Purification of Souls

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that trials and tests do not depart from the believing men and women - in their selves, including their health and body; in their children, such as illness, death, disobedience, or other things; and in their wealth, such as poverty, loss of trade, theft, poor living conditions, and little sustenance - until Allah expiates all their sins and misdeeds through that trial. Thus, when they meet Allah, they will have been purified from all the sins and misdeeds they perpetrated.

1. An aspect of Allah’s mercy toward his believing servants is that He expiates their sins by afflicting them with calamities and plights of this world.
2. A mere affliction expiates sins, provided there is Imān. If a person exhibits patience and does not become discontent, he will be rewarded.
3. A Muslim is encouraged to be patient in all matters, both pleasant and unpleasant. He should be patient in order to carry out Allah's commands and be patient in order to avoid His prohibitions, hoping for Allah's reward and fearing His punishment.
4. In the phrase "the believer, man or woman", he added the word 'woman' to put more emphasis regarding women; otherwise, if he had said "the believer" only, this would have also included women, for this matter is not restricted to men. So, if an affliction befalls a woman, she is also promised the same recompense of expiating her sins and misdeeds.
5. What alleviates the pains suffered by a person time after time is the merit he obtains as a result of the affliction.

سنن الترمذي (4/ 204) (2399). مسند أحمد (13/ 248) (7859). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 113). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص51). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (1/ 273). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 80).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) expresses wonder, by way of admiration, at the believer's affairs and conditions because all of his conditions are good, and this is for none except the believer. Whenever something good happens to him, he thanks Allah for it and gets rewarded for showing gratitude. If something bad happens to him, he shows patience and seeks reward from Allah and, thus, gets rewarded for showing patience. So, he gets rewarded in all cases.

1. The merit of showing gratitude in prosperity and patience in adversity is that whoever does this will attain goodness in both abodes. However, one who neither shows gratitude in the case of blessings nor patience in the case of calamities will miss the reward and incur sin.
2. The merit of Imān (faith) and the fact that reward in all cases is for none but for those who have faith.
3. Showing gratitude at times of prosperity and patience at times of adversity are from the believers' characteristics.
4. Belief in Allah's decree and predestination makes the believer perfectly content with all of his conditions, unlike the non-believer, who is constantly discontented when experiencing hardship, and if he receives a blessing from Allah Almighty, he becomes preoccupied with it and gets distracted from obeying Allah, let alone using such a blessing in disobeying Him.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2295) (2999). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 82). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (1/ 197). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 59).

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed a group of people who took some deeds lightly, saying: You take some sins lightly because you fail to consider the greatness of the One you disobey. They seem trivial in your sight; whereas the Companions used to consider them as destructive sins, given the greatness of the One disobeyed, and because they were extremely fearful and heedful of their Lord and used to hold themselves accountable for their actions.

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415ه. تطريز رياض الصالحين للشيخ فيصل المبارك، ط1، تحقيق: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله آل حمد، دار العاصمة، الرياض، 1423 هـ. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين لمحمد علي بن محمد بن علان، ط4، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة،بيروت، 1425 ه. رياض الصالحين للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428 هـ. كنوز رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين برئاسة حمد بن ناصر العمار، ط1، كنوز إشبيليا، الرياض، 1430هـ. صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422ه. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين لمجموعة من الباحثين، ط14، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1407هـ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that the sign that Allah wants good for His slave is to expedite the punishment for his sins in this world, so that the slave leaves the world without a sin to be punished for on the Day of Resurrection. Those who are reckoned for their deeds in the life of this world will go through a light questioning in the Hereafter. Also, the sign that Allah wants bad for a slave is that He does not punish him immediately in the life of this world until he comes with a full load of sins for which he receives due punishment on the Day of Resurrection.

الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، للشيخ صالح الفوزان, دار العاصمة, الطبعة الأولى، 1422ه. الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد بن عبد العزيز السليمان القرعاوي, تحقيق: محمد بن أحمد سيد, مكتبة السوادي، الطبعة: الخامسة، 1424ه. جامع الترمذي, تحقيق: أحمد شاكر, شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي, الطبعة: الثانية، 1395هـ. صحيح الجامع الصغير, للألباني, المكتب الإسلامي.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) explains a general rule in matters and that they fall under three categories in the Shariah: clearly lawful matters, clearly unlawful matters, and doubtful matters with the rulings on whether they are illegal or lawful being unclear and unknown to many people. So, whoever abandons those suspicious matters keeps his religion safe by avoiding falling into the unlawful and keeps his honor safe from people's criticism of him for engaging in such doubtful things. Whoever does not avoid doubtful matters risks falling into the unlawful or being maligned by people. The Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) provided a parable to demonstrate the condition of a person who engages in doubtful matters, saying that he is like a shepherd who grazes his cattle close to a piece of land protected by its owner; so, his cattle are likely to pasture in this protected land, given its proximity. Likewise, he who engages in a suspicious matter draws near to the unlawful and is likely to fall into it. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that there is a piece of flesh in the body, namely the heart, and when it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the entire body becomes corrupt.

1. The Hadīth urges us to avoid suspicious matters with unclear rulings.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 20) (52). صحيح مسلم (3/ 1219) (1599). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثا النووية (ص18). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص105). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، للعباد (ص41). فتح الباري لابن حجر (4/ 291). شرح النووي على مسلم (11/ 28).

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) mentioned that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took him by the shoulder—the part that joins the arm with the shoulder—and said to him, Be in this world as if you are a stranger who arrived at a country where he has no house to shelter him and no one to keep his accompany. He is away from family, children, and relationships that are the cause behind one's distraction from the Creator. Rather, be more than a stranger, i.e., a wayfarer who passes by the way seeking his homeland. This is because the stranger may live in a foreign land and reside therein, unlike the wayfarer who passes by swiftly without stopping and whose main concern is to reach his homeland. Just as a traveler needs nothing beyond what helps him reach his destination, a believer needs nothing in this world beyond what helps him reach his destination in the Hereafter. Ibn ‘Umar acted upon this advice, and he used to say: If you reach the morning, do not wait for the evening; and if you reach the evening, do not wait for the morning, and count yourself among the grave dwellers. Given the fact that health and sickness are inevitable in one's life, then hasten to obedience when you are in good health before getting sick, and take advantage of your health in performing righteous acts before being prevented by sickness. Take advantage of your life in this world and do everything that could benefit you after your death.

1. A teacher may put his hand on his student's shoulder as he instructs him as an expression of cordiality and to attract his attention.
2. One may offer advice and guidance to those who do not ask for it.
3. The Prophet's excellent approach in teaching by making convincing comparisons, as he said: "Be in this world as if you are a stranger or a wayfarer."
4. People vary in their advance towards the Hereafter, bearing in mind that the status of the wayfarer is higher than that of the stranger in terms of asceticism.
5. One should have simple ambitions in this world and should be prepared for death.
6. The Hadīth does not denote the renunciation of sustenance or the prohibition of worldly pleasures; rather, it denotes asceticism in such things and consuming less thereof.
7. Hastening to righteous deeds before one is unable to perform them due to sickness or death.
8. The merit of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) as he was influenced by this advice from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
9. Paradise is the believer's homeland; hence, he is a stranger in this world and a traveler to the Hereafter. He does not allow his heart to be attached to anything of this foreign land; rather, his heart is attached to his homeland, to which he will return. His stay in this world is to fulfill his needs and get prepared to return to his homeland.

