Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Hijrah will not cease until repentance ceases (to be accepted).

And repentance will not cease (to be accepted)

until the sun rises from the west."

Nail-ul-Awtaar of Imaam Ash-Shaukaanee (8/178)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vision

Escaping and remaining aloof

 

Narrated Hudhayfah:

The tradition mentioned above (No. 4232) has also been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by Nasr ibn Asim al-Laythi who said: We came to al-Yashkuri with a group of the people of Banu Layth.

He asked: Who are these people? We replied: Banu Layth. We have come to you to ask you about the tradition of Hudhayfah. He then mentioned the tradition and said: I asked: Messenger of Allah, will there be evil after this good?

He replied: There will be trial (fitnah) and evil. I asked: Messenger of Allah, will there be good after this evil? He replied: Learn the Book of Allah, Hudhayfah, and adhere to its contents. He said it three times.

I asked: Messenger of Allah, will there be good after this evil? He replied: An illusory truce and a community with specks in its eye. I asked: Messenger of Allah, what do you mean by an illusory community?

He replied: The hearts of the people will not return to their former condition. I asked: Messenger of Allah, will there be evil after this good? He replied: There will be wrong belief which will blind and deafen men to the truth in which there will be summoners at the gates of Hell. If you, Hudhayfah, die adhering to a stump, it will be better for you than following any of them.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْمُغِيرَةِ - عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ، قَالَ أَتَيْنَا الْيَشْكُرِيَّ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنْ بَنِي لَيْثٍ فَقَالَ مَنِ الْقَوْمُ فَقُلْنَا بَنُو لَيْثٍ أَتَيْنَاكَ نَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ حَدِيثِ حُذَيْفَةَ فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ شَرٌّ قَالَ ‏"‏ فِتْنَةٌ وَشَرٌّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الشَّرِّ خَيْرٌ قَالَ ‏"‏ يَا حُذَيْفَةُ تَعَلَّمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَاتَّبِعْ مَا فِيهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثَلاَثَ مِرَارٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا الشَّرِّ خَيْرٌ قَالَ ‏"‏ هُدْنَةٌ عَلَى دَخَنٍ وَجَمَاعَةٌ عَلَى أَقْذَاءٍ فِيهَا أَوْ فِيهِمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الْهُدْنَةُ عَلَى الدَّخَنِ مَا هِيَ قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ تَرْجِعُ قُلُوبُ أَقْوَامٍ عَلَى الَّذِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَبَعْدَ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ شَرٌّ قَالَ ‏"‏ فِتْنَةٌ عَمْيَاءُ صَمَّاءُ عَلَيْهَا دُعَاةٌ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ النَّارِ فَإِنْ تَمُتْ يَا حُذَيْفَةُ وَأَنْتَ عَاضٌّ عَلَى جِذْلٍ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ تَتَّبِعَ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Grade

: Hasan (Al-Albani)

  حسن   (الألباني)

حكم     :

Reference

 : Sunan Abi Dawud 4246

In-book reference

 : Book 37, Hadith 7

English translation

 : Book 36, Hadith 4234

 

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Hudhaifah through a different chain of narrators from the Prophet (ﷺ). This version says:

He said: If you do not find a caliph in those days, then flee away until you die, even if you die holding on (to a stump of a tree). I asked: What will come next ? He replied: If a man wants the mare to bring forth a foal, it will not deliver until the Last Hour comes.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو التَّيَّاحِ، عَنْ صَخْرِ بْنِ بَدْرٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ، عَنْ سُبَيْعِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَلِيفَةً فَاهْرَبْ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ فَإِنْ تَمُتْ وَأَنْتَ عَاضٌّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ فِي آخِرِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا يَكُونُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ ‏"‏ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً نَتَجَ فَرَسًا لَمْ تُنْتَجْ حَتَّى تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Grade

: Hasan (Al-Albani)

  حسن   (الألباني)

حكم     :

Reference

 : Sunan Abi Dawud 4247

In-book reference

 : Book 37, Hadith 8

English translation

 : Book 36, Hadith 4235

And

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Someone asked Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Who is the best man?" He (ﷺ) answered, "A believer who strives in the Cause of Allah with his life and his wealth." The man asked: "Who is the next?" He said, "One who retires into a narrow valley and worships his Rubb."

Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "One who fears Allah and safeguards people against his own mischief."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي سعيد الخدرى رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رجل‏:‏ أى الناس أفضل يا رسول الله‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏مؤمن مجاهد بنفسه وماله فى سبيل الله‏"‏ قال‏:‏ ثم من‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ رجل معتزل فى شعب من الشعاب يعبد ربه‏"‏
وفى رواية‏:‏ ‏"‏يتقي الله، ويدع الناس من شره‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Arabic/English book reference

 : Book 1, Hadith 598

And

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The best of people is a man who is holding his horse's rein in the way of Allah (in Jihad) and is galloping towards the place wherever he hears a call for war or detects a note of danger; he goes on proceeding, seeking martyrdom or death wherever it is expected. And a man who retires with some sheep in a mountainside or a valley. He performs Salat regularly and pays the Zakat, continues worshipping his Rubb, till death overtakes him. He does not interfere in the affairs of the people except for betterment."

[Muslim].

وعنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال‏:‏ من خير معاش الناس رجل ممسك عنان فرسه فى سبيل الله، يطير على متنه، كلما سمع هيعه أو فزعة، طار عليه يبتغى القتل، أو الموت مظانه، أو رجل فى غنيمة فى رأس شعفة من هذه الشعف، أو بطن واد من هذه الأودية يقيم الصلاة، ويؤتى الزكاة، ويعبد ربه حتى يأتيه اليقين، ليس من الناس إلا فى خير ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Arabic/English book reference

 : Book 1, Hadith 601

  • Planning and Implementing: In verses 97-100 of Surat An-Nisaa, Allah speaks about 3 groups of people in regards to Hijrah.  Let us consider these groups: 1.       Those who stayed at home, not making hijrah claiming that they were weak and…

  • Moderation and Continuity Once we have developed a plan, the next step is to implement it. But, how do we go about implementing a plan when our schedules are full and our responsibilities are heavy? If we consider the advice…

  • Avoiding the two poles of extremism in all affairs: (i.e. doing too much such that it overwhelms you and doing so little that nothing or very little is accomplished)   فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ وَٱسۡمَعُواْ وَأَطِيعُواْ وَأَنفِقُواْ خَيۡرٗا لِّأَنفُسِكُمۡۗ وَمَن…

  • Identifying obstacles and eliminating them 17:62-64 قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَكَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كَرَّمۡتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنۡ أَخَّرۡتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ لَأَحۡتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا 62 قَالَ ٱذۡهَبۡ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنۡهُمۡ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ مَّوۡفُورٗا 63 وَٱسۡتَفۡزِزۡ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتَ مِنۡهُم بِصَوۡتِكَ وَأَجۡلِبۡ عَلَيۡهِم…

  • Escaping and remaining aloof   Narrated Hudhayfah: The tradition mentioned above (No. 4232) has also been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by Nasr ibn Asim al-Laythi who said: We came to al-Yashkuri with a group of the people…

Identifying obstacles and eliminating them

17:62-64

قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَكَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كَرَّمۡتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنۡ أَخَّرۡتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ لَأَحۡتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا 62

قَالَ ٱذۡهَبۡ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنۡهُمۡ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ مَّوۡفُورٗا 63

وَٱسۡتَفۡزِزۡ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتَ مِنۡهُم بِصَوۡتِكَ وَأَجۡلِبۡ عَلَيۡهِم بِخَيۡلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكۡهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡوَٰلِ وَٱلۡأَوۡلَٰدِ وَعِدۡهُمۡۚ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا 64

 

62. He said: Tell me, is this he whom Thou hast honored above me? If Thou shouldst respite me to the day of resurrection, I will most certainly cause his progeny to perish except a few.

63. He said: Be gone! for whoever of them will follow you, then surely hell is your recompense, a full recompense:

64. And beguile whomsoever of them you can with your voice, and collect against them your forces riding and on foot, and share with them in wealth and children, and hold out promises to them; and the Shaitan makes not promises to them but to deceive: (17:62-64)

and

35:6

إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّاۚ إِنَّمَا يَدۡعُواْ حِزۡبَهُۥ لِيَكُونُواْ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ 6

Surely the Shaitan is your enemy, so take him for an enemy; he only invites his party that they may be inmates of the burning (35:6)

  • Planning and Implementing: In verses 97-100 of Surat An-Nisaa, Allah speaks about 3 groups of people in regards to Hijrah.  Let us consider these groups: 1.       Those who stayed at home, not making hijrah claiming that they were weak and oppressed on the earth (mustad’afeen) when in reality they could have migrated—Allah states that such will find an abode in hell. 2.       Those men, women and children who stayed at home, not making hijrah because they were, indeed, so weak and oppressed on the earth (mustad’afeen) that “they could not devise a ploy (strategic plan) nor direct their way.” –…

