Category: Islam

Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 17
Obedience to the command of Allah is an obligatory duty

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“But no, by your Rubb, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (4:65)

“The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah (His Words, the Qur’an) and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), to judge between them, is that they say: `We hear and we obey.’ And such are the successful (who will live forever in Jannah).” (24:51)

168.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When it was revealed to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): “To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and whether you disclose what is in your own selves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it,” the Companions of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) felt it hard and severe and they came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and sat down on their knees and said: “O Messenger of Allah, we were assigned some duties which were within our power to perform, such as Salat (prayer), Saum (fasting), Jihad (striving in the Cause of Allah), Sadaqah (charity). Then this (the above mentioned) Verse was revealed to you and it is beyond our power to live up to it.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do you want to say what the people of two Books (Jews and Christians) said before you: ‘We hear and disobey?’ You should rather say: ‘We hear and we obey, we seek forgiveness, our Rubb and unto You is the return.”’ And they said: “We hear and we obey, (we seek) Your forgiveness, our Rubb! And unto You is the return.” When the people recited it and it smoothly flowed on their tongues, then Allah revealed immediately afterwards: “The Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Rubb, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say), ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers‘ – and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Rubb, and to You is the return (of all)”. When they did that, Allah abrogated this (Ayah) and Allah the Great revealed: “Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned.” (The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said): “Yes. ‘Our Rubb! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians)”. (The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said): “Yes. ‘Our Rubb! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear”. (The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said): “Yes. ‘Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Supporter and Protector) and give us victory over the disbelieving people”.

He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said: “Yes”.
[Muslim].

Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 13
Numerous ways of doing Good

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“… and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allah knows it well.” (2:215)

“And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it.” (2:197)

“So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.” (99:7)

“Whosoever does a good deed, it is for his ownself…” (45:15)

117.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Which action is the best?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Faith in Allah and Jihad in the way of Allah.” I asked: “Which neck (slave) is best (for emancipation)?” He said, “That which is dearest of them in price and most valuable of them to its masters”. I asked: “If I cannot afford (it)?” He said, “Then help a labourer or work for one who is disabled”. I asked: “If I cannot do (it)?” He said, “You should restrain yourself from doing wrong to people, because it (serves as) charity which you bestow upon yourself”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

118.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When you get up in the morning, charity is due from every one of your joints. There is charity in every ascription of glory to Allah; there is charity in every declaration of His Greatness; there is charity in every utterance of praise of Him; there is charity in every declaration that He is the only true God (worthy of worship); there is charity in enjoining good; there is charity in forbidding evil. Two Rak`ah of Duha (Forenoon prayer) is equal to all this (in reward)”.
[Muslim].

119.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The deeds of my people, good and bad, were presented before me, and I found the removal of  harmful objects from the road among their good deeds, and phlegm which might be in a mosque left unburied among their evil deeds”.
[Muslim].

120.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some people said to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): “O Messenger of Allah, the rich have taken away (all the) reward. They observe Salat (prayers) as we do; and give Sadaqah (charity) out of their surplus wealth.” Upon this he (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “Has Allah not prescribed for you (a course) following which you can (also) give Sadaqah? In every declaration of the glorification of Allah (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) there is a Sadaqah, and in every Takbir (i.e., saying Allahu Akbar) is a Sadaqah, and in every celebration of praise (saying Al-hamdu lillah) is a Sadaqah, and in every declaration that He is One (La ilaha illallah) is a Sadaqah, and in enjoining of good is a Sadaqah, and in forbidding evil is a Sadaqah, and in man’s sexual intercourse (with his wife) there is a Sadaqah.” They (the Companions) said: “O Messenger of Allah, is there reward for him who satisfies his sexual need among us?” He said, “You see, if he were to satisfy it with something forbidden, would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly, if he were to satisfy it legally, he should be rewarded”.
[Muslim].

121.  Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face”.
[Muslim].

