HADITH: 20 Aishah Radhiallaho anha has said that once someone slaughtered a goat (and distributed some of it); when Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam enquired, "What remains of the goat?" The reply was, "Only a shoulder." Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "All remains except the shoulder." Note: the idea in this is that whatever is given away for Allah’s sake remains as an everlasting reward; the rest perishes unless it is spent for a worthwhile cause. Mazahir Rahmatullah alaihe has said that it points towards the Ayat of Holy Qur’an: "Whatever you have in this world will perish one day (either by its own decay or your death). That which reaches Allah remains forever." (an Nahl: 96) In one of the Ahadith, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said that one says, "My property! My property! Whereas the fact is that his property is only that which he himself has used up by eating, wearing or giving in the path of Allah Ta’ala as a deposit for the Hereafter; the rest is all to be counted lost and left for other people, when he departs from here: Another Hadith says that once Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam asked the Sahabah Radhiallaho anhum, "Is there any one among you who loves the property of his heirs more than his own property?" the reply was that there was no such person; every one loved his own property. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam then said that man’s own property is only that which he sends ahead of him as his treasure, and whatever is left behind is the property of the heirs. (Mishkaat) A Sahabi Radhiallaho anho has said that he was once in the company of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, who recited Surah Takaathur and said, "Man claims to have his property. O man! You own nothing except that which you use in eating, the clothes that you wear out and the Sadaqah that you send ahead to be preserved in Allah Ta’ala’s treasury." Several Sahabah Radhiallaho anhum have narrated to the same effect. People deposit money in Banks most carefully, with no surety of it’s remaining with them. Even if a calamity does not fall on it in their lifetime, none of it will be any use to them after death; but the wealth deposited in the treasury of Allah Ta’ala will always be available for use without any fear of calamity, decay or decrease; in fact it will never finish. Sahl Ibne Abdullah Tusturi Rahmatullah alaihe used to spend liberally in the path of Allah Ta’ala. His mother and brothers complained to Abdullah Ibne Mubarak Rahmathullah alaihe that Sahl wanted to spend everything and they feared he would become a pauper. Abdullah Ibne Mubarak Rahmatullah alaihe enquired from Sahl Rahmatullah alaihe about the matter. The latter asked Abdullah Ibne Mubarak, "If a person wanted to migrate from Madinah to the city of Rustaqq in Persia, where he had already purchased land, would he leave anything behind in Madinah?" The reply was that nothing would be left behind. Sahl Rahmathullah alaihe then said that was his real purpose. While the people thought he was going to migrate to another place, he had actually meant transfer to the next world. In these days, people have personal experience (of it) that when people who wish to move permanently from one country to another (e.g. India to Pakistan or vice versa) by their own choice, they try to transfer all their belongings and property, buildings, etc., by exchanging with those at the new locations, before actual migration. Until this arrangement is completed they do not move, despite all inconvenience at the old place. On the other hand, the people who are forced to move out of their homeland, leaving everything behind, undergo endless grief and sufferings. This is exactly the state of affairs of every single person leaving this world. As long as he is living, he has the power to transfer his property and belongings, etc., to the next world (Akhirah), but when death causes a forced change of place, everything has to be left behind, as if it had been confiscated by the state. There is still time for those who understand the truth to transfer their property to the next world. HADITH: 21 57 Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said that whosoever believes in Allah Ta’ala and the Day of Judgement must treat his guest well, refrain from causing difficulties for his neighbour, and whatever he utters must be good, or else he should hold his tongue; the other version of this Hadith adds: ‘He should be kind to his kinsfolk.’ Note: In this Hadith Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has warned us about several matters and each of these is preceded by the phrase, "Whosoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgement", (Arabic text contains full version, while the above translation is abbreviated). Repeating this phrase with each clause aims at showing the extreme importance of each matter. It is like someone telling one of his children, "If you are my son, you will do such and such". The purpose of these warnings is that these matters are part of the complete faith and whoever is not careful about them cannot be considered as perfect in his faith. The belief in Allah and Akhirah have been stated together, due to the fact that there is no reward in Akhirah for any good deed without faith in Allah Ta’ala. To have faith in Allah Ta’ala includes faith in the Akhirah. Its special mention in the Hadith above is probably for inspiring a passion for the rewards to be had on the Day of Judgement for accomplishing the deeds emphasised by Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam. On that day, it will become obvious to all how much rewards are given by Allah Ta’ala, for the smallest things and actions done in this life. