Excellence and Merits of Islam

The Ka‘bah is a revered noble House; it is a symbol of worshiping Allah and humbly submitting before Him. It has special awe, sublimity, attachment, and love in the hearts. That is why the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded pilgrims to make Tawāf around the Ka‘bah the last ritual they perform before they leave Makkah. This is called the Farewell Tawāf. The menstruating woman, however, is exempted from this rite, since she might soil the mosque when she enters it. She is not required to offer expiation (slaughter a sacrificial animal) for that. This text refers only to Hajj, so it does not apply to ‘Umrah.

تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، تحقيق: محمد صبحي حلاق، مكتبة الصحابة، الأمارات، مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة: العاشرة 1426هـ. تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الأحكام، محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات، الطبعة: الأولى 1426هـ. الإفهام في شرح عمدة الأحكام لابن باز، تحقيق: سعيد القحطاني، مؤسسة عبد العزيز بن باز الخيرية، الرياض، الطبعة: الأولى 1435هـ. خلاصة الكلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، فيصل بن عبد العزيز المبارك، الطبعة: الثانية 1412هـ، 1992م. صحيح البخاري، محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري الجعفي، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، الطبعة: 1423هـ. تأسيس الأحكام، أحمد بن يحيى النجمي، دار المنهاج، القاهرة، الطبعة: الأولى.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentions Allah's bounty and mercy, and that if a Muslim habitually performs a certain good deed while in good health and being at home, and then something occurs to him, such as an illness that makes him unable to do this deed, or a journey that keeps him too busy to do so, or any other excuse, he will get his reward in full, as he used to obtain it for performing this deed while in good health and at home.

1. This shows Allah's great bounty upon His servants.
2. It urges us to be diligent in doing good deeds and utilizing our time while we have good health and free time.

صحيح البخاري (4/ 57) (2996). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (1/ 36). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 211). بهجة قلوب الأبرار وقرة عيون الأخيار في شرح جوامع الأخبار، لعبد الرحمن السعدي (ص83).

’Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that a man from the Ansār lived farthest from the Prophet's Mosque, yet he never missed a prayer—he would attend every prayer with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). So it was said to him: If you were to buy a donkey to ride during the darkness of night and the heat of the ground in the daytime, he replied: It would not please me for my house to be next to the mosque. I want Allah to record for me my walking to the mosque for prayer and my return when I go back to my family. His words reached the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who said: "Verily, Allah has gathered all of that for you."

1. The intense keenness of the Companions to pursue goodness, increase in it, and earn reward.
2. An-Nawawi said: "This indicates that reward is affirmed for the steps taken when returning from the prayer, just as it is for those taken when going to it."
3. Muslims should encourage one another toward goodness and offer sincere advice in righteousness. So if someone sees that his brother is experiencing hardship, he should offer him advice to help relieve it.
4. Living far from the mosque is not an excuse for missing the congregational prayer, as long as one can hear the call to prayer.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 460) (663). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 162). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (2/ 199).

If someone is offering voluntary night prayer, and it becomes hard for him to recite the Qur'an because of drowsiness, until he does not understand what he is saying: then let him lie down until his drowsiness goes away, so that he would not alter or change the words of Allah, for perhaps he might fall into prohibition by reversing its meanings or altering its words, or he might make supplications against himself. In Al-Bukhāri, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If one of you becomes drowsy during prayer, then let him sleep until he knows what he is reading."

- رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير - دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428ه. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي- الطبعة الأولى 1418ه. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. - صحيح مسلم؛ للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - كنوز رياض الصالحين، لحمد بن ناصر العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا- الطبعة الأولى 1430ه. - إِكمَالُ المُعْلِمِ بفَوَائِدِ مُسْلِم، لعياض بن موسى اليحصبي السبتي أبو الفضل - المحقق: الدكتور يحْيَى إِسْمَاعِيل - دار الوفاء للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، مصر- الطبعة: الأولى، 1419 هـ - 1998 م.

This Hadīth means that any Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, then any living being eats from it, he will receive reward for it, even after his death, for the reward of his action will continue as long as the his plants stay beneficial. This Hadīth encourages the planting trees and sowing fields for what they entail of abundance goodness, for they have religious benefits as well as worldly benefits. If anything is eaten of such trees or plants, it will be counted as charity, even something is stolen of it, i.e. when someone steals dates from his date palm, yet he will receive the reward, keeping in mind that if the owner recognizes the thief, he will sue him in the court, even though, Allah, the Almighty, counts it as charity for its owner until the Day of Judgment. Also if some animals or insects eat form it, the owner will still receive the reward of charity. The Hadīth specifies the Muslim because he is the one who benefits from this charity in this world and the Hereafter.

- صحيح البخاري، للإمام محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، تحقيق محمد الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - صحيح مسلم، للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي- الطبعة الأولى1418هـ. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشرة، 1407هـ. - كنوز رياض الصالحين، لحمد بن ناصر العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا- الطبعة الأولى1430هـ. - دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لمحمد علي بن محمد الشافعي اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، بيروت – لبنان-الطبعة: الرابعة، 1425 هـ - 2004 م. - شرح رياض الصالحين، للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. - الأدب النبوي، محمد عبد العزيز الخَوْلي، دار المعرفة -بيروت- الطبعة: الرابعة، 1423 هـ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that every religiously accountable Muslim should give every day a voluntary charity on behalf of every single one of his bone joints as a form of expressing gratitude to Allah Almighty for well-being and for creating his bones with joints that allow him to grasp and stretch. This charity can be fulfilled not through giving money alone but through all types of righteous acts, which include: Acting justly and reconciling between those in disagreement counts as a charity. Helping someone disabled with his mount by helping him ride on it or lifting his luggage on it counts as a charity. The good word, whether it is Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), supplication, greeting of peace, or otherwise counts as a charity. Every step you take to the prayer counts as a charity. Removing what is harmful from the way counts as a charity.

