1 00:00:00,780 --> 00:00:09,779 *Riyad al-Salihin* (The Meadows of the Righteous) from the words of the Master of the Messengers, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 2 00:00:09,779 --> 00:00:16,230 Chapter on Hope. 3 00:00:16,230 --> 00:00:22,230 On the authority of Abu Najih 'Amr ibn 'Abasah al-Sulami, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 4 00:00:22,230 --> 00:00:28,230 "During the pre-Islamic period of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), I used to consider people to be in manifest error, 5 00:00:28,230 --> 00:00:33,229 and that they stood on nothing of truth while worshipping idols. 6 00:00:33,229 --> 00:00:40,229 Then I heard of a man in Mecca who was delivering profound news, so I mounted my camel and journeyed to him. 7 00:00:40,229 --> 00:00:48,229 There I found the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, living in hiding, while his people were brazen and insolent toward him. 8 00:00:48,229 --> 00:00:54,229 I acted discreetly until I managed to enter his presence in Mecca, and I asked him: 'What are you?' 9 00:00:54,229 --> 00:00:57,229 He replied: 'I am a Prophet.' 10 00:00:57,229 --> 00:00:59,229 I asked: 'And what is a Prophet?' 11 00:00:59,229 --> 00:01:02,259 He said: 'Allah has sent me as a Messenger.' 12 00:01:02,259 --> 00:01:05,299 I asked: 'With what has He sent you?' 13 00:01:05,299 --> 00:01:10,299 He replied: 'He has sent me to uphold the ties of kinship, to smash idols, 14 00:01:10,299 --> 00:01:14,299 and to proclaim that Allah alone be worshipped, without associating anything with Him.' 15 00:01:14,299 --> 00:01:18,359 I asked: 'And who is with you in this matter?' 16 00:01:18,359 --> 00:01:21,359 He said: 'A free man and a slave.' 17 00:01:21,359 --> 00:01:26,359 At that time, Abu Bakr and Bilal, may Allah be pleased with them, were with him. 18 00:01:26,359 --> 00:01:29,359 I said: 'I am going to follow you.' 19 00:01:29,359 --> 00:01:34,359 He replied: 'You will not be able to do so today. 20 00:01:34,359 --> 00:01:38,359 Do you not see my vulnerable state and the hostile state of the people? 21 00:01:38,359 --> 00:01:40,359 Rather, return to your family, 22 00:01:40,359 --> 00:01:44,359 and when you hear that I have prevailed, then come to me.' 23 00:01:44,359 --> 00:01:47,359 He said: 'So I went back to my family, 24 00:01:47,359 --> 00:01:52,359 and later the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, arrived in Medina. 25 00:01:52,359 --> 00:01:54,359 While I was still among my family, 26 00:01:54,359 --> 00:01:57,359 I began actively seeking news 27 00:01:57,359 --> 00:02:00,359 and inquiring of people after he arrived in Medina, 28 00:02:00,359 --> 00:02:04,359 until a group of people from Medina arrived. 29 00:02:04,359 --> 00:02:09,360 I asked them: 'What has this man who arrived in Medina done?' 30 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,360 They said: 'People are hastening to him in crowds; 31 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,360 his people intended to kill him, 32 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,360 but they were unable to do so.' 33 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,360 So I went to Medina and entered his presence. 34 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,360 I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, do you recognize me?' 35 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:30,360 He said: 'Yes, you are the one who met me in Mecca.' 36 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,360 He said: 'So I said: O Messenger of Allah, 37 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,360 teach me of what Allah has taught you and of which I am ignorant; 38 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,360 teach me about the prayer.' 