Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim Ḥadīth [118]

1. Man should use his time of health and safety and do as many good deeds as he can. He does not know when the situation will change and it will become difficult for him to perform good deeds and he will not be able to do good without [wanting] worldly benefits [in return]. And it is not possible for every person to ignore worldly benefits [while doing good].
2. The reasons for the destruction of a person’s īmān are the pursuit of worldly benefits and distractions, which, if they influence him, can cause him to lose his īmān. And it is difficult to sacrifice these worldly benefits and distractions, as a look at our society shows. But it is not possible to succeed without it, that is, only by rising above these worldly gains can one achieve anything.

• Reference: [118 (1/397-398), Tuḥfatul Muslim Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Nomani Kutub Khana (Ur)]

Translated by ‘Imrān (Germany)

Man should seize the opportunity given to him and do more and more virtuous deeds. There is no knowing when a time will come when man shall grope in vain but find no way to perform good deeds.

• Reference: [2195 (4/254), Sunan at-Tirmidhī, Dārussalām (Eng)]

It means that, as the Day of Judgement approaches, there will be an increase in trials and tribulations. Every person will be from those seeking worldly gains, and the significance of dīn (religion) and īmān (faith) will diminish in the eyes of the people. Humans will adopt various forms and ways, to the extent that some may even compromise their dīn and īmān for worldly benefits. This ḥadīth, in such circumstances, emphasizes the need for ahlul-īmān (the people of true faith), to remain steadfast and engage in righteous deeds quickly, without delay.

• Reference: [2195 (3/229), Sunan at-Tirmidhī, Maktabah Bayt-us-Salām (Ur)]

Translator’s note: Dīn: Though this word is commonly translated as ‘religion’, it actually more appropriately means and implies, ‘a way of life, including acts of worship and dealing in worldly affairs’. Islam is a din that teaches us worship and dealing with our surroundings, rather than just being a religion with only a set of religious rituals.

Translated by Mohammed Manna (India)

The author – may Allāh shower blessings on him – mentioned the report from Abī Hurayrah – may Allāh be pleased with him – that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Be prompt in doing good deeds.” Baadiroo (as it occurs in the Arabic texts) means asir’oo ilayhaa (hasten towards it); that is, good deeds. The good deed is that built on two things; Sincerity to Allāh and following the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). This is the true essence of la ilāha illa Allāh, wa anna Muḥammadan rasūlilāh (there is no diety worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muḥammad is Allāh’s Messenger).

An action without sincerity of purpose is not a good deed. If a person stands up to pray showing off to the people with his prayer, his deed will not accepted even if he fulfills the conditions and observes the pillars, obligations, supererogatory acts and was tranquil during the prayer, apparently perfecting it. It will not be accepted from him still because he mixed it with joining others with Allāh in the worship. And whoever associates any partner with Allāh, He will not accept his deeds as is contained in the authentic hadith reported from Abī Hurayrah – may Allāh be pleased with him – that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Allāh – the Exalted – says: ‘I am the most sufficient from being joined with any partner in worship’”; that is, if anyone associates any partner with me, I am in no need of his association, “… whoever does a deed associating any other with me, I will abandon him with His partner.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2985)]

Likewise, if a person is sincere in his deeds but brings a newly-invented matter in it which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) did not legislate, his deeds shall not be accepted even if he is sincere; even if he weeps out of piety because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) described newly-invented matters in the people’s religion as misguidance. He (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Verily every newly-invented act is innovation and every innovation is misguidance.” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd (4607); Sunan at-Tirmidhī (2676); and Sunan ibn Mājah (42)]

Then he (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “(before you are overtaken) by trials like the parts of the night.” He (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) mentioned that there will be tribulations like the dark parts of the night – we seek refuge with Allāh. That is, it will so depressingly dark, no light will be seen – and the refuge is with Allāh. The individual will not understand towards where he heads; he will be so perplexed, not knowing any way out – I beseech Allāh to protect you and us from all tribulations.

