streamlets flowed into a channel. This man followed the channel until it reached a garden and he saw the owner of the garden standing in its center, working with his spade spreading the water (changing the course of the water). He asked him: “O slave of Allah, what is your name?” He told his name, which was the same that he heard from the cloud. The owner of the garden then asked him: “O slave of Allah, why did you ask my name?” He replied: “I heard a voice from a cloud which poured down this water saying: `Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.’ I would like to know what do you do with it.” He said: “Now that you asked me, I will tell you. I estimate the produce of the garden and distribute one-third of it in charity, I spend one-third on myself and my family and invest one-third back into the garden.”
[Muslim].

 

Appointment of Pious Governors, Advisors and Judges

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Chapter 82
Appointment of Pious Governors, Advisors and Judges

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Friends of that Day will be foes one to another except Al-Muttaqun: (i.e., pious and righteous persons).” (43:67)

678. Abu Sa`id and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah neither raised up any Prophet nor did He authorize any person with ruling power but for whom there were two types of entourage: one enjoins upon him to do good and incites him to carry it out, and the other enjoins evil and goads him; and the protected (from the bad entourage) is the one whom Allah protects.”
[Al-Bukhari].

679. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When Allah desires good for a ruler, He appoints for him a sincere adviser who will remind him if he forgets and helps him if he remembers. When Allah wishes for him the contrary, He appoints for him a bad adviser who will not remind him if he forgets, nor will he help him if he remembers.”

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