39 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,360 He said: 'Perform the morning prayer, 40 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,360 then refrain from praying until the sun has risen to the height of a spear, 41 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:53,360 for it rises between the two horns of Satan, 42 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,360 and at that time the disbelievers prostrate to it. 43 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:01,360 Thereafter, pray as you wish, for the prayer is witnessed and attended by the angels, 44 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,360 until the shadow of a spear becomes at its shortest at midday. 45 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,360 Then refrain from praying, 46 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,360 for at that hour Hellfire is intensely stoked. 47 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,360 When the shadow begins to shift, pray, 48 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,360 for the prayer is witnessed and attended by the angels, 49 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,360 until you pray the 'Asr prayer. 50 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,360 Then refrain from praying until the sun has set, 51 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,360 for it sets between the two horns of Satan, 52 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,360 and at that time the disbelievers prostrate to it.' 53 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,419 He said: 'I then said: O Prophet of Allah, 54 00:03:33,419 --> 00:03:36,419 tell me about the ablution (wudu).' 55 00:03:36,419 --> 00:03:41,419 He said: 'No man among you brings his ablution water, 56 00:03:41,419 --> 00:03:44,419 rinses his mouth, snuffs water into his nostrils, and blows it out, 57 00:03:44,419 --> 00:03:49,419 but that the sins of his face, mouth, and nostrils fall away. 58 00:03:49,419 --> 00:03:53,520 Then, when he washes his face as Allah commanded him, 59 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:59,520 the sins of his face drop from the tips of his beard along with the water. 60 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,650 Then he washes his arms up to the elbows, 61 00:04:02,650 --> 00:04:07,650 and the sins of his hands drop from his fingertips along with the water. 62 00:04:07,650 --> 00:04:09,710 Then he wipes his head, 63 00:04:09,710 --> 00:04:14,710 and the sins of his head drop from the ends of his hair along with the water. 64 00:04:14,710 --> 00:04:17,740 Then he washes his feet up to the ankles, 65 00:04:17,740 --> 00:04:23,740 and the sins of his feet drop from his toes along with the water. 66 00:04:23,740 --> 00:04:28,779 If he then stands up to pray, praises and extols Allah, 67 00:04:28,779 --> 00:04:31,779 glorifies Him as He truly deserves, 68 00:04:31,779 --> 00:04:34,779 and devotes his heart entirely to Allah Almighty, 69 00:04:34,779 --> 00:04:40,779 he departs from his sins as pure as on the day his mother gave birth to him.' 70 00:04:40,779 --> 00:04:45,060 'Amr ibn 'Abasah narrated this hadith to Abu Umamah, 71 00:04:45,060 --> 00:04:49,060 the Companion of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 72 00:04:49,060 --> 00:04:52,060 Abu Umamah said to him: 73 00:04:52,060 --> 00:04:54,060 'O 'Amr ibn 'Abasah, 74 00:04:54,060 --> 00:04:56,060 consider carefully what you are saying! 75 00:04:56,060 --> 00:04:59,060 Is all this bestowed upon this man in a single setting?' 76 00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:01,060 'Amr replied: 77 00:05:01,060 --> 00:05:03,060 'O Abu Umamah, 78 00:05:03,060 --> 00:05:06,060 my age has advanced, my bones have grown frail, 79 00:05:06,060 --> 00:05:08,060 my appointed time draws near, 80 00:05:08,060 --> 00:05:12,060 and I have no need to invent a lie against Allah Almighty, 81 00:05:12,060 --> 00:05:16,060 nor against the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 82 00:05:16,060 --> 00:05:21,129 Had I not heard it from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 83 00:05:21,129 --> 00:05:25,129 except once, twice, or thrice— 84 00:05:25,129 --> 00:05:28,129 until he counted up to seven times— 85 00:05:28,129 --> 00:05:30,129 I would never have narrated it, 86 00:05:30,129 --> 00:05:34,259 but indeed I heard it even more times than that.' 87 00:05:34,259 --> 00:05:36,540 Related by Muslim. 