  • Moderation and Continuity Once we have developed a plan, the next step is to implement it. But, how do we go about implementing a plan when our schedules are full and our responsibilities are heavy? If we consider the advice of The Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) regarding performing good deeds when he said: Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah's is the most regular and constant even though it were little." حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ…

  • Avoiding the two poles of extremism in all affairs: (i.e. doing too much such that it overwhelms you and doing so little that nothing or very little is accomplished)   فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ وَٱسۡمَعُواْ وَأَطِيعُواْ وَأَنفِقُواْ خَيۡرٗا لِّأَنفُسِكُمۡۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ 64:16 Therefore be careful of (your duty to) Allah as much as you can, and hear and obey and spend, it is better for your souls; and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful. (64:16) ‘Abd Allah b. Mas’ud reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying:…

  • Identifying obstacles and eliminating them 17:62-64 قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَكَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كَرَّمۡتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنۡ أَخَّرۡتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ لَأَحۡتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا 62 قَالَ ٱذۡهَبۡ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنۡهُمۡ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ مَّوۡفُورٗا 63 وَٱسۡتَفۡزِزۡ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتَ مِنۡهُم بِصَوۡتِكَ وَأَجۡلِبۡ عَلَيۡهِم بِخَيۡلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكۡهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡوَٰلِ وَٱلۡأَوۡلَٰدِ وَعِدۡهُمۡۚ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا 64   62. He said: Tell me, is this he whom Thou hast honored above me? If Thou shouldst respite me to the day of resurrection, I will most certainly cause his progeny to perish except a few. 63. He said: Be gone! for whoever of them will…

  • Escaping and remaining aloof   Narrated Hudhayfah: The tradition mentioned above (No. 4232) has also been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by Nasr ibn Asim al-Laythi who said: We came to al-Yashkuri with a group of the people of Banu Layth. He asked: Who are these people? We replied: Banu Layth. We have come to you to ask you about the tradition of Hudhayfah. He then mentioned the tradition and said: I asked: Messenger of Allah, will there be evil after this good? He replied: There will be trial (fitnah) and evil. I asked: Messenger of Allah, will…

Moderation and Continuity

Once we have developed a plan, the next step is to implement it. But, how do we go about implementing a plan when our schedules are full and our responsibilities are heavy?

If we consider the advice of The Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) regarding performing good deeds when he said:

Narrated `Aisha:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah's is the most regular and constant even though it were little."

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنْ لَنْ يُدْخِلَ أَحَدَكُمْ عَمَلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ أَدْوَمُهَا إِلَى اللَّهِ، وَإِنْ قَلَّ ‏"‏

Reference

 : Sahih al-Bukhari 6464

In-book reference

 : Book 81, Hadith 53

USC-MSA web (English) reference

 : Vol. 8, Book 76, Hadith 471

  (deprecated numbering scheme)

 

And

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from the (Hell) Fire)." They said, "Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He said, "No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise).

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لَنْ يُنَجِّيَ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ عَمَلُهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ أَنَا، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِي اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ، سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا، وَاغْدُوا وَرُوحُوا، وَشَىْءٌ مِنَ الدُّلْجَةِ‏.‏ وَالْقَصْدَ الْقَصْدَ تَبْلُغُوا ‏"‏‏.‏

Reference

 : Sahih al-Bukhari 6463

In-book reference

 : Book 81, Hadith 52

USC-MSA web (English) reference

 : Vol. 8, Book 76, Hadith 470

  (deprecated numbering scheme)

 

  • Planning and Implementing: In verses 97-100 of Surat An-Nisaa, Allah speaks about 3 groups of people in regards to Hijrah.  Let us consider these groups: 1.       Those who stayed at home, not making hijrah claiming that they were weak and…

  • Moderation and Continuity Once we have developed a plan, the next step is to implement it. But, how do we go about implementing a plan when our schedules are full and our responsibilities are heavy? If we consider the advice…

  • Avoiding the two poles of extremism in all affairs: (i.e. doing too much such that it overwhelms you and doing so little that nothing or very little is accomplished)   فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ وَٱسۡمَعُواْ وَأَطِيعُواْ وَأَنفِقُواْ خَيۡرٗا لِّأَنفُسِكُمۡۗ وَمَن…

