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 --> 00:00:15,339 Chapter: The Excellence of Hunger and an Austere Life, 3 00:00:15,339 --> 00:00:20,339 and Contenting Oneself with Little Food, Drink, and Clothing, 4 00:00:20,339 --> 00:00:25,339 as well as other worldly pleasures, and Renouncing Desires. 5 00:00:25,339 --> 00:00:31,140 On the authority of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: 6 00:00:31,140 --> 00:00:38,170 "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would spend consecutive nights hungry, 7 00:00:38,170 --> 00:00:42,170 and his household could find no dinner, 8 00:00:42,170 --> 00:00:46,299 and most of their bread was barley bread." 9 00:00:46,299 --> 00:00:48,299 Related by al-Tirmidhi. 10 00:00:48,299 --> 00:00:53,939 *Tawiyan* means having an empty stomach, having eaten nothing. 11 00:00:53,939 --> 00:00:57,539 Among the lessons of the hadith: 12 00:00:57,539 --> 00:01:01,859 An illustration of his asceticism (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 13 00:01:01,859 --> 00:01:03,859 his taking only little of worldly comforts, 14 00:01:03,859 --> 00:01:06,859 and his patience during its hardships. 15 00:01:06,859 --> 00:01:11,379 The great virtue of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), 16 00:01:11,379 --> 00:01:14,379 in enduring hardships alongside him 17 00:01:14,379 --> 00:01:17,379 without expressing discontent with their condition. 18 00:01:17,379 --> 00:01:21,859 A demonstration of the austere life they lived, 19 00:01:21,859 --> 00:01:27,859 for they did not live merely to eat and enjoy themselves as cattle enjoy themselves; 20 00:01:27,859 --> 00:01:33,859 rather, they lived as callers to Islam, guardians of Tawhid, and custodians of the Sunnah, 21 00:01:33,859 --> 00:01:38,859 so Allah elevated their renown and subdued their enemies. 22 00:01:38,859 --> 00:01:44,299 On the authority of Fadalah ibn 'Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him): 23 00:01:44,299 --> 00:01:47,299 When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 24 00:01:47,299 --> 00:01:50,299 used to lead the people in prayer, 25 00:01:50,299 --> 00:01:55,299 men would collapse from their standing positions in prayer due to extreme hunger— 26 00:01:55,299 --> 00:01:58,359 and they were the People of the Suffah— 27 00:01:58,359 --> 00:02:00,359 to the extent that the bedouins would say, 28 00:02:00,359 --> 00:02:03,359 "These are madmen." 29 00:02:03,359 --> 00:02:07,359 When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished his prayer, 30 00:02:07,359 --> 00:02:10,389 he turned to them and said: 31 00:02:10,389 --> 00:02:14,389 "If you only knew what is stored for you with Allah Almighty, 32 00:02:14,389 --> 00:02:19,740 you would wish to be granted even more destitution and need." 33 00:02:19,740 --> 00:02:22,129 Related by al-Tirmidhi. 34 00:02:22,129 --> 00:02:24,129 *Al-Khasasah* 35 00:02:24,129 --> 00:02:27,699 means destitution and severe hunger. 36 00:02:27,699 --> 00:02:30,699 *Yakhirru* means falls down. 37 00:02:30,699 --> 00:02:34,699 *Min qamatihim* means from their standing position. 38 00:02:34,699 --> 00:02:38,759 Among the lessons of the hadith: 39 00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:41,759 When in deprivation, a person should 40 00:02:41,759 --> 00:02:44,759 look toward the reward stored for them, 41 00:02:44,759 --> 00:02:49,270 rather than pining over what they missed of their worldly desires. 42 00:02:49,270 --> 00:02:54,270 An illustration of the livelihood of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 43 00:02:54,270 --> 00:02:58,270 and the asceticism and austerity they adhered to, 44 00:02:58,270 --> 00:03:01,780 along with patience and absence of complaint. 45 00:03:01,780 --> 00:03:04,780 Not all assumptions based on analogy are correct; 46 00:03:04,780 --> 00:03:08,780 the bedouins assumed they collapsed due to madness 47 00:03:08,780 --> 00:03:12,780 because they analogized what they saw to what they previously knew, 48 00:03:12,780 --> 00:03:20,330 which shows that mere external resemblance is not a valid basis for sound analogy. 49 00:03:20,330 --> 00:03:22,330 Whoever judges by outward appearances 50 00:03:22,330 --> 00:03:26,330 is not to be punished or blamed once they observe matters firsthand. 51 00:03:26,330 --> 00:03:32,939 The keenness of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to comfort the hearts of his Companions 52 00:03:32,939 --> 00:03:37,939 regarding the hurtful remarks they heard. 53 00:03:37,939 --> 00:03:44,860 On the authority of Abu Karimah al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 54 00:03:44,860 --> 00:03:49,860 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: 55 00:03:49,860 --> 00:03:54,930 "No human fills a vessel worse than his stomach. 56 00:03:54,930 --> 00:03:59,090 It is sufficient for the son of Adam to have a few mouthfuls to keep his back straight. 