88 00:05:36,540 --> 00:05:39,540 His phrase: 'brazen and insolent toward him' (*jura'a' 'alayhi qawmuh*), 89 00:05:39,540 --> 00:05:43,540 means audacious, domineering, and lacking any awe of him. 90 00:05:43,540 --> 00:05:45,540 This is the well-known transmission. 91 00:05:45,540 --> 00:05:48,540 Al-Humaydi and others transmitted it as: 92 00:05:48,540 --> 00:05:50,540 *hira'a' 'alayhi qawmuh*, 93 00:05:50,540 --> 00:05:52,540 and he explained its meaning as: 94 00:05:52,540 --> 00:05:55,540 enraged, filled with deep grief and anguish, 95 00:05:55,540 --> 00:05:57,540 whose patience with him had completely run out, 96 00:05:57,540 --> 00:05:59,540 to the point that it visibly took a toll on their physical bodies; 97 00:05:59,540 --> 00:06:01,540 derived from their expression: 98 00:06:01,540 --> 00:06:03,540 'his body withered away' (*hara jismuhu yahra*), 99 00:06:03,540 --> 00:06:07,540 which applies when it emaciates due to pain, sorrow, or the like. 100 00:06:07,540 --> 00:06:10,540 The correct reading, however, is with the letter *jim* (*jura'a'*). 101 00:06:10,540 --> 00:06:13,740 His saying, peace be upon him: 102 00:06:13,740 --> 00:06:15,740 'between the two horns of Satan', 103 00:06:15,740 --> 00:06:17,740 means the two sides of his head. 104 00:06:17,740 --> 00:06:19,740 The intent here is a metaphorical representation, 105 00:06:19,740 --> 00:06:22,740 meaning that at that particular time, 106 00:06:22,740 --> 00:06:24,740 Satan and his legions stir into action 107 00:06:24,740 --> 00:06:26,740 and exercise their sway. 108 00:06:26,740 --> 00:06:29,740 And his words: 'brings his ablution water', 109 00:06:29,740 --> 00:06:33,740 mean that he prepares the water with which he will perform ablution. 110 00:06:33,740 --> 00:06:36,769 And his words: 'the sins fall away' (*kharrot khataya*), 111 00:06:36,769 --> 00:06:38,769 mean that they drop off. 112 00:06:38,769 --> 00:06:42,769 Some narrated it as *jarat* with a *jim* ('flowed away'), 113 00:06:42,769 --> 00:06:44,769 but the correct reading is with the *kha'* (*kharrot*), 114 00:06:44,769 --> 00:06:46,769 which is the transmission of the vast majority. 115 00:06:46,769 --> 00:06:49,769 And his words: 'and blows it out' (*yastanthir*), 116 00:06:49,769 --> 00:06:52,769 mean that he expels the impurities inside his nose, 117 00:06:52,769 --> 00:06:55,769 and the *nathrah* is the tip of the nose. 118 00:06:56,769 --> 00:06:59,759 'In Jahiliyyah' 119 00:06:59,759 --> 00:07:01,759 means the era prior to Islam; 120 00:07:01,759 --> 00:07:04,759 they were named so because of their pervasive ignorance and foolishness. 121 00:07:04,759 --> 00:07:06,860 'I acted discreetly' (*talattaftu*) 122 00:07:06,860 --> 00:07:08,860 means I conducted myself with gentle caution. 123 00:07:08,860 --> 00:07:09,860 'I follow you' 124 00:07:09,860 --> 00:07:11,860 means openly professing Islam 125 00:07:11,860 --> 00:07:14,860 and remaining with you in Mecca. 126 00:07:14,860 --> 00:07:17,019 'Return to your family' 127 00:07:17,019 --> 00:07:19,019 means remain steadfast upon your Islam 128 00:07:19,019 --> 00:07:21,019 and reside among your family, 129 00:07:21,019 --> 00:07:23,019 out of concern for his safety from the persecution of Quraysh. 130 00:07:23,019 --> 00:07:25,019 'The height of a spear' 131 00:07:25,019 --> 00:07:27,079 means its approximate measure in the sky. 132 00:07:27,079 --> 00:07:29,079 'Witnessed' 133 00:07:29,079 --> 00:07:31,079 means the angels are present at it 134 00:07:31,079 --> 00:07:33,079 and bear witness to it on behalf of whoever performs it. 135 00:07:33,079 --> 00:07:35,110 'Is stoked' (*tusjar*) 136 00:07:35,110 --> 00:07:37,110 means it is flared up with fuel. 137 00:07:37,110 --> 00:07:39,110 *Al-Fay'* 138 00:07:39,110 --> 00:07:41,110 is the post-meridian shadow that shifts after midday. 