States of the Righteous Believers

This Hadīth comes as an implementation of the command of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) for one to inform his brother if he loves him. When a man was sitting with him said that he loved "that man", i.e. another man who was passing them by, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Have you told him?" This indicates that the Sunnah institutes saying "I love you" to anyone one loves, because this word puts love in his heart, as if he knows that his brother loves him, he will love him back, even though the hearts sense love even if not expressed by words. Similarly, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The souls are troops collected together. Those of them who are familiar with one another unite, and those who are unfamiliar with each other are in conflict." However, when one expresses his love in words, saying "I love you for Allah's sake", it will increase his brother's love for him.

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415هـ. تطريز رياض الصالحين، للشيخ فيصل المبارك، ط1، تحقيق: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله آل حمد، دار العاصمة، الرياض، 1423هـ. رياض الصالحين للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428هـ. رياض الصالحين، ط4، تحقيق: عصام هادي، وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية القطرية، دار الريان، بيروت، 1428هـ. سنن أبي داود، تحقيق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد، المكتبة العصرية، بيروت. السنن الكبرى للنسائي، تحقيق: حسن عبد المنعم شلبي، ط1، مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت، 1421هـ. شرح رياض الصالحين، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، 1426هـ. عون المعبود شرح سنن أبي داود، ومعه حاشية ابن القيم: تهذيب سنن أبي داود وإيضاح علله ومشكلاته للعظيم آبادي، ط3، دار الكتب العلمية، بيروت، 1415 هـ. مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل، تحقيق: شعيب الأرنؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون، إشراف: د عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي، ط1، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1421هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين، ط14، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1407هـ.

This Hadīth mentions things whereby one reveres Allah and glorifies Him: - Honoring the old Muslim by treating him with respect, gentleness, and compassion. By doing so, one is glorifying Allah, because the elders have a special status in the sight of Allah. - Honoring the bearer of the Qur'an (its memorizer) in his heart. Included are the reciters and interpreters of the Qur'an. The bearer of the Qur'an, as this Hadīth says, must fulfill two things: 1. Not to exaggerate towards the Qur'an, that is not to go off the limit in applying it, tracing its ambiguities, and reading it too quickly or too slowly in such a way that one does not understand its meanings. 2. Not to turn away from the Qur'an by not mastering its recitation, knowing its meanings, and following it. Turning away also means ceasing to act upon the Qur'an after one has learned, out of negligence. Honoring the just ruler, i.e. the person in authority who treats his subjects fairly. So, he is honored for his public good and social reform.

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415هـ. 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 هـ. رياض الصالحين للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428 هـ. رياض الصالحين، ط4، تحقيق: عصام هادي، وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية القطرية، دار الريان، بيروت، 1428هـ. سنن أبي داود، تحقيق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد، المكتبة العصرية، بيروت. عون المعبود شرح سنن أبي داود، ومعه حاشية ابن القيم: تهذيب سنن أبي داود وإيضاح علله ومشكلاته للعظيم آبادي ط3، دار الكتب العلمية، بيروت، 1415 هـ. كنوز رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين برئاسة حمد بن ناصر العمار، ط1، كنوز إشبيليا، الرياض، 1430هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين لمجموعة من الباحثين، ط14، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1407هـ. مشكاة المصابيح، للتبريزي. تحقيق الألباني. الناشر : المكتب الإسلامي - بيروت. الطبعة : الثالثة - 1405 – 1985

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) provided an example for two types of people: First type: The righteous companion and friend who guides others to Allah and to what pleases Him and helps others obey Him. His example is like that of the musk seller who will either give you some thereof, or you will buy from him, or you will smell and get from him a pleasant fragrance. Second type: The evil companion and friend who turns others away from the path of Allah and helps them commit sins, the one whom you see doing evil deeds and you receive criticism for being in his company. His example is like that of the blacksmith who blows his fire and either burns your clothes with the flying sparks of fire or you get a nasty smell from being close to him.

