51 - باب الرجاء Chapter 51 Hope in Allah's Mercy 412 -

51 - باب الرجاء
Chapter 51
Hope in Allah's Mercy

قال الله تعالى ( الزمر 53 ) : { قل يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله إن الله يغف الذنوب جميعا إنه هو الغفور الرحيم }
وقال تعالى ( سبأ 17 ) : { وهل نجازي إلا الكفور }
وقال تعالى ( طه 48 ) : { إنا قد أوحي إلينا أن العذاب على من كذب وتولى }
وقال تعالى ( الأعراف 156 ) : { ورحمتي وسعت كل شيء }
Allah, the Exalted, says:
"Say: O `Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful". (39:53)
"And never do We requit in such a way except those who are ungrateful (disbelievers)". (34:17)
'(Say:) `Truly, it has been revealed to us that the torment will be for him who denies (believes not in the Oneness of Allah, and in His Messengers), and turns away (from the truth and obedience of Allah)". (20:48)
"And My Mercy embraces all things". (7:156)

412 - وعن عبادة بن الصامت رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ من شهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله وأن عيسى عبد الله ورسوله وكلمته ألقاها إلى مريم وروح منه والجنة والنار حق أدخله الله الجنة على ما كان من العمل ] متفق عليه
وفي رواية لمسلم : [ من شهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله حرم الله عليه النار ]
412. `Ubadah bin As-Samit (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who bears witness that there is no true god except Allah, alone having no partner with Him, that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger, that `Isa (Jesus) is His slave and Messenger and he (Jesus) is His Word which He communicated to Maryam (Mary) and His spirit which He sent to her, that Jannah is true and Hell is true; Allah will make him enter Jannah accepting whatever deeds he accomplished".
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Another narration in Muslim is: the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whosoever testifies that there is no true god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, Allah (SWT) saves him from the Fire (of Hell)".
Commentary: This Hadith confirms that all Prophets of Allah were men and thus refutes those who attribute divinity to them and exclude them from the category of men or regard them a part of Allah, as Christians believes Prophet `Isa (Jesus to be Christ) by regarding him Allah or His son, or the Jews do Prophet `Uzair by venerating him as son of Allah. The misconception has also taken hold of a sect of the Muslims. They have invented the belief that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is "Light from the Light of Allah". Thus further considering to be of him with Divine qualities. They exclude him from the category of men. This Hadith tells us that the belief that Prophets were men constitutes part of Faith and denial of it is the denial of a part of Faith and amounts to evasion from Tauhid - Oneness of Allah.
Prophet `Isa (Jesus) has been referred in the Qur'an as "Kalimatullah" (the Word of Allah) (4:171). What these words really mean is that he was born in an unusual manner, without being fathered by anyone, only on the express fiat of Allah.
This Hadith shows that a major sin does not cast a Muslim out of the fold of Islam, as is believed by certain deviant sects who have gone astray. Such a person does remain a Muslim and his eligibility for admission into Jannah also remains intact but his admission entirely depends on the pleasure of Allah. He may forgive a sinful Muslim and send him to Jannah even in the initial stage or keep him in Hell for sometime and then send him to Jannah. Thus, when it is said that Muslims are protected against Hell, it means that they will not abide in Hell for ever. It will be a temporary phase varying with his sins. When that punishment comes to an end, or even before it, when Almighty, Allah, wills, he will be removed from Hell to Jannah.

413 - وعن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه قال قال النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ يقول الله عز و جل : من جاء بالحسنة فله عشر أمثالها أو أزيد ومن جاء بالسيئة فجزاء سيئة سيئة مثلها أو أغفر ومن تقرب مني شبرا تقربت منه ذراعا ومن تقرب مني ذراعا تقربت منه باعا ومن أتاني يمشي أتيته هرولة ومن لقيني بقراب الأرض خطيئة لا يشرك بي شيئا لقيته بمثلها مغفرة ] رواه مسلم
معنى الحديث : من تقرب إلي بطاعتي تقربت إليه برحمتي وإن زاد زدت فإن أتاني يمشي وأسرع في طاعتي أتيته هرولة : أي صببت عليه الرحمة وسبقته بها ولم أحوجه إلى المشي الكثير في الوصول إلى المقصود
و [ قراب الأرض ] بضم القاف ويقال بكسرها والضم أصح وأشهر ومعناه : ما يقارب ملأها والله أعلم
413. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Allah, the Almighty, says: `Whosoever does a good deed, will have (reward) ten times like it and I add more; and whosoever does an evil, will have the punishment like it or I will forgive (him); and whosoever approaches Me by one span, I will approach him by one cubit; and whosoever approaches Me by one cubit, I approach him by one fathom, and whosoever comes to Me walking, I go to him running; and whosoever meets Me with an earth-load of sins without associating anything with Me, I meet him with forgiveness like that".
[Muslim]
Commentary: This Hadith mentions the infinite Compassion and Mercy of Allih to His obedient slaves and a special expression of which will be made by Him on the Day of Resurrection. On that Day, He will give at least ten times reward for each good deed. In some cases it may be far more than that, seven hundred times or more, as He would like. Such benevolence on His part warrants that a Muslim should never lose hope of His forgiveness.

