WEBVTT 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. 00:00:09.779 --> 00:00:14.019 Chapter on Repentance. 00:00:14.019 --> 00:00:18.260 On the authority of Abu Sa'id, 00:00:18.260 --> 00:00:22.260 Sa'd ibn Malik ibn Sinan al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:27.489 that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:00:27.489 --> 00:00:33.490 "Among those who came before you, there was a man who had killed ninety-nine people. 00:00:33.490 --> 00:00:36.490 Then he asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth, 00:00:36.490 --> 00:00:38.520 and he was directed to a monk. 00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:40.520 So he went to him and told him 00:00:40.520 --> 00:00:44.520 that he had killed ninety-nine people, 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:46.520 asking if there was any repentance for him. 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:48.520 The monk said: 'No.' 00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:51.520 So he killed him, thereby completing a hundred. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:54.579 Then he asked again about the most knowledgeable person on earth, 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:57.579 and was directed to a scholar. 00:00:57.579 --> 00:00:58.579 He said 00:00:58.579 --> 00:01:00.579 that he had killed a hundred people, 00:01:00.579 --> 00:01:02.579 asking if there was any repentance for him. 00:01:02.579 --> 00:01:04.579 The scholar said: 'Yes, 00:01:04.579 --> 00:01:07.579 and what could stand between him and repentance? 00:01:07.579 --> 00:01:10.739 Depart to such-and-such a land, 00:01:10.739 --> 00:01:14.739 for in it are people who worship Allah Almighty, 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:17.739 so worship Allah alongside them, 00:01:17.739 --> 00:01:19.739 and do not return to your land, 00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:21.739 for it is an evil land.' 00:01:21.739 --> 00:01:23.840 So he set out, 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:25.840 until, when he reached halfway, 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:27.840 death overtook him. 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:30.969 Thereupon, the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed over him. 00:01:30.969 --> 00:01:33.969 The angels of mercy said: 00:01:33.969 --> 00:01:38.969 'He came repentant, turning with all his heart toward Allah Almighty.' 00:01:38.969 --> 00:01:41.969 But the angels of punishment said: 00:01:41.969 --> 00:01:44.969 'He never did any good deed whatsoever.' 00:01:44.969 --> 00:01:49.319 Then an angel came to them in the form of a human being, 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:51.319 so they made him an arbitrator between them— 00:01:51.319 --> 00:01:53.319 that is, a judge. 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:54.319 He said: 00:01:54.319 --> 00:01:57.319 'Measure the distance between the two lands, 00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:59.319 and whichever one he is closer to, he belongs to it.' 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:01.319 So they measured, 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:05.379 and found him closer to the land he had intended to go to; 00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:08.379 hence the angels of mercy took his soul." 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:10.379 Agreed upon. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:13.449 In a narration in the *Sahih*: 00:02:13.449 --> 00:02:17.449 "He was closer to the righteous village by a handspan, 00:02:17.449 --> 00:02:19.449 so he was counted among its people." 00:02:19.449 --> 00:02:22.449 In another narration in the *Sahih*: 00:02:22.449 --> 00:02:26.539 "Then Allah Almighty commanded this land to draw near— 00:02:26.539 --> 00:02:30.539 rather, Allah Almighty revealed to this land: 'Move farther away,' 00:02:30.539 --> 00:02:33.539 and to that land: 'Draw nearer,' 00:02:33.539 --> 00:02:35.539 and He said: 00:02:35.539 --> 00:02:37.539 'Measure the distance between the two.' 00:02:37.539 --> 00:02:40.539 So they found him closer to this one by a handspan, 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:42.539 and he was forgiven." 00:02:42.539 --> 00:02:44.669 And in a narration: 00:02:44.669 --> 00:02:47.669 "He dragged his chest toward it." 00:02:47.669 --> 00:02:50.370 "Monk": 00:02:50.370 --> 00:02:54.370 meaning a devout worshiper from among the Children of Israel. 00:02:54.370 --> 00:02:56.659 "What could stand between him...": 00:02:56.659 --> 00:02:59.659 meaning what could act as a barrier or separation 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:01.659 that would prevent him from repenting? 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:02.780 "Adna": 00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:04.979 meaning closer. 00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:06.979 "He dragged his chest": 00:03:06.979 --> 00:03:09.979 meaning he pushed forward with great effort and hardship, 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:12.979 despite the agonizing agony of death that had overtaken him. 00:03:12.979 --> 00:03:16.289 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:03:16.289 --> 00:03:19.509 The wisdom of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:19.509 --> 00:03:23.509 in guiding and admonishing through striking parables, 00:03:23.509 --> 00:03:27.509 because human souls are inclined to follow the example of their own kind. 00:03:28.509 --> 00:03:31.610 The permissibility of narrating about the Children of Israel, 00:03:31.610 --> 00:03:34.610 for marvelous things indeed occurred among them; 00:03:34.610 --> 00:03:38.610 however, when the People of the Book narrate something to us, 00:03:38.610 --> 00:03:41.610 we neither believe them unconditionally nor disbelieve them outright. 00:03:41.610 --> 00:03:45.900 The human soul possesses inherent goodness, 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:48.900 while evil and wickedness are merely alien to it; 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:51.900 so when it encounters someone to remind it, 00:03:51.900 --> 00:03:55.900 it exhibits an innate readiness to remain steadfast on the path of guidance. 