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Undesirability of Aspiring for Office

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Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 81
Undesirability of Aspiring for Office

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)

674. `Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to me, “Do not ask for position of authority. If you are granted this position without asking for it, you will be helped (by Allah) in discharging its responsibilities; but if you are given it as a result of your request, you will be left alone as its captive. If you take an oath to do something and then find a better alternative, you should adopt the latter and expiate for your oath.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

675. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to me, “O Abu Dharr, I see that you are weak and I like for you what I like for myself. Do not rule over (even) two persons, and do not manage an orphan’s property.”
[Muslim].

676. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): “Why do you not appoint me to an (official) position?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) patted me on the shoulder with his hand and said, “O Abu Dharr, you are a weak man and it is a trust and it will be a cause of disgrace and remorse on the Day of Resurrection except for the one who takes it up with a full sense of responsibility and fulfills what is entrusted to him (discharges its obligations efficiently).”
[Muslim].

677. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “You will covet for getting a position of authority, but remember that it will be a cause of humiliation and remorse on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Al-Bukhari]

Bidding Farewell and Advising on the Eve of Departure for a Journey orother Things

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Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 96
Bidding Farewell and Advising on the Eve of Departure for a Journey or other
Things

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And this (submission to Allah, Islam) was enjoined by Ibrahim (Abraham) upon his sons and by Ya`qub (Jacob) (saying), `O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except in the Faith of Islam (as Muslims – Islamic Monotheism).’ Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya`qub (Jacob)? When he said unto his sons, `What will you worship after me?’ They said, `We shall worship your Ilah (God – Allah) the Ilah (God) of your fathers, Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma`il (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac). One Ilah (God), and to Him we submit (in Islam)’.” (2:132,133)

712. Yazid bin Haiyan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I went along with Husain bin Sabrah and `Amr bin Muslim to Zaid bin Arqam (May Allah be pleased with them) and, as we sat by his side, Husain said to him: “O Zaid, you acquired great merits that you saw Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), listened to his talk, fought by his side in (different) battles, and offered Salat behind him. You have in fact earned great merits, Zaid! Could you then tell us what you heard from the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)?” He said: “O my cousin! By Allah! I have grown old and have almost spent up my age and I have forgotten some of the things which I remembered in connection with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), so accept what I narrate to you, and what I fail to narrate, do not compel me to narrate that.” He then said: “One day Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) stood up to deliver a Khutbah at a watering place known as Khumm between Makkah and Al-Madinah. He praised Allah, extolled Him and delivered the Khutbah and exhorted (us) and said, `Amma Ba`du (now then)! O people, certainly I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Rubb and I, in response to Allah’s Call, but I am leaving among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it.’ He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said, `The second are the members of my household, I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family.”’

713. Malik bin Al-Huwairith (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when we were all young men of nearly equal age. We stayed with him for twenty days. He was extremely kind and considerate. He perceived that we missed our families so he asked us about those we left behind, and we informed him. Then he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Go back to your families, stay with them, teach them (about Islam) and exhort them to do good. Perform such Salat (prayer) at such a time and such Salat at such a time. When the time for Salat is due, one of you should announce Adhan (call for prayer) and the oldest among you should lead Salat.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

714. `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I sought permission of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to perform `Umrah, and he granted me leave and said, “Brother, do not forget us in your supplications.” I would not exchange these words of his for the whole world.

Another narration is: He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Include us, my brother, in your supplications.”
[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

715. Salim bin `Abdullah bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: When a man was to set out on a journey, `Abdullah bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) would say to him: “Draw near so that I may bid farewell to you as Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to bid farewell to us. (The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to say: “`Astaudi`ullaha dinaka, wa amanataka, wa khawatima `amalika’ (I entrust Allah with your Deen, your trust and your last deeds).”
[At-Tirmidhi].

716. `Abdullah bin Yazid Al-Khatmi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) intended to bid farewell to his army he would say: “Astau-di’ullaha dinakaum, wa amanatakum, wa khawatima `amalikum (I entrust Allah with your Deen, your trust and your last deeds).”
[Abu Dawud].

717. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I intend to go on a journey, so supplicate for me.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “May Allah grant you the provision of piety.” The man said: “Please supplicate more for me.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “May He forgive your sins!” The man repeated: “Please supplicate more for me.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “May He facilitate for you the doing of good wherever you are.”
[At-Tirmidhi].