414 - وعن جابر رضي الله عنه قال جاء أعرابي إلى النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم فقال : يا رسول الله ما الموجبتان ؟ قال : [ من مات لا يشرك بالله شيئا دخل الجنة ومن مات يشرك به شيئا دخل النار ] رواه مسلم
414. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A bedouin came to the Prophet (PBUH) and asked him, "O Messenger of Allah, what are the two imperatives which lead to Jannah or Hell". He (PBUH) replied, "He who dies without associating anything with Allah will enter Jannah, and he who dies associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire".
[Muslim]
Commentary: This Hadith also holds promise for a Muslim that being a Muslim and Muwahhid (believer in the Oneness of Allah) he will be at last sent to Jannah. Whether he goes straight to Jannah or after suffering the punishment of his sins in Hell, is a separate issue, but he will not remain in Hell for ever. Eternal punishment in Hell is reserved only for pagans, polytheists, and infidels.

415 - وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم ومعاذ رديفه على الرحل قال : [ يا معاذ ] قال : لبيك رسول الله وسعديك . قال : [ يا معاذ ] قال : لبيك رسول الله وسعديك . قال : [ يا معاذ ] قال : لبيك رسول الله وسعديك ثلاثا . قال : [ ما من عبد يشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله صدقا من قلبه إلا حرمه الله على النار ] قال : يا رسول الله أفلا أخبر بها الناس فيستبشروا ؟ قال : [ إذا يتكلوا ] فأخبر بها معاذ عند موته تأثما . متفق عليه
قوله [ تأثما ] : أي خوفا من الإثم في كتم هذا العلم
415. Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Mu`adh bin Jabal was riding on the beast with the Prophet (PBUH), when he (PBUH) said to him, "O Mu`adh!'' Mu`adh replied, "Here I am responding to you, and at your pleasure, O Messenger of Allah.'' He (PBUH) again called out, "O Mu`adh.'' He (again) replied, "Here I am responding your call, and at your pleasure.'' He (Messenger of Allah) addressed him (again), "O Mu`adh!'' He replied, "Here I am responding to you, and at your pleasure, O Messenger of Allah.'' Upon this he (the Prophet (PBUH)) said, "If anyone testifies sincerely that there is no true god except Allah, and Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, truly from his heart, Allah will safeguard him from Hell.'' He (Mu`adh) said, "O Messenger of Allah, shall I not then inform people of it, so that they may have glad tidings.'' He (PBUH) replied, "Then they will rely on it alone (and thus give up good works altogether).'' Mu`adh (May Allah be pleased with him) disclosed this Hadith at the time of his death, to avoid sinning for concealing.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: Imam At-Taibi says that the honesty of heart means firmness of faith and arrangement of actions which will provide evidence of Tauhid and Risalah (Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH)). Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar states that Imam At-Taibi has made this elaboration to remove the ambiguity which arises from the wording of the Hadith because it is generally held by Ahadith that one who bears witness to Tauhid and Risalah will not go to Hell, while Ahlus-Sunnah hold that it stands proved by concrete arguments that sinful Muslims will be consigned to Hell and then brought out from it by intercession. It shows that for the determination of real meanings of this Hadith we shall have to keep in view other related arguments as well. These meanings are riveted with good deeds. In other words, one who bears witness to Tauhid and Risalah and fulfills Islamic injunctions and obligations and requirements of Faith and fear of Allah, will not be consigned to Hell. Some scholars are of the opinion that this Hadith refers to such people who truly repented and renounced Kufr and Shirk and wholeheartedly professed Tauhid and Risalah but died soon after that and thus did not get an opportunity to do good deeds. Such people will certainly go to Jannah.
This Hadith leads to the conclusion that ordinary people should not be told things the true meanings of which they find difficult to grasp and accomplish evil deeds relying on such glad tidings.