139 00:07:41,110 --> 00:07:43,689 Among the lessons of the hadith: 140 00:07:43,689 --> 00:07:48,009 Any nation that deviates from the methodology of Allah 141 00:07:48,009 --> 00:07:51,009 and follows the footsteps of Satan 142 00:07:51,009 --> 00:07:53,009 stands upon nothing of true substance, 143 00:07:53,009 --> 00:07:56,009 because it plunges headlong into the abysses of misguidance. 144 00:07:56,009 --> 00:08:01,620 The people of Jahiliyyah corrupted the religion of Abraham, peace be upon him, 145 00:08:01,620 --> 00:08:05,620 yet there remained a few individuals who firmly believed their people were astray, 146 00:08:05,620 --> 00:08:09,620 adhered to what survived of the religion of Abraham, peace be upon him, 147 00:08:09,620 --> 00:08:11,620 and were known as the Hunafa' (monotheists), 148 00:08:11,620 --> 00:08:14,620 such as Quss ibn Sa'idah al-Iyadi 149 00:08:14,620 --> 00:08:18,000 and Zayd ibn 'Amr ibn Nufayl. 150 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,000 When the callers to truth fear persecution 151 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,000 at the hands of the party of Satan, 152 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,000 and find themselves in a state of vulnerability, 153 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,000 it is permissible for them to keep their dawah discreet. 154 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,000 For this reason, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, instructed 155 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,000 'Amr ibn 'Abasah, may Allah be pleased with him, 156 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,000 to return to his family while holding onto his Islam, 157 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,000 so as to stay among them out of fear of Quraysh's harm. 158 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:47,350 An illustration of the severe hardship the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, endured 159 00:08:47,350 --> 00:08:48,350 from his people, 160 00:08:48,350 --> 00:08:50,350 as they sought to bar people from the path of Allah. 161 00:08:51,860 --> 00:08:55,860 The recommendation to ask the people of knowledge regarding the rulings of the religion. 162 00:08:55,860 --> 00:08:59,440 An exposition of what Allah sent His Messengers with, 163 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,440 namely, the unified foundation of the faith: 164 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,440 that Allah alone be worshipped, 165 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,440 without associating any partner with Him, 166 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,440 and that false deities (taghut) be destroyed. 167 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,860 The obligation to demolish idols and crosses, 168 00:09:10,860 --> 00:09:12,860 and to efface images. 169 00:09:12,860 --> 00:09:16,139 A demonstration of the superior virtue of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq 170 00:09:16,139 --> 00:09:19,139 and Bilal ibn Rabah, may Allah be pleased with them both, 171 00:09:19,139 --> 00:09:22,139 and that they were among the foremost early believers. 172 00:09:23,139 --> 00:09:26,460 The recommendation to follow up on the news of the scholars, 173 00:09:26,460 --> 00:09:30,460 inquiring into their well-being, and seeking reassurance about them. 174 00:09:30,460 --> 00:09:33,750 The recommendation to hasten toward the community of Islam 175 00:09:33,750 --> 00:09:36,750 once trials and tribulations have subsided. 176 00:09:36,750 --> 00:09:40,750 Consequently, it is impermissible to increase the numbers of the disbelievers 177 00:09:40,750 --> 00:09:43,750 by permanently residing in their midst. 178 00:09:43,750 --> 00:09:47,100 An explanation of the times during which prayer is disliked: 179 00:09:48,100 --> 00:09:50,100 at sunrise, 180 00:09:50,100 --> 00:09:52,100 at midday zenith, 181 00:09:52,100 --> 00:09:54,100 and at sunset. 