122.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Every day the sun rises charity (Sadaqah) is due on every joint of a person: you administer justice between two men is a charity; and assisting a man to mount his beast, or helping him load his luggage on it is a charity; and a good word is a charity; and every step that you take (towards the mosque) for Salat (prayer) is a charity and removing harmful things from the road is a charity”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In Muslim, it is reported on the authority of  `Aishah  (May Allah be pleased with her) that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Everyone of the children of Adam has been created with three hundred and sixty joints; so he who declares the Glory of Allah (i.e., saying Allahu Akbar), praises Allah (i.e., Al-hamdu lillah), declares Allah to be One (i.e., La ilaha illallah), glorifies Allah, and seeks forgiveness from Allah (i.e., Astaghfirullah), and removes stone, or thorn, or bone from people’s path, and enjoins good and forbids evil, to the number of those three hundred and sixty, will walk that day having rescued himself from Hell”.

123.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who goes to the mosque at dawn or dusk (for Salat), Allah prepares a hospitable abode for him in Jannah, every time when he walks to it or comes back from it”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

124.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: O Muslim women, never belittle any gift you give your neighbour even if it is a hoof of a sheep”.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

125. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Iman has over seventy branches, the uppermost of which is the declaration: `None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’; and the least of which is the removal of harmful object from the road, and modesty is a branch of Iman.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

126. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “While a man was walking on his way he became extremely thirsty. He found a well, he went down into it to drink water. Upon leaving it, he saw a dog which was panting out of thirst. His tongue was lolling out and he was eating moist earth from extreme thirst. The man thought to himself: `This dog is extremely thirsty as I was.’ So he descended into the well, filled up his leather sock with water, and holding it in his teeth, climbed up and quenched the thirst of the dog. Allah appreciated his action and forgave his sins”. The Companions asked: “Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to the animals also?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A reward is given in connection with every living creature”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

     In the narration of Al-Bukhari, the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) is reported to have said: “Allah forgave him in appreciation of this act and admitted him to Jannah”.

Another narration says: “Once a dog was going round the well and was about to die out of thirst. A prostitute of Banu Israel happened to see it. So she took off her leather sock and lowered it into the well. She drew out some water and gave the dog to drink. She was forgiven on account of her action”.

127.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I saw a man going about in Jannah (and enjoying himself) as a reward for cutting from the middle of the road, a tree which was causing inconvenience to the Muslims”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says: “A man who passed by a branch of a tree leaning over a road and decided to remove it, saying to himself, `By Allah! I will remove from the way of Muslims so that it would not harm them.’ On account of this he was admitted to Jannah”.

According to the narration in Al-Bukhari and Muslim: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “While a man was walking, he saw a thorny branch on the road, so he removed it and Allah appreciated his action and forgave him”.

128.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who performs his Wudu’ perfectly and comes to Jumu`ah prayer and listens (to the Khutbah) silently, the sins which he has committed since the previous Friday plus three more days (i.e., 10 days) will be forgiven for him. One who distracts himself with pebbles during the Khutbah will not get the (Jumu`ah) reward”.
[Muslim].

129. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a Muslim or a believer washes his face (in the course of Wudu’), every sin he has committed with his eyes is washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought is erased from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet walked is washed away with water, or with the last drop of water, with the result that he comes out cleansed of all sins”.
[Muslim].

130.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The five (daily) Salat (prayers), and from one Jumu`ah prayer to the (next) Jumu`ah prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals); provided the major sins are not committed”.
[Muslim].

131.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Should I not direct you to something by which Allah obliterates the sins and elevates (your) ranks.” They said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah”. He said, “Performing Wudu’ properly, even in difficulty, frequently going to the mosque, and waiting eagerly for the next Salat (prayer) after a Salat is over; indeed, that is Ar-Ribat”.
[Muslim].

132.  Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who observes the Fajr and `Asr (prayers) will enter Jannah.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

133.  Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a slave of Allah suffers from illness or sets on a journey, he is credited with the equal of whatever good works he used to do when he was healthy or at home”.
[Al-Bukhari].

134.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Every good deed is charity”.
[Al-Bukhari].

Muslim has reported the same on the authority of Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him).

135.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When a Muslim plants a tree, whatever is eaten from it is charity from him and whatever is stolen is charity and whatever is subtracted from it is charity”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says: “If a Muslim plants a tree, or sows a field and men and beasts and birds eat from it, all of it is charity from him”.