57 00:03:59,090 --> 00:04:04,120 But if it must be, then a third for his food, 58 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,120 a third for his drink, and a third for his breath." 59 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,340 Related by al-Tirmidhi. 60 00:04:10,340 --> 00:04:14,699 *Ukaylat* means small morsels. 61 00:04:14,699 --> 00:04:19,500 *Bi-hasb* means sufficient to sustain him. 62 00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:22,720 *Sulbuhu* means his back. 63 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,720 *La mahalah* means if it is inevitable. 64 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:29,300 Among the lessons of the hadith: 65 00:04:29,300 --> 00:04:34,579 This hadith is a foundational principle encompassing all the principles of medicine. 66 00:04:34,579 --> 00:04:38,060 Had people applied these words, 67 00:04:38,060 --> 00:04:41,060 they would have been spared illnesses and ailments. 68 00:04:41,060 --> 00:04:44,420 The recommendation to eat sparingly 69 00:04:44,420 --> 00:04:47,420 and to be content with small amounts of food. 70 00:04:47,420 --> 00:04:51,930 The best portion a believer can eat fills a third of his stomach, 71 00:04:51,930 --> 00:04:53,930 drink for another third, 72 00:04:53,930 --> 00:04:56,930 and leave a third for breathing. 73 00:04:56,930 --> 00:05:00,339 An excess of food causes lethargy, 74 00:05:00,339 --> 00:05:03,339 harms health, and induces excessive sleep. 75 00:05:03,339 --> 00:05:06,339 As for taking little nourishment, 76 00:05:06,339 --> 00:05:09,339 it brings about tenderness of the heart, sharpness of intellect, 77 00:05:09,339 --> 00:05:13,339 humility of the soul, and the subsiding of whim and anger. 78 00:05:13,339 --> 00:05:16,589 On the authority of Abu Umamah, 79 00:05:16,589 --> 00:05:22,589 Iyas ibn Tha'labah al-Ansari al-Harithi (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 80 00:05:22,589 --> 00:05:26,620 The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be blessings of Allah be upon him) 81 00:05:26,620 --> 00:05:29,620 mentioned the worldly life one day in his presence, 82 00:05:29,620 --> 00:05:32,620 whereupon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 83 00:05:32,620 --> 00:05:35,660 "Will you not listen? 84 00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:37,660 Will you not listen? 85 00:05:37,660 --> 00:05:40,660 Simple living is part of faith! 86 00:05:40,660 --> 00:05:43,660 Simple living is part of faith!" 87 00:05:43,660 --> 00:05:46,720 That is, rough and simple living. 88 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,939 Related by Abu Dawud. 89 00:05:49,939 --> 00:05:52,939 *Al-Badhadhah* means a modest, simple appearance 90 00:05:52,939 --> 00:05:55,939 and renouncing luxurious garments. 91 00:05:55,939 --> 00:05:57,939 As for *al-taqahhula*, 92 00:05:57,939 --> 00:06:01,939 it refers to a man with dried, weathered skin from a rugged life 93 00:06:01,939 --> 00:06:03,939 and renouncing luxury. 94 00:06:03,939 --> 00:06:08,100 Among the lessons of the hadith: 95 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:11,100 The recommendation to redirect the conversation of a gathering 96 00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:14,100 whenever the talk becomes burdened by worldly pleasures, 97 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:17,100 its desires, and its adornments, 98 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:21,639 turning hearts away from the remembrance of Allah Almighty. 99 00:06:21,639 --> 00:06:25,639 Encouraging humility and taking little of this world; 100 00:06:25,639 --> 00:06:29,639 that is, doing so inspires high resolve for worship and obedience. 101 00:06:29,639 --> 00:06:34,149 It is not to be understood from the hadith that hygiene should be neglected, 102 00:06:34,149 --> 00:06:37,149 for Islam has strongly encouraged it, 103 00:06:37,149 --> 00:06:41,339 and it is among the requisites of faith. 104 00:06:41,339 --> 00:06:47,339 On the authority of Abu 'Abdullah, Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: 105 00:06:47,339 --> 00:06:51,339 "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) dispatched us, 106 00:06:51,339 --> 00:06:55,339 and placed Abu 'Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) in command over us, 107 00:06:55,339 --> 00:06:58,339 to intercept a caravan belonging to Quraysh. 108 00:06:58,339 --> 00:07:01,339 He provided us with a leather bag of dates, 109 00:07:01,339 --> 00:07:03,430 finding nothing else to give us. 110 00:07:03,430 --> 00:07:07,430 Abu 'Ubaydah would give each of us a single date at a time." 111 00:07:07,430 --> 00:07:11,430 It was asked: "What did you do with it?" 112 00:07:11,430 --> 00:07:16,430 He replied: "We would suck on it just as a child does, 113 00:07:16,430 --> 00:07:19,430 then drink water after it, 114 00:07:19,430 --> 00:07:22,430 and it would suffice us for the entire day until nightfall. 