Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim Ḥadīth [1893] – One who guides to something good…

This ḥadīth proves that advising someone to do acts of goodness, teaching someone religious knowledge, or telling someone about acts of worship brings as much reward as the reward of the person who does the good deed. Therefore, one should strive to earn rewards by guiding others towards doing good deeds.

• Reference: [4899 (6/124), Tuḥfatul Muslim Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Nomani Kutub Khana (Ur)]

Translated by Umm Rumayṣā’

1) It is learned from this ḥadīth that when necessity strikes, a traveler can ask someone for something during a journey provided he is not a habitual of that. This does not fall under the category of begging that is forbidden.

2) If a person does not have the capacity to fulfil the requirement, an apology can be made to the seeker. However, the tone should be gentle, and the seeker should not be scolded or rebuked.

3) If a person cannot help the seeker himself then guiding the seeker to another person who can fulfill their need, or recommending on their behalf, is just as though they performed the deed themselves. In another ḥadīth, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Intercede and you will be rewarded.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (1432); and others]

4) The words of this ḥadīth are quite comprehensive. It suggests that the one who directs or guides others toward a good deed receives the same reward as the one who actually performs it.

• Reference: [242 (1/289-290), Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Ansarus Sunnah Publications, Lahore (Ur)]

Translated by Umm Rumayṣā’

One could guide towards a good deed by saying, writing, gesturing or acting upon the deed. However, to earn this reward, the guide should intend by his action, Allāh’s Countenance; for Allāh’s – the Mighty and Exalted – rewards only that which is done for His Sake.

• Reference: [242 (1/170-171), Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Dakwah Corner Publications (Eng)]

1) A person who invites others towards goodness will also receive a reward alongside those who act upon the words of the person who invited them towards it.

2) Cooperation in acts of goodness with one another is a great virtue that carries immense reward.

3) It is permissible to seek cooperation from one another in terms of worldly means.

4) Only Allāh is the Reliever of distress, the one Who possesses infinite and immeasurable treasures.

• Reference: [209 (1/272-273), Aḍwā’ al-Maṣābīḥ fi-Taḥqīq Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, (Ur)]

Translated by Umm Rumayṣā’

• Sunan Abī Dāwūd (5129)
• Sunan at-Tirmidhī (2671)
• Musnad Aḥmad (17084 (28/313-315); 22339 (37/30) & 22351(37/37-38)) ^{[Shu’ayb al-Arna’ūṭ]}
• Musnad Aḥmad (17021 (13/260-261); 22239 (16/278) & 22251 (16/281)) ^{[Aḥmad Shākir]}
• Musnad Abī Dāwūd Ṭayālisī (645 (2/8))
• Ṣaḥīḥ at-Targhīb (116 (1/158))
• Ṣaḥīḥ ibn Ḥibbān (289 (1/525-526) & 1668 (4/554-555))
• Muṣannaf ‘Abdur-Razzāq (20971 (9/12))
• Shu’ab al-Īmān (7249-7250 (10/113-114))
• Al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr (622-631 (17/226-228))
• Ḥilyatul Awliyā’ (6/266)
• Al-Musnad al-Jāmi’ (9950 (13/108-109))
• Tuḥfatul Ashrāf (9986 (6/639))
• Al-Adab al-Mufrad (242)
• Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ (209)
• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’ (6239 (2/1071))
• Silsilah Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah (1660 (4/216-221))
• Talkhīṣ al-Jāmi’ al-Kāmil (7775 (3/244))

Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (Authentic)