WEBVTT 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:09.779 *Riyadh al-Salihin* from the words of the Master of the Messengers, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:00:09.779 --> 00:00:19.339 Chapter on the Virtue of Asceticism in This World, Encouragement to Take Little from It, and the Virtue of Poverty. 00:00:19.339 --> 00:00:24.589 On the authority of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: 00:00:24.589 --> 00:00:28.589 "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, passed away, 00:00:28.589 --> 00:00:32.590 and there was nothing in my house that a living creature could eat 00:00:32.590 --> 00:00:36.590 except a small portion of barley on a shelf of mine. 00:00:36.590 --> 00:00:39.590 I ate from it for quite a long time, 00:00:39.590 --> 00:00:42.659 but when I measured it, it was consumed." 00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:44.909 Agreed upon. 00:00:44.909 --> 00:00:48.909 "A small portion of barley" means an amount of barley; 00:00:48.909 --> 00:00:50.909 this is how al-Tirmidhi explained it. 00:00:50.909 --> 00:00:55.159 "A living creature" literally means anything possessing a liver, meaning any animal or human. 00:00:55.159 --> 00:00:59.420 "A small portion of barley" means some barley, 00:00:59.420 --> 00:01:02.420 and the word *shaṭr* is used for half or something close to it, 00:01:02.420 --> 00:01:05.420 though that is not the intended meaning here. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:08.700 A shelf (*raff*) is a plank of wood raised above the ground, 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:11.700 upon which things meant to be preserved are placed, 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:14.700 or a niche-like alcove in a wall; 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:17.700 the latter is closer to the intended meaning. 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:20.900 "It was consumed" means it was finished and exhausted. 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:25.920 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:29.920 The Prophet's turning away from worldly possessions, 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.920 even though the Arabian Peninsula had submitted to him 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:35.920 and its wealth and produce had reached him. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:39.920 Yet despite that, there was nothing to be found in the home of his most beloved wife 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:43.920 except this meagre amount of barley. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:48.180 The maintenance of the Prophet's wives was exempted 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:51.180 from his estate, which is not inherited. 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:54.180 Thus, what was in the house of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, 00:01:54.180 --> 00:01:58.180 was the remainder of her designated maintenance. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:02:04.180 For had she not been entitled to maintenance after his death, peace be upon him, 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:07.560 that barley would have been taken from her. 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:11.560 The hadith indicates the commendability of moderation in living expenses 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:13.560 and in what satisfies hunger, 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.719 for that constitutes half of one's livelihood. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.719 It also highlights one of his miracles, peace be upon him, 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:22.719 regarding the multiplication of small amounts of food; 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:26.719 what 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, experienced falls under this category. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:30.719 It was part of the blessing of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.360 which requires full surrender and trusting submission to Allah. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:40.360 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, used to eat from that barley 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:42.360 without noticing any decrease in it, 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:45.360 but when she measured it, that barley ran out. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:49.360 This is because measuring when spending detracts from the blessing of trusting submission, 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:52.360 as it is looked upon with an eye of covetousness, 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:56.360 leading to negligence in thanking the Bestower for it. 00:02:56.360 --> 00:03:01.650 Whoever is granted provision by Allah, honored with a favor, 00:03:01.650 --> 00:03:03.650 or shown divine gentleness in any matter, 00:03:03.650 --> 00:03:06.650 must maintain continuous gratitude 00:03:06.650 --> 00:03:11.219 and not introduce any change into that state. 