182 00:09:54,100 --> 00:09:57,580 The prohibition of imitating the disbelievers, 183 00:09:57,580 --> 00:10:00,580 even if the one imitating does not intend to do so; 184 00:10:00,580 --> 00:10:04,580 for the person praying at sunrise or sunset 185 00:10:04,580 --> 00:10:07,580 does not intend to imitate the disbelievers, 186 00:10:07,580 --> 00:10:09,580 yet despite this, 187 00:10:09,580 --> 00:10:13,059 prayer at those specific times remains prohibited. 188 00:10:13,059 --> 00:10:15,059 An exposition of the great virtue of ablution, 189 00:10:15,059 --> 00:10:18,059 and that it expiates sins and wrongdoings, 190 00:10:18,059 --> 00:10:22,059 and this applies to whoever performs ablution as commanded. 191 00:10:22,059 --> 00:10:26,509 The permissibility of verifying a narrator's transmission without implying an accusation of dishonesty. 192 00:10:26,509 --> 00:10:28,899 Whenever a Muslim's lifespan increases, 193 00:10:28,899 --> 00:10:30,899 their hair grows white with old age, 194 00:10:30,899 --> 00:10:32,899 and their bones become frail, 195 00:10:32,899 --> 00:10:35,899 they ought to increase in excellence, hope, 196 00:10:35,899 --> 00:10:37,899 and righteous deeds. 197 00:10:37,899 --> 00:10:42,340 The Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 198 00:10:42,340 --> 00:10:45,340 are all upright and trustworthy. 199 00:10:45,340 --> 00:10:49,850 On the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with him, 200 00:10:49,850 --> 00:10:52,850 from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 201 00:10:52,850 --> 00:10:54,850 who said: 202 00:10:54,850 --> 00:10:57,850 "When Allah, Exalted is He, intends mercy for an Ummah, 203 00:10:57,850 --> 00:11:00,850 He takes the soul of its Prophet before it, 204 00:11:00,850 --> 00:11:04,850 making him a forerunner and an advance herald awaiting them. 205 00:11:04,850 --> 00:11:07,850 But when He intends the destruction of an Ummah, 206 00:11:07,850 --> 00:11:10,850 He punishes it while its Prophet is still alive, 207 00:11:10,850 --> 00:11:13,850 destroying it as he looks on, 208 00:11:13,850 --> 00:11:16,850 bringing solace to his eyes by its destruction 209 00:11:16,850 --> 00:11:20,070 because they denied him and defied his command." 210 00:11:20,070 --> 00:11:22,070 Related by Muslim. 211 00:11:22,070 --> 00:11:24,870 "A forerunner" (farat) 212 00:11:24,870 --> 00:11:28,029 means one who goes ahead and precedes them, 213 00:11:28,029 --> 00:11:31,029 "awaiting them" means ahead of them. 214 00:11:31,029 --> 00:11:33,190 "Destruction" (halakah) 215 00:11:33,190 --> 00:11:35,350 means ruin and perdition. 216 00:11:35,350 --> 00:11:37,350 "Solace to his eyes" 217 00:11:37,350 --> 00:11:40,350 means that he finds relief and vindication in its destruction. 218 00:11:40,350 --> 00:11:44,120 Among the benefits derived from the hadith: 219 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,120 Allah's immense mercy toward this Muhammadan Ummah— 220 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,120 may Allah increase it in honor— 221 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,120 for it is an Ummah granted mercy, 222 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,120 as its Prophet was taken before it. 223 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,120 So we ask Allah, Exalted is He, to make him for us 224 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,120 a forerunner and an advance herald when we meet him at the Basin. 225 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,629 Also, the profound care of the Prophets for their nations, 226 00:12:05,629 --> 00:12:08,629 their deep concern for safeguarding them, 227 00:12:08,629 --> 00:12:11,080 and rectifying their affairs. 228 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,080 Furthermore, the punishment and destruction of the disbelievers, 229 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,080 which brings solace and vindication to the Prophets and their followers. 230 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,210 Riyadh al-Salih— 231 00:12:20,210 --> 00:12:22,210 Riyadh al-Salihin.