Indignation against the Transgression of Divine Laws

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Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 77
Indignation against the Transgression of Divine Laws

Allah, the Exalted, says:

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

“If you help (in the Cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.” (47:7)

649. Abu Mas`ud `Uqbah bin `Amr Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said: “I join the morning Salat late because of so-and-so who leads it and prolongs it.” (Abu Mas`ud said): I have never seen the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) so angry while giving a speech as he was on that day. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Some of you create hatred among the people against faith. Whoever leads Salat (the prayer), should make it brief because the congregation includes old men and youngsters and those who have some urgent work to do.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

650. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) returned once from a journey, and saw a curtain which I had hung along a platform with some pictures on it. The colour of his face changed. He tore it up and said, “O `Aishah, the most tormented people on the Day of Resurrection are those who contend with Allah in terms of creation.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

651. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Quraish were much worried about the case of a Makhzumiyah woman who had committed theft and wondered who should intercede for her with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) (so that she would not get punished for her crime). Some said Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with him) was his beloved and so he may dare do so. So Usamah(May Allah be pleased with him) spoke to him about that matter and the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to him, “Do you intercede when one of the legal punishments ordained by Allah has been voilated?” Then he got up and addressed the people saying, “The people before you were ruined because when a noble person amongst them committed theft, they would leave him, but if a weak person amongst them committed theft, they would execute the legal punishment on him. By Allah, were Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, to commit the theft, I would have cut off her hand.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

652. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) noticed spittle in the mosque in the direction of the Qiblah. The signs of disgust were perceived on his face. Then, he stood up and scraped it away with his own hand and said, “When you stand in Salat, you hold communion with your Rubb and He is between you and the Qiblah. Let no one therefore cast out his spittle in that direction, but only to his left or under his foot.” Then he caught hold a corner of his sheet, spat into it and folded it up and said, “Or he should do like this.”
[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].

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

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Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
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].

 

Prohibition of Appointing an Aspirant Person to a Public Office ofAuthority

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Chapter 83
Prohibition of Appointing an Aspirant Person to a Public Office of Authority

680. Abu Musa Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I called on the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) with two of my cousins. One of them said to him: “O Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), appoint me governor of some land over which Allah has given you authority.” The other also requested for something of the same nature. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “By Allah we do not appoint someone to this post who seeks it or someone who contends for it.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Forgiveness of the Ignorant

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Forgiveness of the Ignorant

Allah, the Exalted, says:

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

“So overlook (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)), their faults with gracious forgiveness.” (15:85)

“Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you?” (24:22)

“And who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers)” (3:134)

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

643. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) “Have you ever experienced a day harder than the day of the battle of Uhud?” He replied, “Indeed, I experienced them (dangers) at the hands of your people (i.e., the disbelievers from amongst the Quraish tribe). The hardest treatment I met from them was on the Day of `Aqabah when I went to Ibn `Abd Yalil bin `Abd Kulal (who was one of the chiefs of Ta’if) with the purpose of inviting him to Islam, but he made no response (to my call). So I departed with deep distress. I did not recover until I arrived at Qarn ath-Tha`alib. There, I raised my head and saw a cloud which had cast its shadow on me. I saw in it Jibril (Gabriel) (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) who called me and said: `Indeed, Allah, the Exalted, heard what your people said to you and the response they made to you. And He has sent you the angel in charge of the mountains to order him to do to them what you wish.’ Then the angel of the mountains called me, greeted me and said: `O Muhammad, Allah listened to what your people had said to you. I am the angel of the mountains, and my Rubb has sent me to you so that you may give me your orders. (I will carry out your orders). If you wish I will bring together the two mountains that stand opposite to each other at the extremities of Makkah to crush them in between.”’ But Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “I rather hope that Allah will raise from among their descendants people as will worship Allah the One, and will not ascribe partners to Him (in worship).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

644. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) never hit anything with his hand neither a servant nor a woman but of course, he did fight in the Cause of Allah. He never took revenge upon anyone for the wrong done to him, but of course, he exacted retribution for the sake of Allah in case the Injunctions of Allah about unlawful acts were violated.
[Muslim].

645. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was walking with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) who was wearing a Najrani cloak with a very thick border when a bedouin happened to meet him. He took hold of the side of his cloak and drew it violently. I noticed that the violence of jerk had bruised the neck of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). The bedouin said: “O Muhammad! Give me out of Allah’s wealth that you possess.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) turned to him and smiled and directed that he should be given something.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

646. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I can see the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) look like one of the Prophets of Allah whose people beat and made him bleed while he was wiping the blood from his face and supplicating: “O Allah, forgive my people because they know not.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

647. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The strong man is not the one who wrestles, but the strong man is in fact the one who controls himself in a fit of rage.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Desirability of Seclusion at times of corruption committed by the peopleof the World

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Chapter 69
Desirability of Seclusion at times of corruption committed by the people of the
World

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“So flee to Allah (from His Torment to His Mercy – Islamic Monotheism), verily, I (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) am a plain warner to you from Him.” (51:50)

597. Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah loves a slave who is pious, free of all wants and the unnoticed.”
[Muslim].

598. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Someone asked Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): “Who is the best man?” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) answered, “A believer who strives in the Cause of Allah with his life and his wealth.’‘ The man asked: “Who is the next?” He said, “One who retires into a narrow valley and worships his Rubb.”

Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “One who fears Allah and safeguards people against his own mischief.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

599. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best possession of a Muslim will be a herd of sheep with which he retires to the top of a mountain or places where rain is expected to fall (pastures) so as to safeguard with his faith from tribulation.”
[Al-Bukhari].

600. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (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].

601. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best of people is a man who is holding his horse’s rein in the way of Allah (in Jihad) and is galloping towards the place wherever he hears a call for war or detects a note of danger; he goes on proceeding, seeking martyrdom or death wherever it is expected. And a man who retires with some sheep in a mountainside or a valley. He performs Salat regularly and pays the Zakat, continues worshipping his Rubb, till death overtakes him. He does not interfere in the affairs of the people except for betterment.”
[Muslim].

Excellence of mixing with People and attending their social activities

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Chapter 70
Excellence of mixing with People and attending their social activities

Imam An-Nawawi says: Remember! Mixing with people in the way I have mentioned earlier is most desirable. This was the way of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and other Prophets of Allah, the Righteous Caliphs (May Allah be pleased with them), the followers of the Companions, scholars and pious people. The majority of the followers of the Companions and their followers adopted it. Imam Ash-Sha-fi`i, Imam Ahmad and the majority of other jurists followed it.

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety).” (5:2)

The Quranic Verses on the subject are many and well-known.

Brevity in Preaching

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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].

Abomination of longing for Death

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Abomination of longing for Death

585. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “None of you should wish for death. If he is righteous, perhaps he may add to (his) good works, and if he is a sinner, possibly he may repent (in case he is given a longer life).”
[Al-Bukhari].

     In Muslim, Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported : Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Let none of you wish for death, nor he ask for it before it comes to him, because when he dies, his actions will be terminated; certainly the age of a (true) believer does not add but good.”  

586. Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Let none of you wish for death on account of an affliction that befalls him. If he has no alternative, let him pray: `Allahumma ahyine ma kanatil-hayatu khairan li, wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khairan li (O Allah! Give my life so long as the life is good for me, and take away my life if death is good for me)’.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

587. Qais bin Abu Hazim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I went to visit Khabbab bin Aratt (May Allah be pleased with him) during his illness. He had been cauterized in seven places. He said: “Our companions who have died have left (this world) without having enjoyed the pleasures of the world (in order to get a great full reward in the Hereafter) while we have amassed wealth exceeding our needs for which there is no place to keep except in the earth. Had Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) not prohibited us from longing for death, I would have prayed for it.” Then we visited him again and he was building a wall. He said: “There is a reward in store for a Muslim in respect of everything on which he spends except for something he places in the earth (i.e., something exceeding our needs or essentials).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Excellence of a Grateful Rich Man – Riyad-us-Saliheen

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Chapter 64 : Excellence of a Grateful Rich Man

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, and believes in Al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness).” (92:5-7)

“And Al-Muttaqun (the pious and righteous) will be far removed from it (Hell). He who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification. And who has (in mind) no favour from anyone to be paid back. Except to seek the Countenance of his Rubb, the Most High. He surely, will be pleased (when he will enter Jannah).” (92:17-21)

“If you disclose your Sadaqat (alms-giving), it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, that is better for you. (Allah) will expiate you some of your sins. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.” (2:271)

“By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness – here it means Allah’s reward, i.e., Jannah), unless you spend (in Allah’s Cause) of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allah knows it well.” (3:92)

571. Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Alah 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].

572. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “Envy is justified in regard to two types of persons only: a man whom Allah has given knowledge of the Qur’an, and so he recites it during the night and during the day; and a man whom Allah has given wealth and so he spends from it during the night and during the day.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

573. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some of the poor Emigrants came to Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and said to him, “The wealthy have obtained all high ranks and everlasting bliss.” He asked, “How is that?” They replied: “They offer Salat as we do, and observe Saum (fasting) as we do, but they give in Sadaqah (charity) and we do not, and they emancipate slaves and we cannot.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Shall I not teach you something whereby you will catch up with those who have preceded you and will get ahead of those who follow you, and no one will surpass you unless he does the same as you do?” They said, “Surely, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Say: Subhan Allah, and Allahu Akbar, and praise Him (by saying Al-hamdu lillah) thirty-three times at the end of every Salat.” They returned to him and said: “Our brothers, the possessors of wealth, having heard what we are doing, have started doing the same.” Messenger of Allah  (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “This is Grace of Allah which He gives to whom He wishes.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

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].

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].

Secrecy of Private Matters (Guarding Secrets)

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Chapter 85
Secrecy of Private Matters (Guarding Secrets)

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily! The covenant, will be questioned about.” (17:34)

685. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The most evil of the people to Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be the man who consorts with his wife and then publicizes her secret.”
[Muslim].

686. `Abdullah bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: My father `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said: When (his daughter) Hafsah (May Allah be pleased with her) became a widow, I met `Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) and offered Hafsah for marriage to him. `Uthman said: “I shall think over the matter.” I waited for a few days and then `Uthman met me and said: “It occurred to me that I should not marry at present.” Then I met Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: “If you are willing, I shall marry my daughter Hafsah to you.” Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) remained silent and did not utter any word to me in reply. I grew more angry with him than with `Uthman. I had waited for only a few days when Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) asked for her hand in marriage and I married her to him. Thereafter, I met Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) who said, “Perhaps you were angry with me when you offered Hafsah to me and I said nothing in reply.” I said, “Yes, that is so.” He said, “Nothing stopped me to respond to your offer except that I knew that Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had mentioned her and I could not disclose the secret of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). Had Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) left her, I would have accepted her.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

687. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: On one occasion all the wives of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) were with him when his daughter, Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) who walked after the style of his father, came there. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) welcomed her saying, “Welcome, O my daughter”, and made her sit on his right side, or on his left side and then whispered something to her at which she wept bitterly. When he perceived her grief, he talked secretly to her again and she smiled (with happiness). I said to her: “Messenger of Allah (PBUH chose you from amongst all his wives to speak secretly to you and yet you cried.” When he left, I asked her, “What did Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) say to you?” She said, “I will not divulge the secret of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam).” When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) passed away, I said to her: “I adjure you by the right I have in respect of you to tell me what Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had told you.” She said: “Now (when Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) has died), I will tell you. When he whispered to me the first time, he told me, `Jibril (Gabriel) used to listen to my recitation of the Qur’an and then recite it back to me once or twice a year, and this time he has done it twice; and so I perceive that my death is approaching. Then be mindful of your duty to Allah and be patient and steadfast, for I shall be an excellent predecessor for you.‘ On this I wept as you saw. When he perceived my distress he talked to me secretly the second time and said, `O Fatimah, are you not pleased that you will be the chief among the believing women or of this Ummah?’ This made me smile as you saw.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

688. Thabit (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) came to me while I was playing with the boys. He greeted us and sent me on an errand. This delayed my return to my mother. When I came to her, she asked, “What detained you?” I said; “Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sent me on an errand.” She asked, “What was it?” I said, “It is a secret.” My mother said; “Do not disclose to anyone the secret of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam).” Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said to Thabit (May Allah be pleased with him): By Allah, were I to tell it to anyone I would have told you.
[Muslim].

Good Conduct

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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].

Competition in matters of the Hereafter

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Competition in matters of the Hereafter

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e., hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah).” (83:26)

569. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A drink was brought to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and he drank some of it. On his right was a boy and on his left were elderly people. He said to the boy, “Would you permit me to give the rest of this drink to these on my left?” The boy said, “O Messenger of Allah, I would certainly not give preference to anyone in anything that might come to me from you.” So he handed over the rest of the drink to him.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

570. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “While Ayyub (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) the Prophet was taking a bath, naked, a large number of gold locusts fell on him. He tried to collect them in a piece of cloth, when he heard his Rubb (Allah) calling him: `O Ayyub ! Have I not sufficed you to care for what you see (the worldly possessions)?’ Ayyub (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: `Indeed by Your Power, but I can never do away with Your Blessings.”’
[Al-Bukhari].