136.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The tribe Banu Salimah wanted to move nearer to the mosque. On learning this Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to them, “I heard that you intend to move nearer to the mosque”. They said, “That is so, O Messenger of Allah, we do want to do that”. He said, “O Banu Salimah, keep to your homes, your steps (to the mosque) are recorded”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says: “There is for every step (towards the mosque) a degree (of reward) for you“.
[Muslim].

137.  Ubayy bin Ka`b (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: There was a man, and I do not know of any other man whose house was farther than his from the mosque, and he never missed Salat (in congregation). It was said to him (or I said to him): “If you buy a donkey you could ride it in the dark nights and in the burning sand.” He said: “I do not like my house to be by the side of the mosque, for I (eagerly) desire that my steps towards the mosque and back from it should be recorded when I return to my family.” Upon this Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah has granted you all the rewards for you”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says:  “You will get the reward for what you have anticipated“.

138.  Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There are forty kinds of virtue; the uppermost of them is to lend a (milch) she-goat (to someone in order to benefit from it and then return it). He who practices any of these virtues expecting its reward and relying on the truthfulness of the promise made for it, shall enter Jannah.”
[Al-Bukhari].

139.  `Adi bin Hatim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Protect yourself from (Hell) Fire, by giving of half of a date (in charity)”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 In another narration `Adi bin Hatim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as saying: “Allah will surely speak with everyone of you without an interpreter. He (the man) will look at his right side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before, and he will look to his left side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before. Then he will look in front of him and will find nothing but Hell-fire facing him. So protect (yourselves) from (Hell) Fire, by giving in charity even half a date; and if he does not finds it, then with a kind word”.

140.  Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah will be pleased with His slave who praises Him (i.e., says Al-hamdu lillah) when he eats and praises Him when he drinks”.
[Muslim].

141.  Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Giving in charity is an obligation upon every Muslim”. It was said (to him): “What about one who does not find (the means) to do so?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Let him work with his hands, thus doing benefit to himself and give in charity.” It was said to him: “What if he does not have (the means) to do so?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Then let him assist the needy, the aggrieved.” It was said: “What about if he cannot even do this?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Then he should enjoin good.” He was asked: “What if he cannot do that?” He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) said, “He should then abstain from evil, for verily, that is a charity from him”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 27
Reverence towards the Sanctity of the Muslims

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And whosoever honours the sacred things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Rubb”. (22:30)

“And whosoever honours the Symbols of Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the heart”. (22:32)

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

“…if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind”. (5:32)

222. Abu Musa (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

223. Abu Musa (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever enters our mosque or passes through our market with arrows with him, he should hold them by their heads lest it should injure any of the Muslims”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

224. Nu`man bin Bashir (May Allah bepleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

225. Abu Hurairah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) kissed his grandson Al-Hasan bin `Ali (May Allah bepleased with them) in the presence of Al-Aqra` bin Habis. Thereupon he remarked: “I have ten children and I have never kissed any one of them.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) looked at him and said, “He who does not show mercy to others will not be shown mercy”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

226. `Aishah (May Allah bepleased with her) reported: Some bedouins came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and asked: “Do you kiss your children?” He said, “Yes”. They then said: “By Allah, we do not kiss them.” The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, “I cannot help you if Allah has snatched kindness from your hearts”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

227. Jarir bin `Abdullah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who is not merciful to people Allah will not be merciful to him.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

228. Abu Hurairah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When one of you leads the Salat, he should not prolong it because the congregation includes those who are feeble, ill or old”. One version adds: “those who have to attend to work”) While offering prayers alone, you may pray as long as you like”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

229. `Aishah (May Allah bepleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would sometimes abstain from doing something he wished to do, lest others should follow him and it might become obligatory upon them.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

230. `Aishah (May Allah bepleased with her) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) prohibited his Companions out of mercy for them, from observing continuous fasting without a break. They said: “But you observe fast continuously”. He replied, “I am not like you. I spend the night while my Rubb provides me with food and drink”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

231. Abu Qatadah Al-Harith bin Rib`i (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I stand up to lead Salat with the intention of prolonging it. Then I hear the crying of an infant and I shorten the Salat lest I should make it burdensome for his mother”.
[Al-Bukhari].