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has emphasised four matters in the above Hadith: One, to honour one’s guest; this point is fully explained under the next Hadith. Two, not to cause any difficulty for a neighbour. This is the least of the obligations towards a neighbour. In fact, considerable emphasis has been laid on this matter in the Traditions. Many Traditions narrated by the Shaikain (Bukhari and Muslim) tell us, "Treat your neighbour well", and in some of them it is said, "Be kind to the neighbour", meaning: ‘Help him whenever he is in need and save him from any adversity’. In one Hadith, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said, "Do the people know their obligations to the neighbour? They are: help him whenever he asks for it, give him a loan when he wants it, help him if he is needy, visit him in his sickness; in the event of death, accompany the funeral; congratulate him on his happy occasions; condole with him in adversity, do not build your house higher than his without his permission, lest the ventilation of his house is obstructed; if you buy some fruit, send some of it to him as a present and, if you cannot do so, take the fruit into your house covered up, so that he cannot see it and make sure that your children do not take the fruit out of the house and make his children grieved, and do not let your smoke cause him annoyance, unless you are cooking something that you propose to share with him." You now appreciate and understand the rights of a neighbour. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam then swore by Allah and said, "No one will ever understand these rights of the neighbour unless Allah has mercy on him." This Hadith has been narrated by Imaam Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihe in the Arba’een and by Hafiz Ibne Hajar Rahmatullah alaihe in Fath-ul-Bari. Another Hadith says that Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, repeating his words three times, "By Allah, he is not a Mo’min, By Allah, he is not a Mo’min, By Allah, he is not a Mo’min!" Someone asked as to who it was. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "The person who causes suffering to his neighbour." Another Hadith says that such a person will never enter Jannah. Aishah Radhiallaho anha and Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho both have narrated the saying of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, "Jibra’il Alaihissalam has been repeatedly stressing upon me the rights of the neighbours, so much so that I thought he would be made to share the inheritance. Allah Ta’ala has ordered in the Holy Qur’an: "You understand worship of Allah and do not attribute any partner with Him, be kind and good to your parents, also to other kinsmen, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbours, your associates and the wayfarers." (an-Nisaa: 36) The near neighbour is the one next to your house, and the distant one that living at a distance. Someone asked Hasan Basri Rahmatullah alaihe about the extent of neighbourhood. He said, "Forty houses in front, forty behind, forty to the right and forty to the left." Abu Hurairah Radhiallaho anho is reported to have said that a beginning should be made from the nearest and not from the one living farther away. Aishah Radhiallaho anha asked Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, "I have two neighbours, with whom should I begin?" Rasulullah Sallallaho 58 alaihe wasallam said, "The one whose door is closer to yours." Ibne Abbas Radhiallaho anho has related this differently by saying that the nearness of a neighbour depends on his relationship: he is near, if he is related, while the one not related is the far one. Nauf Shaami Rahmatullah alaihe has related that the near neighbour is the one who is a Muslim and the far one is the non-Muslim. (Durre Manthur) The version given in Musnad Bazzar and others, relates Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam as saying that there are three types of neighbours: First, the one having three rights, those of neighbourhood, kinship and Islam; second having rights of neighbourhood and Islam; third, he who has only one right and that will be a non-Muslim. Neighbourhood has thus been classified into three grades. Imaam Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihe has also narrated this particular Hadith and has said that Islam has given preference even to a non-Muslim over a Muslim due to neighbourhood. Another Hadith says that the first case to be settled between two persons on the Day of Judgement, will be the one about rights of neighbourhood. A person came to Abdullah Ibne Mas’ood Radhiallaho anho and complained bitterly about his neighbour. Ibne Mas’ood said to him, "Go and do your business; if he has disobeyed Allah Ta’ala in regard to you, you must avoid disobeying Allah in his respect." An authentic Hadith says that a woman’s way of living was described before Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, that she was regular in her Tahajjud Salaat and fasted frequently but molested her neighbour. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "She will enter Jahannam, though she might be taken out of it after undergoing her punishment." Imaam Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihe has said that not to trouble him is not the only right of a neighbour; to bear patiently any trouble from him is also one of his rights. Ibnul Muqaffa Rahmatullah alaihe used to sit frequently in the shadow of his neighbour’s wall. He came to know that the neighbour was in a heavy debt and was to sell his house to pay the debt. He said that he always enjoyed the shadow of the neighbour’s wall and did not pay anything for that; so, he presented to the neighbour the price of his house and told him that, since he had received the price, he should not sell it. The slave of Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho slaughtered a goat; Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho told him that, after skinning the goat, he should first give a share of the meat to his Jewish neighbour and he repeated these same words. Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho said that he heard Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam saying that Jibra’il Alaihissalam repeated himself several times in stressing the neighbour’s right; that is why he too was repeating it again and again. Aishah Radhiallaho anha has said that good conduct comprises ten qualities. Sometimes these are seen in a son and not in the father. The slaves may have them, while the masters may not. These are a gift from Allah Ta’ala to whomsoever He may grant: 1. Speaking the Truth. 2. To be honest with people. 3. To grant favour to a deserving needy person. 4. To return a good turn. 5. To be kind to the kinsmen. 6. To take care of a trust. 7. To fulfil the rights of a neighbour. 59 8. To be dutiful to a comrade. 9. To discharge obligations towards a guest. 10. At the root of all these is modesty. (Ihya) The third subject in the main Hadith is that anyone having faith in Allah Ta’ala and the Akhirah should speak good things or else remain quiet. Hafiz Ibne Hajar Rahmatullah alaihe says that these are the most comprehensive words of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, as whatever is spoken will either be good or bad. The good includes all the things which need to be spoken of, obligatory or desirable; whatever is left is evil. In other words, anything which may appear to be neither good nor bad, according to Hafiz, will be treated as harmful, because when it does not look to be good it becomes absurd, which means evil. Umme Habibah Radhiallaho anha has reported Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam as saying that anything uttered by a person becomes his own burden. Nothing is beneficial, except ordering good or prohibiting evil or remembering and praising Allah Ta’ala. After hearing this Hadith, a person remarked that it was very severe. Sufian Thauri Rahmatullah alaihe said, "What to say of the severity of this Hadith, Allah Ta’ala Himself has said in the Qur’an: "People’s whispering and tale bearing is often devoid of good, except of those who encourage others to be charitable, virtuous or to have improved mutual relationship; and whosoever does this for the pleasure of Allah, We shall grant him immense rewards shortly. (An-Nisaa: 114) Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho has said that when he requested Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam to give him some advice, he said, "I bid you to ever remain fearful of Allah Ta’ala, as by that, every action of yours will become likeable. He requested him for some more advice. He said, "Be regular in reciting the Qur’an and the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, as this will cause your remembrance in heavens and provide you light in this world." He asked for more advice; the reply was, "Observe silence most often, which will keep away Shaitan from you and help you in performing religious duties." He asked for still more; the reply was, "Abstain from laughing too much, as it deadens the soul and reduces lustre of the face." He still requested for more; the reply was, "Speak the truth always, however bitter it may be." He asked for more; the reply was, "Do not fear anyone in your dealings involving Allah’s commandments." On yet another request for more, the reply was, "The anxiety about you own faults should prevent you from looking at other people’s fault." Imaam Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihe has said, "The tongue is one of the greatest boons of Allah Ta’ala. It is one of His most wonderful and exquisite creations. It is small in size but, by the exercise of tongue, one can perform great deeds like profession of faith, or fall into heinous sins, such as apostasy – the two extremes of human behaviour." After that, he recounts many sins that are committed by the tongue, e.g. idle talk, absurd conversation, quarrels and altercations, talking while making faces, talking with false eloquence and ostentatious style, obscene talk, abusive language, cursing, over indulgence in poetry, making fun of others, disclosing people’s secrets, making false allegations through hidden reference, backbiting, slander, duplicity in talk, out-of-place praises for someone and asking improper questions, etc, etc. So many of these mischiefs are related to so small a thing that the problem becomes really dangerous. That is why Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has repeatedly exhorted us to remain silent and has said that whoever observes silence will find deliverance. One Sahabi Radhiallaho anho requested Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam to tell him of certain essentials in Islam for which he may not need to ask anyone