00:03:11.219 --> 00:03:14.219 Measuring is required in commercial transactions 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:17.219 because it pertains to the rights of both transacting parties, 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:19.219 whereas measuring while spending on oneself and family 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:21.219 can incite stinginess; 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:23.219 hence it was disliked. 00:03:23.219 --> 00:03:28.979 On the authority of 'Amr Ibn al-Harith, the brother of Juwayriyah bint al-Harith, 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:32.979 the Mother of the Believers, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said: 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:35.979 "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, did not leave behind 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:39.979 at his death a single dinar or dirham, 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:41.979 nor a male or female slave, 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:47.979 nor anything else except his white mule that he used to ride, 00:03:47.979 --> 00:03:52.979 his weapon, and a piece of land that he designated as charity for wayfarers." 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:56.210 Narrated by al-Bukhari. 00:03:56.210 --> 00:04:01.199 "And a piece of land" refers to half the land of Fadak, 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.199 a third of Wadi al-Qura, 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:06.199 a share from the fifth of Khaybar, 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:09.199 and an estate from the land of Banu al-Nadir. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:13.219 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:19.220 It indicates that any slaves mentioned in connection with the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:04:19.220 --> 00:04:25.220 had either died or were freed by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:29.829 Prophets do not leave behind dirhams or dinars as inheritance; 00:04:29.829 --> 00:04:32.829 whatever they leave behind is charity. 00:04:32.829 --> 00:04:38.139 On the authority of Khabbab Ibn al-Aratt, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:42.139 "We emigrated with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:45.139 seeking the Face of Allah the Exalted, 00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:48.139 so our reward was assured with Allah. 00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:52.139 Some of us died without having enjoyed anything of their worldly reward; 00:04:52.139 --> 00:04:56.139 among them was Mus'ab Ibn 'Umayr, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:04:56.139 --> 00:05:00.139 who was killed on the day of Uhud, leaving behind only a striped woolen cloak. 00:05:00.139 --> 00:05:04.139 When we covered his head with it, his feet were exposed, 00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:08.139 and when we covered his feet with it, his head was exposed. 00:05:08.139 --> 00:05:14.240 So the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ordered us to cover his head with it 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:18.240 and to put some lemongrass over his feet. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:23.300 Yet others among us had their fruit ripen, and they are now plucking it." 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:29.620 Agreed upon. The *namirah* is a striped cloak made of wool. 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:34.660 His statement "had ripened" means became ripe and mature. 00:05:34.660 --> 00:05:39.660 His statement "plucking it" means gathering and harvesting it; 00:05:39.660 --> 00:05:46.660 this is a metaphor for the worldly wealth and influence Allah the Exalted opened up for them. 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:51.519 "We seek" means we petition and desire. 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:54.680 "Was assured" means it was confirmed and decreed. 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:58.899 "Without having enjoyed" means without acquiring any worldly wealth. 00:05:58.899 --> 00:06:03.060 Lemongrass (*al-idhkhir*) is a sweet-smelling plant. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:06.670 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 00:06:06.670 --> 00:06:10.930 A demonstration of the truthfulness of the righteous salaf (early generations) in describing their conditions. 00:06:10.930 --> 00:06:15.379 Patience while enduring poverty and rough living 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:17.379 is among the stations of the righteous. 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:22.860 It contains an indication that a shroud ought to be ample and spacious, 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:25.860 covering the entire body. 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:27.860 If the shroud falls short of that 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:30.860 and an ample covering is unavailable, 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:34.860 his head and as much of his upper body as possible are covered with it, 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:38.860 and whatever remains exposed is covered with lemongrass 00:06:38.860 --> 00:06:41.860 or other types of grass. 