00:03:56.900 --> 00:04:00.060 The superiority of knowledge coupled with modest worship 00:04:00.060 --> 00:04:03.060 over abundant worship accompanied by ignorance; 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:06.060 for the ignorant worshiper may cause harm 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:09.060 while intending to do good, 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:13.060 thus perishing, causing others to perish, straying, and leading others astray. 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:16.279 Whoever undertakes the task of guiding people 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:19.279 and calling them to Islam and truth 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:21.279 ought to acquire proper sacred knowledge, 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:25.279 otherwise their harm will outweigh their benefit. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:28.410 The ignorant person is their own worst enemy; 00:04:28.410 --> 00:04:31.410 indeed, the monk's lack of discernment led to his downfall. 00:04:31.569 --> 00:04:34.569 The scholar and caller to Allah must 00:04:34.569 --> 00:04:37.569 give glad tidings and not drive people away, 00:04:37.569 --> 00:04:40.569 and must not cause people to despair of the mercy of Allah, 00:04:40.569 --> 00:04:43.730 which encompasses all things. 00:04:43.730 --> 00:04:47.730 The gate of repentance is open for all sins and transgressions, 00:04:47.730 --> 00:04:50.730 both major and minor, 00:04:50.730 --> 00:04:52.730 for anyone who repents sincerely. 00:04:53.730 --> 00:04:56.730 The angels entrusted with the Children of Adam 00:04:56.730 --> 00:04:59.730 may exercise differing assessments concerning them, 00:04:59.730 --> 00:05:02.889 regarding what they record: 00:05:02.889 --> 00:05:05.889 whether the person was obedient or disobedient, 00:05:05.889 --> 00:05:08.889 and they dispute over that 00:05:08.889 --> 00:05:11.889 until Allah judges between them. 00:05:11.889 --> 00:05:14.889 The capacity of angels to take shape 00:05:14.889 --> 00:05:18.079 in the form of a human being. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:21.079 The legitimacy of investigation— 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:24.339 the legitimacy of migrating from a land 00:05:24.339 --> 00:05:27.339 in which Allah is disobeyed 00:05:27.339 --> 00:05:30.339 to a land in which Allah is not disobeyed, 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:33.339 or where its inhabitants are at least less corrupt than the former. 00:05:33.339 --> 00:05:36.459 A repentant person ought 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:39.459 to abandon the habits and environments they were accustomed to during sin, 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:42.459 transform their entire circumstance, 00:05:42.459 --> 00:05:45.620 and occupy themselves with other righteous pursuits. 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:48.620 Accompanying people of knowledge, piety, and righteousness. 00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:52.850 Bearing hardship in order to join the righteous 00:05:52.850 --> 00:05:55.850 is proof of the sincerity of one's desire 00:05:55.850 --> 00:05:58.850 in turning in repentance to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. 00:05:58.850 --> 00:06:02.139 The permissibility of arbitration, 00:06:02.139 --> 00:06:05.139 as Allah sent an angel in the form of a human 00:06:05.139 --> 00:06:08.139 to arbitrate between the disputing angels. 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:11.170 When evidence and circumstances conflict 00:06:11.170 --> 00:06:14.170 and multiple proofs are presented before the judge, 00:06:14.170 --> 00:06:17.170 he may rely on circumstantial indicators. 00:06:17.170 --> 00:06:20.170 Allah Almighty's love for the repentance of His servants, 00:06:20.170 --> 00:06:23.360 His informing the angels thereof 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.360 out of pride in them, 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:29.360 and His taking the repentant servants by the hand 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:32.360 toward salvation. 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:36.670 On the authority of Abu Nujayd, 00:06:36.670 --> 00:06:39.670 'Imran ibn al-Husayn al-Khuza'i, may Allah be pleased with them both, 00:06:39.670 --> 00:06:42.670 that a woman from Juhaynah 00:06:42.670 --> 00:06:45.670 came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:06:46.670 --> 00:06:49.670 while she was pregnant from zina. 00:06:49.670 --> 00:06:52.670 She said: "O Messenger of Allah, 00:06:52.670 --> 00:06:55.670 I have incurred a prescribed punishment (hadd), so carry it out upon me." 00:06:55.670 --> 00:06:58.699 So the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, summoned 00:06:58.699 --> 00:07:01.699 her guardian and said: 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:04.699 "Treat her kindly, 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:07.699 and when she gives birth, bring her to me." And he did so. 00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:10.699 Then the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, issued the command regarding her; 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:13.699 her garments were tied securely around her, 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:16.699 then he ordered that she be stoned, and she was stoned, 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:19.699 after which he offered the funeral prayer over her. 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:22.699 'Umar said to him: 00:07:22.699 --> 00:07:25.699 "Do you pray over her, O Messenger of Allah, when she committed zina?" 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:28.699 He replied: "She has repented with such a repentance 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:31.699 that if it were distributed among seventy of the people of 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:34.740 Medina, it would suffice them all. 