1. The structure of the bones of human beings and their soundness are among the greatest blessings of Allah Almighty upon them. Hence, each bone needs charity to be given on its behalf to show due gratitude for such a blessing.
2. Encouraging the act of renewing gratitude daily to maintain such blessings.
3. Encouraging the constant observance of voluntary acts of worship and charity on a daily basis.
4. The merit of reconciling between people.
5. Encouraging a Muslim to help his fellow Muslim as this counts as a charity.
6. Encouraging the attendance of the congregational prayers and walking thereto and maintaining mosques.
7. It is obligatory to respect the Muslims' roads by avoiding what hurts or harms them.

صحيح البخاري (4/ 56) (2989). صحيح مسلم (1/ 498) (720). -التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية، مطبعة دار نشر الثقافة، الإسكندرية، الطبعة: الأولى، 1380 هـ. -شرح الأربعين النووية، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، دار الثريا للنشر. -فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، دار ابن القيم، الدمام المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة: الأولى، 1424هـ/2003م. -الفوائد المستنبطة من الأربعين النووية، للشيخ عبد الرحمن البراك، دار التوحيد للنشر، الرياض.

It is disliked to overburden oneself with worship. If a worshiper feels that sleepiness will overcome him while praying, he should discontinue his prayer or complete it, then lie down and rest lest he unintentionally supplicates against himself because of exhaustion.

صحيح البخاري, تأليف: محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري, تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر, دار طوق النجاة ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبدالباقي, ط 1422. صحيح مسلم ،تأليف: مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري, تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبدالباقي, دار إحياء التراث العربي. مقاييس اللغة, تأليف: أحمد بن فارس الرازي, المحقق: عبدالسلام محمد هارون, الناشر: دار الفكر, عام 1399 بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين, تأليف: سليم بن عيد الهلالي, دار ابن الجوزي،الطبعة الأولى1418. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين, تأليف: مصطفى الخن ومصطفى البغا ومحي الدين مستو وعلي الشربجي ومحمد لطفي, مؤسسة الرسالة, ط 14 عام 1407 - 1987. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين؛ لمحمد بن علان الشافعي، تحقيق خليل مأمون شيحا-دار المعرفة-بيروت-الطبعة الرابعة1425ه.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that the religion of Islam is built on facilitation and ease in all its affairs, and facilitation becomes more emphatic when there is an inability and need for it. Also, delving deeply into religious activities and abandoning moderateness finally leads to the inability and cessation of deeds, wholly or partially. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urged moderation and refraining from excessive. So, a person should neither neglect his duties nor be burdened with things beyond his capacity. If he is unable to do a certain deed altogether, he should perform what is close to it. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave good tidings of a great reward for ongoing deeds, even if they are little, for those who are unable to perform the deeds completely. This is because if the inability is not due to their own fault, it does not entail a reduction in their reward. Since this world is in reality a place of travel and transfer to the Hereafter, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to seek help, for the regular performance of worship, in the three times of activeness: First: Ghadwah: walking in the early morning - between the Fajr prayer and sunrise. Second: Rawhah: walking in the afternoon. Third: Duljah: walking in the whole night or part of it. Since work at night is harder than the daytime, he enjoined part of it, saying: and part of the Duljah.

1. The Hadīth shows the ease and tolerance of Islamic Shariah and its middle position between excess and neglect.
2. A person should fulfill a command to the best of his ability, neither taking it lightly nor overburdening himself with it.
3. A person should choose the times of activeness for the performance of worship. In these three times in particular, one's body becomes most energetic for worship.
4. Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalāni said: It is as if the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was addressing a traveler to a destination, and these three times are the best times for the traveler. So, he alerted him to the times in which he is active. If a traveler travels during both the night and day, he will become weak and cut off. But if he is keen to travel during these energetic times, he will be able to continue without difficulty.
5. Ibn Hajar said: There is a reference in the Hadīth to taking the Shar‘i dispensation, for choosing a determined course of action where a Shar‘i dispensation is available is regarded as immoderation. For example, a person refuses to perform Tayammum (dry ablution) when he is unable to use water, and his use of it leads to a harmful effect.
6. Ibn al-Munīr said: In this Hadīth is one of the signs that prove the Prophet's prophethood, for we have seen and the people before us have seen that every extremist in the religion will be cut off. The purpose is not to prevent the pursuit of the most perfect form of worship, which is commendable. Rather, it is to prevent excess that leads to boredom, or exaggeration in voluntary acts that lead to abandoning what is better or performing an obligatory act beyond its time, such as someone who spends the whole night praying and then sleeps and does not offer the Fajr prayer in congregation, or until the sun rises and the time for the obligatory prayer has passed.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 16) (39). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 219). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص115).