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:44.300 A martyr's clothes are not removed; 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:47.300 rather, he is buried in them, as they serve as his shroud. 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:52.300 That is why Mus'ab Ibn 'Umayr, may Allah be pleased with him, was shrouded in his cloak 00:06:52.300 --> 00:06:54.300 and covered with lemongrass, 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:58.300 because it was too short to cover his entire body. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:02.850 The shroud or its cost is taken from the deceased's own estate, 00:07:02.850 --> 00:07:04.850 even if he left nothing else behind. 00:07:06.389 --> 00:07:08.389 The emigration of the foremost, first believers 00:07:08.389 --> 00:07:11.389 was not for the sake of any worldly gain they might obtain, 00:07:11.389 --> 00:07:13.389 nor for any immediate blessing they sought to hasten; 00:07:13.389 --> 00:07:16.389 rather, it was purely for the sake of Allah, 00:07:16.389 --> 00:07:19.389 that He might reward them for it in the Hereafter. 00:07:19.389 --> 00:07:22.870 Remembering the lives of the righteous 00:07:22.870 --> 00:07:25.870 leads a servant to take little from this world, 00:07:25.870 --> 00:07:27.870 disengage from its snares, 00:07:27.870 --> 00:07:30.870 unburden oneself of its heavy loads, 00:07:30.870 --> 00:07:33.870 and set forth to join their ranks. 00:07:33.870 --> 00:07:40.149 On the authority of Sahl Ibn Sa'd al-Sa'idi, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:07:40.149 --> 00:07:44.149 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: 00:07:44.149 --> 00:07:49.149 "If this world were worth the wing of a mosquito to Allah, 00:07:49.149 --> 00:07:53.149 He would not have given a disbeliever a single drink of water from it." 00:07:53.149 --> 00:07:55.250 Narrated by al-Tirmidhi. 00:07:55.250 --> 00:07:58.560 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.779 The insignificance of this world in the sight of Allah and its worthlessness to Him, 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:04.779 as well as the insignificance of those who seek it, 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:09.779 for whom it has become their greatest concern and the limit of their knowledge. 00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:14.170 The true worth of this world lies in making it a pathway to the Abode of the Hereafter 00:08:14.170 --> 00:08:18.170 and a fertile ground for righteous deeds. 00:08:18.170 --> 00:08:20.709 The permissibility of using parables 00:08:20.709 --> 00:08:23.709 to make the meaning clearer to the listener. 00:08:23.709 --> 00:08:29.089 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:08:29.089 --> 00:08:33.090 I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: 00:08:33.090 --> 00:08:36.090 "Indeed, the world is accursed, 00:08:36.090 --> 00:08:38.090 and accursed is all that is in it, 00:08:38.090 --> 00:08:42.090 except the remembrance of Allah the Exalted and what is allied to it, 00:08:42.090 --> 00:08:45.090 and a scholar or a student of knowledge." 00:08:45.090 --> 00:08:47.220 Narrated by al-Tirmidhi. 00:08:47.220 --> 00:08:49.980 "Accursed" 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:52.980 means base and detested. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:55.179 "Accursed is all that is in it" 00:08:55.179 --> 00:08:59.179 refers to wealth, commodities, desires, and the like. 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:01.370 "And what is allied to it" 00:09:01.370 --> 00:09:03.370 means whatever is connected or close to it. 00:09:03.370 --> 00:09:07.360 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:11.779 The permissibility of disparaging everything that distances one from Allah the Exalted 00:09:11.779 --> 00:09:13.779 and distracts from His remembrance; 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:16.779 it is in this light that the chapter's hadith is understood. 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:20.100 Everything in this world is amusement and diversion, 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:25.100 except the remembrance of Allah the Exalted and whatever serves as a means to it. 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:29.509 A clarification of the virtue of knowledge, its scholars, and its seekers. 00:09:29.509 --> 00:09:33.059 In the pursuit of knowledge, people are of two categories: 00:09:33.059 --> 00:09:36.059 a scholar or a student, 00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:41.139 and both are on the path of right guidance and salvation. 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:45.139 On the authority of 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:49.139 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:51.139 "Do not acquire extensive estates, 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:54.240 lest you become covetous of this world." 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.240 Narrated by al-Tirmidhi. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.659 An estate (*al-ḍay'ah*) 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:00.820 refers to real estate or cultivated land. 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:02.820 "Lest you become covetous of this world" 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:04.820 means lest you become attached to it 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:09.460 and distracted by it from the righteousness of your Hereafter. 