416 - وعن أبي هريرة أو أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه ( شك الراوي ولا يضر الشك في عين الصحابي لأنهم كلهم عدول ) قال : لما كان غزوة تبوك أصاب الناس مجاعة فقالوا : يا رسول الله لو أذنت لنا فنحرنا نواضحنا فأكلنا وادهنا ؟ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ افعلوا ] فجاء عمر رضي الله عنه فقال : يا رسول الله إن فعلت قل الظهر ولكن ادعهم بفضل أزوادهم ثم ادع الله لهم عليها بالبركة لعل الله أن يجعل في ذلك البركة . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ نعم ] فدعا بنطع فبسطه ثم دعا بفضل أزوادهم فجعل الرجل يجيء بكف ذرة ويجيء الآخر بكف تمر ويجيء الآخر بكسرة حتى اجتمع على النطع من ذلك شيء يسير فدعا رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم بالبركة ثم قال : [ خذوا في أوعيتكم ] فأخذوا في أوعيتهم حتى ما تركوا في العسكر وعاء إلا ملئوه وأكلوا حتى شبعوا وفضل فضلة . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأني رسول الله لا يلقى الله بهما عبد غير شاك فيحجب عن الجنة ] رواه مسلم
416. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) or may be Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: On the day of the battle of Tabuk, the Muslims were hard pressed by hunger and they asked Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "O Messenger of Allah, grant us permission to slaughter our camels to eat and use their fat". He (PBUH) accorded permission. On this `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) came and said: "O Messenger of Allah, if it is done, we shall suffer from lack of transportation. I suggest you pool together whatever has been left and supplicate Allah to bless it.'' Allah will bestow His Blessing upon it. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) agreed and called for leather mat and had it spread out, and asked people to bring the provisions left over. They started doing it. One brought a handful of corn, another brought a handful of dates, a third brought a piece of bread; thus some provisions were collected on the mat. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) invoked blessings, and then said, "Now take it up in your vessels". Everyone filled his vessel with food, so that there was not left a single empty vessel in the whole camp. All of them ate to their fill and there was still some left over. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Any slave who meets Allah, testifying there is no true god except Allah, and that I am His Messenger, without entertaining any doubt about these (two fundamentals), will not be banished from entering Jannah.''
[Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadith mentions a miracle of the Prophet (PBUH) and the effect of his prayer by means of which a small quantity of food sufficed the whole army. The exact number of Muslims who took part in the battle of Tabuk is not mentioned in any reliable account. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar has stated, with reference to some narratives of Fath Al-Bari mentioned in connection with the biography of the Prophet (PBUH) and the wars he had fought in the way of Allah, that they numbered thirty to forty thousand men.
Although these figures are open to question but one can safely infer from these figures that their number was very large. According to Sahih Al-Bukhari: "A large number of Muslims participated with the Prophet (PBUH) in this war. Their number was so large that they could not be described in a register. It was difficult for the Prophet (PBUH) to discover who was absent except that he was informed about him by Allah.'' (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Kitab Al-Maghazi, Bab Ghazwah Tabuk, Hadith Ka`b bin Malik). This extract goes to prove that although the number of Muslims who took part in this war was very large the provisions weighing a few seers only sufficed for them all.
We also learn from this Hadith that one who is blessed with the Grace of Allah, can offer advice to a person who is superior to him on this account. Similarly, the one who is superior in virtue should listen to the advice of those who are inferior to him because there is every possibility that their advice may offer something better. It does not harm either of them. Neither does it detract from the superiority of the superior nor can it be regarded an affront of a junior.