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:37.740 Have you found anything nobler than that she surrendered 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:40.990 herself willingly to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic?" 00:07:41.990 --> 00:07:46.110 "I have incurred a prescribed punishment": 00:07:46.110 --> 00:07:49.110 meaning, "I have committed an act that warrants a hadd penalty," 00:07:49.110 --> 00:07:52.339 referring to adultery (zina). 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:55.339 "Her garments were tied securely around her": 00:07:55.339 --> 00:07:58.339 meaning their hems were fastened together to keep her covered, 00:07:58.339 --> 00:08:01.459 so that she would not be exposed while being stoned. 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:04.459 "It would suffice them": meaning it would be enough for them 00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:07.620 to remit their sins. 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:10.620 "She surrendered herself willingly to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic." 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:16.220 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:19.350 A believer is susceptible to trials yet constantly repentant; 00:08:19.350 --> 00:08:22.350 whenever they fall short regarding Allah's rights, 00:08:22.350 --> 00:08:25.350 they hasten to purify and cleanse their soul 00:08:25.350 --> 00:08:28.350 from the taint of sin, 00:08:28.350 --> 00:08:31.579 even if it involves the forfeiture of their own life. 00:08:31.579 --> 00:08:34.580 The prescribed penalties serve as deterrents and expiations; 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:37.580 whoever has a hadd punishment carried out upon them in this world, 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:40.580 that constitutes their share of punishment. 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:44.799 The hadd penalty for zina is not carried out on a pregnant woman 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:48.019 until she delivers her child. 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:51.019 The worldly punishment expiates 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:54.019 the guilt of the transgression, provided it is coupled 00:08:54.019 --> 00:08:58.879 with remorse and repentance. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:01.879 On the authority of Ibn 'Abbas and Anas ibn Malik, 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:04.879 may Allah be pleased with them, 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:08.009 that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:09:08.009 --> 00:09:11.009 "If the son of Adam possessed a valley of gold, 00:09:11.009 --> 00:09:14.009 he would love to have two valleys; 00:09:14.009 --> 00:09:17.009 and nothing will fill his mouth except dust, 00:09:17.009 --> 00:09:20.009 yet Allah turns in forgiveness to whoever repents." 00:09:20.009 --> 00:09:23.009 Agreed upon. 00:09:23.009 --> 00:09:27.379 "A valley of gold": 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:30.740 meaning a whole valley filled with gold. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:33.740 "Nothing will fill his mouth except dust": 00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:36.740 meaning that the son of Adam remains covetous of worldly wealth 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:39.740 until he dies and his mouth is filled with earth. 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:45.110 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:09:45.110 --> 00:09:48.269 The censure of seeking an excess of wealth, 00:09:48.269 --> 00:09:51.269 craving it, and clinging greedily to it, 00:09:51.269 --> 00:09:54.269 because pursuing it through every avenue 00:09:54.269 --> 00:09:57.299 leads to miserliness and greed; 00:09:57.299 --> 00:10:00.299 whereas acquiring wealth through lawful means 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:03.590 and fulfilling its due obligations is not blameworthy. 00:10:03.590 --> 00:10:06.590 Allah accepts the repentance of whoever turns away 00:10:06.590 --> 00:10:09.980 from blameworthy characteristics. 00:10:10.980 --> 00:10:13.980 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:16.980 that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:19.980 said: 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:22.980 "Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, laughs 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:27.100 at two men, 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:30.100 one of whom kills the other, 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:33.100 [ASR garble] 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:36.220 and Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, laughs 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:39.220 at two men, 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:42.220 one of whom kills the other, yet both enter Paradise: 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:45.350 this one fights in the cause of Allah 00:10:45.350 --> 00:10:48.350 and is killed, 00:10:48.350 --> 00:10:51.350 then Allah accepts the repentance of the killer, 00:10:51.350 --> 00:10:54.480 who embraces Islam and is subsequently martyred." 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:58.980 Agreed upon. 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:02.080 Among the lessons derived from the hadith are: 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:05.080 Affirming the attribute of laughter for Allah, Exalted be He, 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:08.080 which is an active divine attribute of action, 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.080 in a manner befitting His majesty and perfection. 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:14.399 Never despairing of the mercy of Allah, Exalted be He, 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:17.399 because Islam wipes out whatever came before it 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:20.720 of disbelief and polytheism. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:24.009 The obligation of repenting from sin, no matter how grave it may be. 00:11:24.009 --> 00:11:27.009 Martyrdom in the cause of Allah, Exalted be He, 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:30.169 is among the deeds that guarantee Paradise. 00:11:30.169 --> 00:11:33.169 Riyad al-Salihin.