else. The reply was, "To believe in Allah Ta’ala and to be steadfast therein." He further asked as to what thing should he guard against. The reply was, "Improper use of tongue." Another Sahabi Radhiallaho anho asked Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam the way to attain salvation. The reply was, "Restrain your tongue, remain at home (do not wander about) and keep lamenting over your sins." In one of the Ahadith, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said, "Whoever can give me guarantee against misuse of two things, I shall guarantee his entry into Jannah: one, the tongue and the other, the private parts." One of the Ahadith says that someone asked Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, "What is the most important virtue 60 which will help people to enter Jannah?" the reply was, "The fear of Allah Ta’ala and good habits." The next question was about the deeds that will cause entry into Jahannam. The reply was, "Misdeeds relating to the mouth and the private parts." Abdullah Ibne Mas’ood Radhiallaho anho was once performing the sa’yee (formal walk between Safa and Marwah) while he kept saying to his own tongue, "You will gain if you talk of good things and avoid evil talk; this will keep you safe from being put to shame." Someone asked him whether these were his own words or he had heard them from Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam. He said that he had heard Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam saying that most of man’s sins arise from his tongue. Abdullah Ibne Umar Radhiallaho anho has quoted Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam as saying, "Allah Ta’ala will hide the misdeeds of the one who keeps his mouth shut and He will save from His punishment one who controls his anger, and whoever seeks Allah’s pardon, it is granted to him." Mu’az Radhiallaho anho requested Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam to give some good advice; the reply was, ‘Worship Allah Ta’ala as if you could see Him, consider yourself among the dead and, if you like, I may tell you something which could give you a hold on these things," and then Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam made a gesture towards his own tongue. It has been narrated from Sulaiman Alaihissalam, that if speech is silver, silence is gold. Luqman Hakim (Alaihissalam), who is famous for his wisdom, was a Negro slave of plain looks. Due to his wisdom and vast knowledge, he gained world-renown in his time. Someone asked him if he was not the slave of such and such person. He replied in the affirmative. The next question was, "Are you not the same person who used to graze goats at the foot of such and such mountain?" he replied, "Yes". The person asked him how he had attained his present position. He replied, "By four things: Fear of Allah; speaking the truth; trustworthiness and preferring silence to useless talk." Several other narratives indicate it as his main habit. (Durre Manthur) Baraa Radhiallaho anho has said that a Bedouin (villager) approached Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam to ask him about the deeds which would take him to Jannah. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "Give food to the hungry, a drink of water to the thirsty; tell people to do good and forbid them from evil deeds; if you are unable to do that, restrain your tongue from uttering anything but good." Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has advised us to guard our tongues from saying anything but good, as that would enable us to overcome Shaitan. The above are some of the Traditions narrated briefly; besides these, there are many other sayings and Traditions which Imaam Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihe has mentioned. All those have been supported by Allama Zubaidi Rahmatullah alaihe and Hafiz Iraqi Rahmatullah alaihe. It appears from the above that the control of tongue is most important and yet we are totally unmindful, and talk whatever we like, disregarding the fact that Allah Ta’ala has appointed two watching angels for day and night who remain with us on our right and left shoulders, writing every good and bad action committed by us. In spite of that, the mercy and favours of Allah Ta’ala and blessings of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam are with us. For lack of attention, we are prone to speak uselessly at times; for this, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has prescribed an atonement that, before dispersing from a gathering, we should recite three times the prayer: "Subhanallahe wa bi hamdhehe Subhanakallahuma wabehamdheka ash hadhu alaailaaha illah antha asthagfiruka wa athoobo ilaik" One Hadith says that Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam used to recite this prayer at the end of all meetings. When somebody submitted that he Sallallaho alaihe wasallam had never done so before, the reply was that it serves as an atonement for what may have been spoken in a gathering; and if the gathering is for righteousness, those words will become a seal to the whole affair, like a seal that is put at the end of a document. Those words are: "Subhanakallahuma wabehamdheka laailaaha illah antha asthagfiruka wa athoobo ilaik" (Abu Dawood) The fourth subject of the original Hadith mentioned above is about rights of the kith and kin, which will be discussed in the forthcoming Chapters.
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 21:09:37 +0000
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