Some tribulations result from confusions, and others come from base desires. As for the trials from confusion, they are those consequent upon ignorance such as what comes from the people of innovations, those who introduce newly-invented matters that are not in Allāh’s legislations into their creed, sayings of actions. Hence, the individual may be tried – and the refuge is with Allāh – and so, he strays from the truth because of ambiguities.

Likewise some result from dealing in doubtful transactions which are only clear to the well-grounded believer but which the misguided still finds confusing – and the refuge is with Allāh. You find him engaging in clearly prohibited business transactions that would seem confusing to him because of the overwhelming evils in his heart – we ask Allāh for wellbeing. As such, his evil deeds become fair seeming to him and he thinks they are proper. Regarding these people, Allāh – the Exalted – says:

“Say (O Muḥammad): ‘Shall we tell you the greatest losers in respect of their deeds. Those whose efforts have been waste in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds.’” (18:103-104)

These are the losers – the refuge is with Allāh.

Similarly, tribulations occur consequent upon base desires; that is to say, the individual would understand a thing to be prohibited but would not care because his soul encourages him to it and so, he commits the prohibition. Sometimes, he would know that a particular thing is obligatory but his soul inspires him to be lazy and he leaves off with the obligation. This is the trial of base desires; the trials connected to wish and desires.

Among such trials – and in fact one of its greatest forms – is the trial of adultery and homosexuality – and the refuge is with Allāh. This is one of the most harmful issues on this nation; the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “I have not left a trial more harmful to men that the women.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (5096); and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2740)] He (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) also said: “Be cautious regarding the women; the first trial of the Children of Isrā’īl was regarding the women.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2742)]

Presently in our society, we have those who invite to this depravity through devious means – and the refuge is with Allāh; they employ appellations that do not indicate their views by way of achieving their goals like breaking the woman’s shield and leaving her house to compete with men in the workplaces. And evils and tribulations consequently spread from that. However, we ask Allāh to place their plots on their necks and empower our rules over them by distancing them from all means of evil and mischief in these lands. We ask Allāh – and free is He from all imperfections and Exalted is He – to bless our leaders with righteous advisers who will guide them to the truth and encourage them upon it,

The trials of the Children of Isrā’īl were from the women; and as such the worst of trials. There are some today devising all plans to throw away the woman’s honor with a view to make her like a dummy, a thing of play, merely employed for lust and display for randy and debased men to take pleasure in! They look at her face every time – and the refuge is with Allāh. However, by the power of Allāh, the supplication of the Muslims will overwhelm and undermine them and bring them to their feet as losers. The Saudi women and the women and the women in various lands of Islām shall remain with dignity and chastity where Allāh – the Mighty and Sublime – has placed them.

In a nutshell, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) warned us against these trials that will be like the dark part of the night; a man would wake up a believer and turn disbeliever in the evening – and the refuge is with Allāh. Within a day, he would apostate from Islām and go out of the religion. Likewise, he would be a believer in the evening and wake up a disbeliever – we ask Allāh for wellbeing. Why?

“… he will sell his religion for worldly good”: Do not think that worldly benefit is limited to money. All worldly delights are transient; be it money, fame, leadership, women or others. Every worldly enjoyment is ephemeral as Allāh – the Exalted – has said: “… seeking the perishable things of this world.” (4:94)

So all of what the world contains is trifling.

Those who would wake up as believers in the morning but become disbelievers in the evening or who will be believers in the evening but wake up as disbelievers will sell their faith for the vanities of the world – we ask Allāh to save you and us from all trials.

My brothers, always seek Allāh’s protection from trials. How tremendously beneficial is what our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) taught us when he said: “When anyone of you sits down to make the statements of testimony before ending the prayer, he should seek refuge with Allāh from four; he should say: I seek refuge with You from the torment of the Fire and from punishment of the grave and from the trials of life and death, and from the tribulations of the anti-christ.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (588)]

We ask Allāh to make you and us firm with the firm statement in the life of this world and the Hereafter.

• Reference: [87 (2/18-22), Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn, Dārussalām (Eng)]

To be updated..

• Reference: [87 (1/106-107), Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn, Dārussalām (Eng)]

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Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (Authentic)