  • Identifying obstacles and eliminating them 17:62-64 قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَكَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كَرَّمۡتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنۡ أَخَّرۡتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ لَأَحۡتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا 62 قَالَ ٱذۡهَبۡ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنۡهُمۡ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ مَّوۡفُورٗا 63 وَٱسۡتَفۡزِزۡ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتَ مِنۡهُم بِصَوۡتِكَ وَأَجۡلِبۡ عَلَيۡهِم…

  • Escaping and remaining aloof   Narrated Hudhayfah: The tradition mentioned above (No. 4232) has also been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by Nasr ibn Asim al-Laythi who said: We came to al-Yashkuri with a group of the people…

Avoiding the two poles of extremism in all affairs: (i.e. doing too much such that it overwhelms you and doing so little that nothing or very little is accomplished)

 

فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ وَٱسۡمَعُواْ وَأَطِيعُواْ وَأَنفِقُواْ خَيۡرٗا لِّأَنفُسِكُمۡۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ 64:16

Therefore be careful of (your duty to) Allah as much as you can, and hear and obey and spend, it is better for your souls; and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful. (64:16)

‘Abd Allah b. Mas’ud reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying:

Beware! The extremists perished, saying it three times.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَتِيقٍ - عَنْ طَلْقِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ، عَنِ الأَحْنَفِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ أَلاَ هَلَكَ الْمُتَنَطِّعُونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ‏.‏

Grade

: Sahih (Al-Albani)

  صحيح   (الألباني)

حكم     :

Reference

 : Sunan Abi Dawud 4608

In-book reference

 : Book 42, Hadith 13

English translation

 : Book 41, Hadith 4591

And

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them, and make them calm (with glad tidings) and do not repulse (them ).

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي التَّيَّاحِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ يَسِّرُوا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرُوا، وَسَكِّنُوا وَلاَ تُنَفِّرُوا ‏"‏‏.‏

Reference

 : Sahih al-Bukhari 6125

In-book reference

 : Book 78, Hadith 152

USC-MSA web (English) reference

 : Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 146

  (deprecated numbering scheme)

 

And

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights." (See Fath-ul-Bari, Page 102, Vol 1).

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ السَّلاَمِ بْنُ مُطَهَّرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ مَعْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْغِفَارِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ، وَلَنْ يُشَادَّ الدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ غَلَبَهُ، فَسَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا، وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالْغَدْوَةِ وَالرَّوْحَةِ وَشَىْءٍ مِنَ الدُّلْجَةِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Reference

 : Sahih al-Bukhari 39

In-book reference

 : Book 2, Hadith 32

USC-MSA web (English) reference

 : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 39

  (deprecated numbering scheme)

 

And

Al-Ala bin Abdur-Raman narrated that :

he visited Anas bin Malik in his home in Al Basrah after finishing Zuhr, and his home was next to the Masjid. So he said: 'Stand to pray Asr." He (Al-Ala) said: "So we stood to pray. When we were finished he (Anas) said: 'I heard Allah's Messenger saying: "That is the prayer of the hypocrite. He sits watching the sun, until when it is between the horns of the Shaitan he stands and pecks out four (units of prayer), not remembering Allah in them but a little."

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ فِي دَارِهِ بِالْبَصْرَةِ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَدَارُهُ بِجَنْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ قُومُوا فَصَلُّوا الْعَصْرَ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقُمْنَا فَصَلَّيْنَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفْنَا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ يَجْلِسُ يَرْقُبُ الشَّمْسَ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتْ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىِ الشَّيْطَانِ قَامَ فَنَقَرَ أَرْبَعًا لاَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ فِيهَا إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Grade

: Sahih (Darussalam)

 

Reference

 : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 160

 

In-book reference

 : Book 2, Hadith 12

 

English translation

 : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 160

 

And

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, "You fast daily all the year and pray every night all the night?" I replied in the affirmative. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If you keep on doing this, your eyes will become weak and your body will get tired. He who fasts all the year is as he who did not fast at all. The fasting of three days (a month) will be equal to the tasting of the whole year." I replied, "I have the power for more than this." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then fast like the fasting of David who used to fast on alternate days and would never flee from the battle field, on meeting the enemy.