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:11.460 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:14.740 The scholars interpreted this hadith 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:17.740 as a prohibition against acquiring an excessive number of estates, 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:20.740 which leads to the heart becoming consumed by them, 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:25.740 thereby causing a person to rely upon and incline toward this world. 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:29.740 However, acquiring enough real estate to fulfill one's needs 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:33.740 is not prohibited, and Allah knows best. 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:40.019 On the authority of 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn al-'As, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said: 00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:44.019 "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, passed by us 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:47.019 while we were repairing a reed hut of ours, 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:50.019 and he asked, 'What is this?' 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:53.019 We said, 'It has become frail, 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:55.019 so we are repairing it.' 00:10:55.019 --> 00:11:00.019 He said, 'I see the matter [of death] to be even swifter than that.'" 00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:03.250 Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi 00:11:03.250 --> 00:11:06.250 with an authentic chain of narration according to the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim. 00:11:06.250 --> 00:11:10.049 "We were repairing" means fixing. 00:11:10.049 --> 00:11:14.210 A reed hut (*khuṣṣ*) is a dwelling made of wood and reeds, 00:11:14.210 --> 00:11:16.210 plastered with clay; 00:11:16.210 --> 00:11:19.210 it is so named because of its gaps (*khiṣāṣ*), 00:11:19.210 --> 00:11:22.210 which are openings and holes. 00:11:22.210 --> 00:11:26.370 It had weakened and was about to collapse. 00:11:26.370 --> 00:11:29.500 "The matter" refers to one's appointed time of death. 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:32.500 "Swifter" means more imminent. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:36.490 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 00:11:36.490 --> 00:11:43.940 The permissibility of maintaining and repairing a home when it deteriorates, weakens, or risks collapsing. 00:11:43.940 --> 00:11:47.940 The leader ought to inspect the conditions of his flock 00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:52.940 and urge them toward that which brings their salvation in this world and the Hereafter. 00:11:52.940 --> 00:11:56.480 An illustration of the rapid passing of this worldly life. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:01.899 A person must not occupy himself with worldly affairs in a manner that distracts him from the Hereafter 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:04.899 and makes him forget his inevitable destiny. 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:10.850 On the authority of Ka'b Ibn 'Iyad, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: 00:12:10.850 --> 00:12:14.850 "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: 00:12:14.850 --> 00:12:17.850 'Indeed, every Ummah has a trial, 00:12:17.850 --> 00:12:20.850 and the trial of my Ummah is wealth.'" 00:12:20.850 --> 00:12:22.850 Reported by at-Tirmidhi. 00:12:22.850 --> 00:12:27.190 "Trial" (fitnah) means a test and an examination, 00:12:27.190 --> 00:12:30.190 and it is used in the context of both good and bad. 00:12:30.190 --> 00:12:32.190 Allah Almighty said: 00:12:32.190 --> 00:12:36.669 “Every soul must taste of death, and We try you with evil and with good, for ordeal. And unto Us ye will be returned.” (21:35) 00:12:36.669 --> 00:12:38.669 "The trial of my Ummah," 00:12:38.669 --> 00:12:41.669 meaning that with which it is tested in its worldly life. 00:12:41.669 --> 00:12:45.889 Among the benefits derived from this hadith: 00:12:45.889 --> 00:12:48.889 An explanation of what Allah has tested this Ummah with, 00:12:48.889 --> 00:12:50.889 which is wealth; 00:12:50.889 --> 00:12:54.889 through it, the sincerity of their commitment, the purity of their souls, 00:12:54.889 --> 00:12:58.889 and their adherence to their methodology—or lack thereof—become manifest. 00:12:58.889 --> 00:13:02.240 The intense inclination of human souls toward wealth, 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:04.240 which is just as Allah stated. 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:08.240 “And love wealth with abounding love.” (89:20) 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.820 Greed for wealth and attachment to it 00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:14.820 are causes for the corruption of mutual relations, 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:16.820 because it breeds avarice, 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:20.820 and avarice leads to the severing of kinship ties. 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:25.870 Riyad as-Salihin [The Meadows of the Righteous].