232. Jundub bin Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When anyone offers the Fajr (dawn) prayer, in congregation, he is in the Protection of Allah. So let not Allah call him to account, withdrawing, in any respect, His Protection. Because, He will get hold of him and throw him down on his face in the Hell-fire.’‘
[Muslim]

233. Ibn `Umar (May Allah bepleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. So he should not oppress him nor should he hand him over to (his satan or to his self which is inclined to evil). Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his fault on the Day of Resurrection”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

234. Abu Hurairah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A Muslim is a brother to a Muslim. He should neither deceive him nor lie to him, nor leave him without assistance. Everything belonging to a Muslim is inviolable for a Muslim; his honour, his blood and property. Piety is here (and he pointed out to his chest thrice). It is enough for a Muslim to commit evil by despising his Muslim brother.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

235. Abu Hurairah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices by overbidding against one another; do not hate one another; do not harbour malice against one another; and do not enter into commercial transaction when others have entered into that (transaction); but be you, O slaves of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he look down upon him, nor does he humiliate him. Piety is here, (and he pointed to his chest three times). It is enough evil for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother-in-faith: his blood, his property and his honour”.
[Muslim].

236. Anas (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “No one of you shall become a true believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

237. Anas (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed”. A man enquired: “O Messenger of Allah! I help him when he is oppressed, but how can I help him when he is an oppressor?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “You can keep him from committing oppression. That will be your help to him”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

238. Abu Hurairah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “A believer owes another believer five rights: responding to greetings, visiting him in illness, following his funeral, accepting his invitation, and saying `Yarhamuk-Allah (May Allah have mercy on you),’ when he says `Al-hamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah)’ after sneezing”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

  Muslim’s narration is, “There are six rights of a Muslim upon a Muslim: When you meet him, greet him; when he invites you, respond to him; when he seeks counsel, give him advice; when he sneezes and praises Allah, say to him: `May Allah have mercy on you (Yarhamuk-Allah)’; when he is sick, visit him; and when he dies, follow his funeral”.

239. Al-Bara’ bin `Azib (May Allah bepleased with them) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) commanded us to observe seven things and forbade us seven. He ordered us to visit the sick; to follow funeral processions; to respond to a sneezer with `Yarhamuk-Allah (May Allah have mercy on you)’ when he says `Al-hamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah),’ to help the oppressed and to help others to fulfill their oaths, to accept invitation and to promote greeting. He forbade us to wear gold rings, to drink in silver utensils, to use Mayathir (silk carpets placed on saddles), to wear Al-Qassiy (a kind of silk cloth) to wear fine silk brocade.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 32
Superiority of Poor, Weak and unrenowned Muslims

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And keep yourself (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) patiently with those who call on their Rubb (i.e., your companions who remember their Rubb with glorification, praising in prayers, and other righteous deeds) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes overlook them.” (18:28)

252. Harithah bin Wahb (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Shall I not inform you about the people of Jannah? It is every person who is, modest and humble (before Allah), a person who is accounted weak and is looked down upon but if he adjures Allah, Allah will certainly give him what he desires. Now shall I not inform you about the inmates of Hell? It is every violent, impertinent and proud man”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

253. Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man passed by the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), so he asked a man who was sitting near him, “What is your opinion about this man?” That man replied: “He is one of the noblest men. By Allah he is certainly a proper person for (a girl) being given in marriage if he seeks to marry, and his recommendation is fit to be accepted if he recommends”. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) remained silent. Then another man passed. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) enquired, “What is your opinion about this man?” He replied: “O Messenger of Allah, he is one of the poor Muslims. He is not a proper person (for a girl) to be given in marriage to, and his recommendation would not be accepted if he makes one; if he speaks, he is not to be listened to.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He is better than the former by earthfuls”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

254. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: There was a dispute between the Hell and Jannah. The Hell said: “The haughty and proud are my inmates.” Jannah said: “The modest and the humble are my residents”. Thereupon, Allah the Exalted and Glorious (addressing Jannah) said: “You are My Mercy, through you I shall show mercy to those whom I wish”. (And addressing the Hell), He said: “You are (the means) of My punishment by which I shall punish such of My slaves as I wish and each one of you would have its fill”.
[Muslim].

255. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “On the Day of Resurrection, there will be brought forth a bulky person whose value to Allah will be less than that of the wing of a mosquito”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

256. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A black woman (or probably a young man) used to clean the mosque. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) missed her (or him) and asked about her (or him). He was told that she (or he) had died. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Why did you not inform me?” (It seemed as if) they (Companions) considered the matter insignificant. Then he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Show me her (or his) grave.” When it was shown to him, he offered (Janazah-funeral) prayer over it and said, “These graves cover those in them with darkness, and Allah illumines them for the inmates as a result of my supplication for them”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

257. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Many a person with shaggy and dusty hair, dusty and driven away from doors (because of their poverty and shabby clothes) were to swear by Allah (that something would happen), Allah will certainly make it happen”.
[Muslim].

258. Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I stood at the gate of Jannah, and (I saw) that the majority of those who entered it are the poor, and the wealthy were kept confined. The inmates of the Fire had been ordered to (enter) the Fire (Hell), and I stood at the gate of Hell and saw that the majority of its inmates are women”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

259. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “None spoke in the cradle but only three (persons), Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), the second one was the companion of Juraij who was a pious person. Juraij took a secluded monastery for worship and confined himself in it. His mother came to him as he was busy in prayer and she called: `Juraij.’ He said: `My Rubb, my mother (is calling me while I am engaged in) my prayer.’ He continued with the prayer. She returned and she came on the next day and he was (still) busy in prayer. She called: `Juraij.’ And he said: `My Rubb, my mother (is calling me while I am engaged) in prayer, and he continued with the prayer,’ and she returned. Then on the next day she again came while he was busy in prayer and called: `Juraij.’ And he said: `My Rubb, my mother (is calling me while I am engaged) in my prayer.’ And he continued with the prayer. She said: `My Rubb, don’t let him die until he has seen the faces of the prostitutes.’ The story of Juraij and that of his meditation and prayer spread amongst Banu Israel. There was a prostitute who had been a beauty personified. She said (to the people): `If you like, I can lure him to evil.’ She presented herself to him but he paid no heed (to her). She came to a shepherd who lived near the temple and she offered herself to him. He (the shepherd) had sexual intercourse with her and so she became pregnant. When she gave birth to a baby she said: `This is from Juraij.’ So they came and asked Juraij to get down and demolished the temple and began to beat him. He asked them what the matter was. They said: `You have committed fornication with this prostitute and she has given birth to a baby from you.’ He said: `Where is the baby?’ They brought him (the baby) and then he said: `Just leave me so that I should perform prayer.’ He performed prayer and when he finished, he lifted the baby in his stomach and asked him: `O boy, who is your father?’ The baby answered: `He is such and such a shepherd.’ So, the people turned towards Juraij, kissed him and touched him (for seeking blessing) and said: `We are prepared to construct your temple with gold.’ He said, `No just, rebuild it with mud as it had been,’ and so they did”. (The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) continued:) “Then there was a baby who was sucking at his mother’s breast when a person dressed in fine garment came on a priceless riding animal’s back. His mother said: `O Allah, make my child like this one.’ He (the babe) left sucking and looked at him, and said: `O Allah, don’t make me like him.’ He then returned to the breast and resumed sucking.’‘ He (Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: As though I can see Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as he is illustrating the scene of his sucking milk with his forefinger in his mouth and sucking that. He (Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)) further reported Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as saying, “There happened to pass by them a slave girl who was being beaten and they were saying: `You have committed fornication and theft.’ She was saying: `Allah is enough for me and He is my Good Protector, and his mother said: `O Allah, don’t make my child like her.’ He left sucking looked at her and said: `O Allah! Make me like her.’ It was followed by a conversation between the mother and the child. She said: `A good looking man happened to pass by and I said: O Allah, make my child like him, and you said: O Allah, don’t make me like him, and there passed a girl while they were beating her and saying: You committed fornication and theft, and I said: O Allah, don’t make my child like her, and you said: O Allah, make me like her.’ The child said: `That man was a tyrant, and I said: O Allah don’t make me like him; and they were saying about the girl: You committed fornication, whereas in fact she had not committed that and they were saying: You have committed theft, whereas she had not committed theft, so I said: O Allah, make me like her”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].