1. Exemplification is permissible to make it easier for the listener to grasp the meaning.
2. Encouraging and urging people to accompany the righteous and the doers of good and avoid the doers of evil and those with bad morals.

صحيح البخاري (7/ 96) (5534). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2026) (2628). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 431). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 339). شرح النووي على مسلم (16/ 178).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recounts that a man from the past nations set out to visit a brother in faith in another town. Allah, the Exalted, sent an angel to watch over him and protect him on the way. The angel asked him where he was going. The man said that he was going to visit a brother in religion in that town. So the angel asked if that was his slave, son, dependent, or someone whom he benefits from or whom he owes a favor. The man replied in the negative, saying that he only loved that person for the sake of Allah and wished to gain the pleasure of Allah by visiting him. Thereupon, the angel told him that he was a messenger from Allah to tell him that Allah loves him just as he loves his brother for the sake of Allah.

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، سليم بن عيد الهلالي، الدمام، دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة: الأولى، 1415هـ. تطريز رياض الصالحين، فيصل بن عبد العزيز المبارك، المحقق: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله آل حمد، دار العاصمة للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض، الطبعة: الأولى، 1423هـ - 2002م. رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين، أبو زكريا محيي الدين النووي، تحقيق ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428هـ. رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين، أبو زكريا محيي الدين النووي، تحقيق: عصام هادي، وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية القطرية، دار الريان، بيروت، الطبعة: الرابعة، 1428هـ. شرح رياض الصالحين، محمد بن صالح العثيمين، دار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، 1423هـ.

This Hadīth highlights the virtue of loving one another for the sake of Allah. The meaning is that whoever does all of these things, i.e. each of the two parties, as the verb form implies, if he does them seeking the pleasure of Allah, the Almighty, not for a perishable interest or some purpose, then the love of his Master will be due to him. This, indeed, is the greatest reward and it indicates the honor of such deeds. It was also reported that: "Whoever loves, hates, gives, and withholds for My sake, he has perfected faith." "By Allah, I love you for the sake of Allah." He asked: "By Allah?" I replied: "Yes, by Allah." This is a proof that they frequently used oaths and repeated them for the sake of verification and confirmation. "Drew me close to himself", meaning: closely and intimately, displaying acceptance of what he told him, and to convey to him the glad tidings of what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said about the one who does that. So, he said to him: 'Rejoice', meaning: at the state you are in because "I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saying: 'Allah, the Almighty, said"; Mu‘ādh informed him that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reported this statement from his Lord, Blessed and Exalted, so that Abu Idrīs would be certain about the statement and would fully rejoice over the news, since it was the statement of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) which he reported from his Lord, and not a personal opinion of Mu‘ādh (may Allah be pleased with him). "My love is certainly due", meaning: My love has been affirmed for them. "To those who love one another for My sake, sit with one another for My sake", meaning: Their gatherings are especially for the sake of Allah, for the sake of cooperation in the remembrance of Allah, the Exalted, establishing His limits, honoring His covenant, fulfilling His commands, preserving His laws, following His orders, and avoiding His prohibitions. "Visit one another for My sake", meaning: Their visits to one another are intended for Allah's sake and seeking His pleasure, love, and approval; whether they do it out of loving each other for His sake, or in cooperation on His obedience. "Cooperate and give one another for My sake", meaning: exert themselves for His pleasure, including spending on Jihad against His enemies, and other such things that they were commanded to do; as well as giving each other money if needed.