Excellence of Walking Solemnly (Towards the Mosque) to perform As-Salat(The Prayer) and other Religious Duties

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Excellence of Walking Solemnly (Towards the Mosque) to perform As-Salat (The
Prayer) and other Religious Duties

Allah, the Exalted, says:

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

704. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “When the Iqamah are pronounced, do not come to it running, you should walk calmly with tranquillity to join the congregation. Then join in what you catch for and complete what you miss.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

  In Muslim it is added: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “For when one of you is walking for Salat, he is, in fact, engaged in Salat.”

705. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I accompanied the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) while we were returning from `Arafat. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) heard behind him a loud noise of beating and of driving the camels forcibly. He pointed towards it with his whip and said, “O people! Proceed calmly. No virtue lies in rushing.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 

Making Peace among People

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Making Peace among People

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allah’s Cause), or Ma`ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or conciliation between mankind.” (4:114)

“…and making peace is better.” (4:128)

“So fear Allah and adjust all matters of difference among you.” (8:1)

“The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers.” (49:10)

248. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “On every joint of man, there is charity, on everyday when the sun rises: doing justice between two men is charity, and assisting a man to ride an animal or to load his luggage on it is charity; and a good word is charity, every step which one takes towards (the mosque for) Salat is charity, and removing harmful things from the way is charity”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

249. Umm Kulthum bint `Uqbah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The person who (lies) in order to conciliate between people is not a liar, when he conveys good or says (something) good”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration in Muslim added: She said, “I never heard him (she meant the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) giving permission of lying in anything except in three (things): war, conciliating between people and the conversation of man with his wife and the conversation of a woman with her husband”.

250. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) heard the voices of altercation of two disputants at the door; both the voices were quite loud. One was asking the other to make his debts little (so that he could pay them) and was pleading with him to show leniency to him, whereupon the (other one) said: “By Allah, I will not do that”. Then there came Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to them and said, “Where is he who swore by Allah that he would not do good?” He said: “O Messenger of Allah, it is me. Now he may do as he desires”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

251. Sahl bin Sa`d As-Sa`idi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: There was some quarrel among the members of Banu `Amr bin `Auf. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) went with some of his Companions to bring about peace between them and he was detained. The time for Salat approached and Bilal (May Allah be pleased with them) went to Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: “Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) has got late and it is the time for Salat. Will you lead Salat?” He said: “Yes, if you desire”. Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) proclaimed the Adhan and then pronounced Iqamah. Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward and commenced As-Salat. (He recited Takbir and the people followed him). In the meantime, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) arrived and, passing through the rows, took his stand in the first row. The people started clapping. It was the habit of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) that whenever he started praying, he would never look round. He paid no heed (to the clapping). When the clapping increased, he turned round and saw Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). He (the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) beckoned him to continue performing Salat. But Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) raised his hands and praised Allah. Then he retreated, taking his steps backwards. When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saw that, he went ahead and led Salat. When he finished Salat, he faced the congregation and said, “Why do you clap when something happens during the Salat. Clapping is only for women. If something happens in the course of Salat you should say, Subhan Allah. It is bound to attract attention. And you, Abu Bakr, what prevented you from carrying on with Salat, after I beckoned to do so?” He said, “It was not becoming for the son of Abu Quhafah to lead Salat in the presence of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Prohibition of heresies in religion

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Prohibition of heresies in religion

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“So after the truth, what else can there be, save error?”. (10:32)

“We have neglected nothing in the Book”. (6:38)

“(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)”. (4:59)

“And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path”. (6:153)

“Say (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to mankind): ‘If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e., accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins”. (3:31)

169. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “If anyone introduces in our matter something which does not belong to it, will be rejected”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration in Muslim says: “If anybody introduces a practice which is not authenticated by me, it is to be rejected”.

170.  Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) delivered a Khutbah, his eyes would become red, his tone loud and he showed anger as if he were warning us against an army. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would say, “The enemy is about to attack you in the morning and the enemy is advancing against you in the evening”. He would further say, “I am sent with the final Hour like these two fingers of mine.” Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) held up his index finger and the middle finger together to illustrate. He used to add: “To proceed, the best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), the worst practice is the introduction of new practices in Islam and every Bid`ah is a misguidance”. He would also say, “I am, in respect of rights, nearer to every believer than his own self. He who leaves an estate, it belongs to his heirs, and he who leaves a debt, it is my responsibility to pay it off.’‘ [Muslim].

Same Hadith as reported by `Irbad bin Sariyah (May Allah be pleased with him) has already been recorded in the previous chapter regarding safeguarding the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam).
(See Hadith number 158)

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