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ الْمَكِّيَّ ـ وَكَانَ شَاعِرًا وَكَانَ لاَ يُتَّهَمُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّكَ لَتَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ، وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ لَهُ الْعَيْنُ وَنَفِهَتْ لَهُ النَّفْسُ، لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الدَّهْرَ، صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا، وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى ‏"‏‏.‏

Reference

 : Sahih al-Bukhari 1979

In-book reference

 : Book 30, Hadith 86

USC-MSA web (English) reference

 : Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 200

  (deprecated numbering scheme)

 

  • Planning and Implementing: In verses 97-100 of Surat An-Nisaa, Allah speaks about 3 groups of people in regards to Hijrah.  Let us consider these groups: 1.       Those who stayed at home, not making hijrah claiming that they were weak and oppressed on the earth (mustad’afeen) when in reality they could have migrated—Allah states that such will find an abode in hell. 2.       Those men, women and children who stayed at home, not making hijrah because they were, indeed, so weak and oppressed on the earth (mustad’afeen) that “they could not devise a ploy (strategic plan) nor direct their way.” –…

  • Moderation and Continuity Once we have developed a plan, the next step is to implement it. But, how do we go about implementing a plan when our schedules are full and our responsibilities are heavy? If we consider the advice of The Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) regarding performing good deeds when he said: Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah's is the most regular and constant even though it were little." حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ…

  • Avoiding the two poles of extremism in all affairs: (i.e. doing too much such that it overwhelms you and doing so little that nothing or very little is accomplished)   فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ وَٱسۡمَعُواْ وَأَطِيعُواْ وَأَنفِقُواْ خَيۡرٗا لِّأَنفُسِكُمۡۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ 64:16 Therefore be careful of (your duty to) Allah as much as you can, and hear and obey and spend, it is better for your souls; and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful. (64:16) ‘Abd Allah b. Mas’ud reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying:…

  • Identifying obstacles and eliminating them 17:62-64 قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَكَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كَرَّمۡتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنۡ أَخَّرۡتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ لَأَحۡتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا 62 قَالَ ٱذۡهَبۡ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنۡهُمۡ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ مَّوۡفُورٗا 63 وَٱسۡتَفۡزِزۡ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتَ مِنۡهُم بِصَوۡتِكَ وَأَجۡلِبۡ عَلَيۡهِم بِخَيۡلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكۡهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡوَٰلِ وَٱلۡأَوۡلَٰدِ وَعِدۡهُمۡۚ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا 64   62. He said: Tell me, is this he whom Thou hast honored above me? If Thou shouldst respite me to the day of resurrection, I will most certainly cause his progeny to perish except a few. 63. He said: Be gone! for whoever of them will…

  • Escaping and remaining aloof   Narrated Hudhayfah: The tradition mentioned above (No. 4232) has also been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by Nasr ibn Asim al-Laythi who said: We came to al-Yashkuri with a group of the people of Banu Layth. He asked: Who are these people? We replied: Banu Layth. We have come to you to ask you about the tradition of Hudhayfah. He then mentioned the tradition and said: I asked: Messenger of Allah, will there be evil after this good? He replied: There will be trial (fitnah) and evil. I asked: Messenger of Allah, will…

Planning and Implementing:

In verses 97-100 of Surat An-Nisaa, Allah speaks about 3 groups of people in regards to Hijrah.  Let us consider these groups:

1.       Those who stayed at home, not making hijrah claiming that they were weak and oppressed on the earth (mustad’afeen) when in reality they could have migrated—Allah states that such will find an abode in hell.

2.       Those men, women and children who stayed at home, not making hijrah because they were, indeed, so weak and oppressed on the earth (mustad’afeen) that “they could not devise a ploy (strategic plan) nor direct their way.” – Allah states that it is more likely that Allah will forgive them.

3.       Those who actually made hijrah for the sake of Allah – Allah states that

     a) they will find many dwelling places

b) they will find plenty to live by

c) their reward is incumbent upon Allah if they die as emigrants (muhaajireen)

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ قَالُواْ فِيمَ كُنتُمۡۖ قَالُواْ كُنَّا مُسۡتَضۡعَفِينَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ قَالُوٓاْ أَلَمۡ تَكُنۡ أَرۡضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةٗ فَتُهَاجِرُواْ فِيهَاۚ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَأۡوَىٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرًا ٩٧

إِلَّا ٱلۡمُسۡتَضۡعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلۡوِلۡدَٰنِ لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةٗ وَلَا يَهۡتَدُونَ سَبِيلٗا ٩٨

فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَعۡفُوَ عَنۡهُمۡۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورٗا ٩٩