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، 1423هـ. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لمحمد علي بن محمد بن علان، ط4، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة، بيروت، 1425ه. رياض الصالحين للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428هـ. رياض الصالحين، ط4، تحقيق: عصام هادي، وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية القطرية، دار الريان، بيروت، 1428هـ. صحيح الترغيب والترهيب، لمحمد ناصر الدين الألباني، ط5، مكتبة المعارف، الرياض. كنوز رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين برئاسة حمد بن ناصر العمار، ط1، كنوز إشبيليا، الرياض، 1430هـ. مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل، تحقيق: شعيب الأرنؤوط و عادل مرشد، وآخرون، تحت إشراف: د عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي، ط1، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1421هـ. المنتقى شرح الموطأ، لأبي الوليد الباجي، ط1، مطبعة السعادة، مصر، 1332هـ. الموطأ، للإمام مالك بن أنس، تحقيق: محمد مصطفى الأعظمي، ط1، مؤسسة زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان للأعمال الخيرية والإنسانية، الإمارات، 1425ه. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين لمجموعة من الباحثين، ط14، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1407هـ.

Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqās (may Allah be pleased with him) thought that he had superiority over those beneath him from among the weak because of his bravery and the like. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Are you granted victory and provided with sustenance except through your weak ones, through their supplications, prayers, and sincerity? They are often more sincere in their supplications and more humble in their worship, as their hearts are free from attachment to the adornments of the worldly life.

1. Encouraging humility and preventing arrogance towards others.
2. Ibn Hajar said: If the strong are favored due to their bravery, the weak are favored due to their supplication and sincerity.
3. Encouraging kindness to the poor and giving them their rights, as it is one of the causes of Allah's mercy and support for you.

صحيح البخاري (4/ 36) (2896). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 354). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (3/ 111). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 279).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) relates to us about a group of believers who, on the Day of Judgment, will have pulpits and elevated places where they will sit as a sign of honor for them from Allah. This is due to their love of each other for the sake of Allah and glorifying Him, and their love for each other due to the faith that they are united in. Even the prophets (peace be upon them) will wish to have their status. This does not necessarily mean that they are better than the prophets, because this particular virtue does not supersede the general virtue.

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415هـ. تطريز رياض الصالحين، للشيخ فيصل المبارك، ط1، تحقيق: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله آل حمد، دار العاصمة، الرياض، 1423هـ. جامع الترمذي، تحقيق وتعليق: أحمد محمد شاكر وآخرون، ط2، شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي، مصر، 1395هـ. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لمحمد علي بن محمد بن علان، ط4، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة، بيروت، 1425هـ. رياض الصالحين للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428 هـ. رياض الصالحين، ط4، تحقيق: عصام هادي، وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية القطرية، دار الريان، بيروت، 1428هـ. كنوز رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين برئاسة حمد بن ناصر العمار، ط1، كنوز إشبيليا، الرياض، 1430هـ. مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل، تحقيق: شعيب الأرنؤوط و عادل مرشد، وآخرون، تحت إشراف: د عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي، ط1، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1421هـ. مشكاة المصابيح للتبريزي، تحقيق: محمد ناصر الدين الألباني، ط3، المكتب الإسلامي، بيروت، 1985م.

The people of Suffah were some of the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who were poor emigrants who left their homes and wealth in Makkah and emigrated to Madīnah. They were more than seventy men. Suffah was a shaded area at the back of the Prophet's Mosque, where they would sleep. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) describes their clothing that they used to wear in summer and winter alike, as he himself was one of them. He says: "none of them had a cloak (ridā’) over them". They had either a lower garment (izār) or a sheet (kisā’). If someone wanted to wear a ridā’, he had to wear a lower garment underneath it. The ridā’ is know today as a jacket or coat. Abu Hurayrah says that none of them had a ridā’; rather, each had one garment to cover himself from the shoulder downward. It resembled a short sheet that the man would tie around his neck because it was not large enough to be tailored and worn. Some of those sheets reached up to the middle of the shins, and others reached the ankles. Then Abu Hurayrah says that one of them would hold his sheet together with his hand while praying to avoid exposing his private parts while bowing or prostrating. This was the state of many Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). They lived in poverty and need, and were not prone to the world and its adornments. Even after wealth became abundant to them later on, they were not concerned with collecting it. They remained content and ascetic until they died.

1-فتح الباري (277/11). 2-كنوز رياض الصالحين (273/7). 3-شرح رياض الصالحين لابن عثيمين (267/3).