417 - وعن عتبان بن مالك رضي الله عنه وهو ممن شهد بدرا قال : كنت أصلي لقومي بني سالم وكان يحول بيني وبينهم واد إذا جاءت الأمطار فيشق علي اجتيازه قبل مسجدهم فجئت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم فقلت له : إني أنكرت بصري وإن الوادي الذي بيني وبين قومي يسيل إذا جاءت الأمطار فيشق علي اجتيازه فوددت أنك تأتي فتصلي في بيتي مكانا أتخذه مصلى . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ سأفعل ] فغدا علي رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم وأبو بكر رضي الله عنه بعد ما اشتد النهار واستأذن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم فأذنت له فلم يجلس حتى قال : [ أين تحب أن أصلي من بيتك ؟ ] فأشرت له إلى المكان الذي أحب أن يصلي فيه فقام رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم فكبر وصففنا وراءه فصلى ركعتين ثم سلم وسلمنا حين سلم فحبسته على خزيرة تصنع له فسمع أهل الدار أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم في بيتي فثاب رجال منهم حتى كثر الرجال في البيت . فقال رجل : ما فعل مالك لا أراه فقال رجل : ذلك منافق لا يحب الله ورسوله . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ لا تقل ذلك ألا تراه قال لا إله إلا الله يبتغي بذلك وجه الله تعالى ] فقال : الله ورسوله أعلم أما نحن فوالله لا نرى وده ولا حديثه إلا إلى المنافقين فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ فإن الله قد حرم على النار من قال لا إله إلا الله يبتغي بذلك وجه الله ] متفق عليه
و [ عتبان ] بكسر العين المهملة وإسكان التاء المثناة فوق وبعدها باء موحدة
و [ الخزيرة ] بالخاء المعجمة والزاي : هي دقيق يطبخ بشحم
وقوله : [ ثاب رجال ] : بالثاء المثلثة أي جاءوا واجتمعوا
417. `Itban bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported, who was with Messenger of Allah (PBUH) in the battle of Badr: I used to lead my people at Bani Salim in Salat (prayer) and there was a valley between me and those people. Whenever it rained, it became difficult for me to cross it for going to their mosque. So I went to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said, "I have weak eyesight and the valley between me and my people flows during the rainy season and it becomes difficult for me to cross it. I wish you to come to my house and offer Salat at a place so that I could reserve that as a Musalla (place for prayer).'' Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "I will do so". So Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) came to my house the (next) morning after the sun had risen high. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked my permission to enter and I admitted him. He did not sit before saying, "Where do you want us to offer Salat in your house?'' I pointed to the place where I wanted him to offer prayers. So Messenger of Allah (PBUH) stood up for the prayer and started the prayer with Takbir and we aligned in rows behind him; and he offered two Rak`ah prayer and finished them with Taslim, and we also performed Taslim with him. I detained him for a meal called Khazirah which I had prepared for him. (Khazirah is a special type of dish prepared from barley flour and meat soup). When the neighbours got the news that Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was in my house, they started coming till a large number of men gathered in my house. One of them said, "What is wrong with Malik, for I do not see him?'' One of them replied, "He is a hypocrite and does not love Allah and His Messenger". On that Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Don't say this. Haven't you seen that he testified that there is no true god except Allah,' for Allah's sake only.'' The man replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better, but by Allah, we never saw him but helping and talking with the hypocrites.'' Messenger of Allah (PBUH) replied, "No doubt, whosoever testifies that there is no true god except Allah, seeking by so professing the pleasure of Allah only, Allah will safeguard him against (Hell) Fire.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadith highlights the following four points:
1. One can offer Salat at home if one has a lawful reason for it.
2. In the event one is obliged to offer Salat at home it is well to reserve a place for it.
3. It is not permissible to suspect a Muslim on the basis of mere doubt.
4. In the end, every Muslim will be sent to Jannah. This point has already been elaborated.

418 - وعن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه قال : قدم على رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم بسبي فإذا امرأة من السبي تسعى إذا وجدت صبيا في السبي أخذته فألزقته ببطنها فأرضعته . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ أترون هذه المرأة طارحة ولدها في النار ؟ ] قلنا : لا والله . فقال : [ لله أرحم بعباده من هذه بولدها ] متفق عليه
418. `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some prisoners were brought to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) amongst whom there was a woman who was running (searching for her child). When she saw a child among the captives, she took hold of it, pressed it against her belly and gave it a suck. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Do you think this woman would ever throw her child in fire?'' We said, "By Allah, she would never throw the child in fire.'' Thereupon Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah is more kind to his slave than this woman is to her child".
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar states that the Musnad Ismai`li has the following additional words in the narrative: "After continuous search, she finally found her baby. She took the baby and hugged him".
It is permissible to illustrate by example what one cannot make others understand by means of reason and senses, the way the Prophet (PBUH) did it in the present case. Since it was not possible to describe the immensity of Allah's Mercy, he cited the example of that woman to illustrate his point.

419 - وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ لما خلق الله الخلق كتب في كتاب فهو عنده فوق العرش : إن رحمتي تغلب غضبي وفي رواية : غلبت غضبي وفي رواية : سبقت غضبي ] متفق عليه
419. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "When Allah created the creatures, He wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: `Verily, My Mercy prevailed over My Wrath"
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "(Allah wrote) `My Mercy dominated My Wrath".
Still another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "(Allah wrote) `My Mercy surpasses My Wrath".
Commentary: Imam Al-Khattabi states that here the word "Kitab'' (translated here as `Book') means the decision of Almighty Allah which He has already made, an instance of which is the following Verse of the Noble Qur'an:
"Allah has decreed: `Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious". (58:21).
In this Ayah the Arabic word "Kataba'' is used in the sense of "Qada' (decided);'' or the word "Kataba'' signifies "Lauh Mahfooz'' on which He has recorded everything. Almighty Allah is on the 'Arsh' (the Throne of Allah) and this Book is with Him. (Fath Al-Bari, Kitab At-Tauhid, Bab: Wa kana Arshuhu `alal-Ma'.)

420 -