صحيح البخاري (8/ 89) (6416). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (ص90). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص390). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، للنووي وابن رجب (ص131).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised the Muslim to be kind to his fellow Muslims and outlined some of the duties and etiquettes he is required to observe toward them, including the following: First advice: Do not envy one another by wishing others may lose the blessings they have. Second: Do not raise prices by overbidding against one another. By doing so, a person does not really want to buy the commodity, except to benefit the seller or harm the buyer. Third: Do not hate one another. It is the intention to cause harm, as opposed to love, unless hatred is for the sake of Allah Almighty, which is obligatory. Fourth: Do not turn your backs on each other, forsaking and abandoning one another. Fifth: Do not undercut one another in trade. It is when a person says to someone who bought a commodity: I have the like of it at a lower price or a higher-quality commodity at the same price. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave comprehensive advice, saying: Be like brothers, by abandoning the aforementioned prohibitions and showing cordiality, kindness, compassion, gentleness, and cooperation in goodness, while having pure hearts and sincerity in all conditions. The following are among the requirements of this brotherliness: Not to wrong his Muslim brother or transgress against him. Not to leave his Muslim brother to be wronged, failing to support him in a situation where he can help him and remove the injustice practiced against him. Not to belittle him or look down upon him with contempt and disdain; this stems from arrogance in the heart. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out three times that piety lies in the heart, and whoever has piety in his heart, which entails good morals and fear and heedfulness of Allah, will not belittle a Muslim. Indeed, it is enough for him, as an evil trait and reprehensible manner, to belittle his fellow Muslim, for this results from arrogance in his heart. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) affirmed the aforementioned, saying that all of a Muslim is inviolable to another Muslim: his blood: to attack him by killing, injuring, beating him, or the like; his property: to take any of his properties unjustly; and his honor: to malign him or his lineage.

1. The Hadīth commands all that is entailed by faith-oriented brotherliness and prohibits all words and deeds that contradict it.
2. The essence of piety is the knowledge of Allah and the fear and heedfulness of Him that lie in the heart. This piety leads to the performance of righteous deeds.
3. Outward deviation indicates weakness of piety in the heart.
4. Harming a Muslim in any way, by word or action, is prohibited.
5. It is not part of envy that a Muslim wishes to be like someone else without hoping for the removal of the blessing from him. This is called "Ghibtah", and it is permissible and it prompts people to compete for good things.
6. By nature, man dislikes being surpassed by others in any virtue. If he wishes for the removal of that virtue from another, it is the blameworthy envy. However, if he desires to compete for it, it is the permissible Ghibtah.
7. A Muslim is not regarded to be undercutting his fellow Muslim in trade if he alerts the buyer that he has been grossly deceived in a certain transaction. In fact, this falls under sincere advice, provided that his intention is to advise his brother, the buyer, not to harm the seller, and actions depend on the intentions.
8. A Muslim is not regarded to be undercutting his fellow Muslim in trade if the buyer and seller have not agreed and settled over a price.
9. Hatred for the sake of Allah does not fall under the hatred prohibited in the Hadīth; rather, it is a duty and one of the firmest handholds of faith.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 1986) (2564). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (ص79). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص339). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، النووي وابن رجب (ص118). الأحاديث الأربعون النووية وعليها الشرح الموجز المفيد، لعبد الله المحسن (ص67).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the Muslim to look at those who are below him and lower than him in terms of status, wealth, prestige, etc., and not to look at those who are above him or better than him in his worldly affairs. This is because looking at those who are below you is more likely to prevent you from despising or belittling the blessings of Allah upon you.

1. Contentment is one of the believers' most noble traits and it is a sign of being pleased with the decree of Allah.
2. Ibn Jarīr said: This is a comprehensive Hadīth that encompasses various forms of goodness. When a person sees someone who has been given preference over him in this world, his soul desires the same, belittling the blessings bestowed upon him by Allah Almighty, and he becomes eager to acquire more to reach or match that person. This is the condition of most people. However, if he looks at those who are below him in worldly matters, he will recognize the blessings of Allah upon him, giving thanks, humbling himself, and doing good with what he has.

صحيح البخاري (8/ 102) (6490). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2275) (2963). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (7/ 261). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 534). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص316). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام ، لعبد الله البسام (7/ 287). منحة العلام شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 17).