۞وَمَن يُهَاجِرۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يَجِدۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُرَٰغَمٗا كَثِيرٗا وَسَعَةٗۚ وَمَن يَخۡرُجۡ مِنۢ بَيۡتِهِۦ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ يُدۡرِكۡهُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَقَدۡ وَقَعَ أَجۡرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا ١٠٠

97. Surely (as for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: In what state were you? They shall say: We were weak in the earth. They shall say: Was not Allah´s earth spacious, so that you should have migrated therein? So these it is whose abode is hell, and it is an evil resort

98. Except the weak from among the men and the children who have not in their power the means nor can they find a way (to escape);

99. So these, it may be, Allah will pardon them, and Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.

100. And whoever flies in Allah´s way, he will find in the earth many a place of refuge and abundant resources, and whoever goes forth from his house flying to Allah and His Messenger, and then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

If each of us were to take a moment to reflect on these three categories with regards to Al-Hijrah and place ourselves in one of them, which group would we be in?

            -With those who sat at home and were blameworthy?

            -With those who were so weak and oppressed that they could not even devise a plan?

or

              -With those who were, not only capable of making a plan, but went the extra mile and carried it   out?

In these verses, we find an excellent demonstration of how to categorize our own selves with respect to carrying out the commands of Allah.  Although, specifically, here these ayaat are referring to Al-Hijrah, we can benefit from the same example and apply it to our goals that we want to realize in religion as well in the dunya.

With every goal, there are three types of people:

1. those who sit and end up doing nothing to realize their goal,

2. those who want to realize their goal but end up sitting and doing nothing because they are incapable and

3. those who want to realize their goal and actually put in the necessary work to make it a reality.

Now, if we go back to verse 4:98, we will see that the key words that differentiate between the 2nd and 3rd groups are لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةٗ وَلَا يَهۡتَدُونَ سَبِيلٗ -- “they could not devise a ploy (strategic plan) nor direct their way.”

Granted that there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the muslim ummah as a whole at this day in time can be categorically described as “weak and oppressed.” But, given that, the question now becomes: are we so weak and oppressed that we cant even devise a strategic plan to improve our situation? To make Hijrah? To pray on time?  To fast all of Ramadan? To memorize Quran? To stay married?  To educate our families? To provide for our families? To get out of debt? To build a house? To start a business?

Is that really the case? Or are we more like the first group who just sits and does nothing about it?

Here, at Yayasan Anshorrul Muhaajirin, we believe that each and every one of us is not only capable of, at the very least, devising a plan, as mentioned in the above ayaat, to better our situations but also of making an honest man’s effort to carry out those plans.  We do not consider it acceptable to be a people who sit and do nothing!

***The above commentaries and observations concerning the verses 97-100 were written by Luqman Hasan. They are not scholarly commentaries and should be considered nothing more than a layman’s way of self-admonition based on the apparent meanings of the verses. They do not push a particular opinion regarding whether hijrah is obligatory or not.  For scholarly opinions on the Islamic ruling on hijrah, one may refer to the many ahaadeeth which speak about hijrah and to the explanations of scholars such as Sheikh Al-Albaani and  Ibn Uthaymeen.

  • Planning and Implementing: In verses 97-100 of Surat An-Nisaa, Allah speaks about 3 groups of people in regards to Hijrah.  Let us consider these groups: 1.       Those who stayed at home, not making hijrah claiming that they were weak and…

  • Moderation and Continuity Once we have developed a plan, the next step is to implement it. But, how do we go about implementing a plan when our schedules are full and our responsibilities are heavy? If we consider the advice…

  • Avoiding the two poles of extremism in all affairs: (i.e. doing too much such that it overwhelms you and doing so little that nothing or very little is accomplished)   فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ وَٱسۡمَعُواْ وَأَطِيعُواْ وَأَنفِقُواْ خَيۡرٗا لِّأَنفُسِكُمۡۗ وَمَن…

  • Identifying obstacles and eliminating them 17:62-64 قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَكَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كَرَّمۡتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنۡ أَخَّرۡتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ لَأَحۡتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا 62 قَالَ ٱذۡهَبۡ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنۡهُمۡ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَآؤُكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ مَّوۡفُورٗا 63 وَٱسۡتَفۡزِزۡ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتَ مِنۡهُم بِصَوۡتِكَ وَأَجۡلِبۡ عَلَيۡهِم…

  • Escaping and remaining aloof   Narrated Hudhayfah: The tradition mentioned above (No. 4232) has also been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by Nasr ibn Asim al-Laythi who said: We came to al-Yashkuri with a group of the people…

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