115 00:07:22,430 --> 00:07:25,430 We also used to strike down leaves with our sticks, 116 00:07:25,430 --> 00:07:28,430 then moisten them with water and eat them." 117 00:07:28,430 --> 00:07:32,560 He said: "Then we proceeded to the seashore, 118 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:37,620 and there appeared to us on the shore something like a huge sand dune. 119 00:07:37,620 --> 00:07:43,620 When we approached it, we found it to be a sea creature called al-'Anbar (the sperm whale). 120 00:07:43,620 --> 00:07:46,689 Abu 'Ubaydah said: 'It is carrion.' 121 00:07:46,689 --> 00:07:49,689 Then he said: 'No, 122 00:07:49,689 --> 00:07:53,689 rather, we are the emissaries of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 123 00:07:53,689 --> 00:07:55,689 and we are in the cause of Allah, 124 00:07:55,689 --> 00:07:57,689 and you have been compelled by necessity, 125 00:07:57,689 --> 00:07:59,689 so eat!' 126 00:07:59,689 --> 00:08:01,689 We remained eating from it for a month, 127 00:08:01,689 --> 00:08:03,689 being three hundred men, 128 00:08:03,689 --> 00:08:05,689 until we grew stout. 129 00:08:05,689 --> 00:08:11,689 I remember us scooping fat from its eye socket using large earthenware jugs, 130 00:08:11,689 --> 00:08:15,689 and cutting meat chunks from it as large as a bull, or the size of a bull. 131 00:08:16,689 --> 00:08:21,750 Abu 'Ubaydah took thirteen men from our group 132 00:08:21,750 --> 00:08:24,750 and seated them inside its eye socket. 133 00:08:24,750 --> 00:08:28,750 He then took one of its ribs and set it upright, 134 00:08:28,750 --> 00:08:31,750 saddled the largest camel we had, 135 00:08:31,750 --> 00:08:33,750 and it passed beneath it without touching. 136 00:08:33,750 --> 00:08:37,750 We also stocked strips of its cured meat for provisions. 137 00:08:37,750 --> 00:08:39,779 When we arrived in Medina, 138 00:08:39,779 --> 00:08:43,779 we came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 139 00:08:43,779 --> 00:08:45,779 and mentioned that to him, 140 00:08:45,779 --> 00:08:47,779 whereupon he said: 141 00:08:47,779 --> 00:08:50,779 'It was a provision that Allah brought forth for you. 142 00:08:50,779 --> 00:08:54,779 Do you have any of its meat with you to feed us?' 143 00:08:54,779 --> 00:08:59,820 So we sent some of it to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 144 00:08:59,820 --> 00:09:02,100 and he ate it." 145 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:04,360 Related by Muslim. 146 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:05,360 *Al-Jirab* 147 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,360 is a well-known leather container. 148 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:10,710 His saying *al-khabat* 149 00:09:10,710 --> 00:09:12,710 refers to well-known tree leaves 150 00:09:12,710 --> 00:09:14,710 that camels eat. 151 00:09:14,710 --> 00:09:15,870 *Al-Kathib* 152 00:09:15,870 --> 00:09:17,870 is a dune of sand. 153 00:09:17,870 --> 00:09:19,940 *Al-Waqb* 154 00:09:19,940 --> 00:09:21,940 is the eye socket. 155 00:09:21,940 --> 00:09:22,940 *Al-Qilal* 156 00:09:22,940 --> 00:09:24,940 are large clay jars. 157 00:09:24,940 --> 00:09:26,029 *Al-Fidar* 158 00:09:26,029 --> 00:09:28,259 are large pieces or chunks of meat. 159 00:09:28,259 --> 00:09:30,259 *Rahala al-ba'ir* 160 00:09:30,259 --> 00:09:32,259 means placing the saddle upon the camel. 161 00:09:32,259 --> 00:09:34,289 *Al-Washa'iq* 162 00:09:34,289 --> 00:09:38,289 is meat cut into strips to be dried and cured. 163 00:09:38,289 --> 00:09:40,289 And Allah knows best. 164 00:09:40,289 --> 00:09:43,120 *'Ir* 165 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,120 refers to a camel caravan 166 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,149 carrying food provisions. 167 00:09:48,149 --> 00:09:49,149 *Al-'Anbar* 168 00:09:49,149 --> 00:09:52,860 is a massive sea creature (whale). 169 00:09:52,860 --> 00:09:54,860 Among the lessons of the hadith: 170 00:09:54,860 --> 00:09:59,139 The permissibility of taking the property of combatant disbelievers. 171 00:09:59,139 --> 00:10:05,590 A miracle of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) regarding the sufficiency of food, 172 00:10:05,590 --> 00:10:11,590 where a single date sustained a Companion for an entire day. 173 00:10:11,590 --> 00:10:19,039 A demonstration of the Companions' asceticism and detachment from worldly comforts (may Allah be pleased with them), 174 00:10:19,039 --> 00:10:23,490 and their endurance of hunger and austere living. 175 00:10:23,490 --> 00:10:27,490 The Companions' endurance of hardships for the sake of spreading Islam 176 00:10:27,490 --> 00:10:31,490 and striving in the cause of Allah to raise His banner. 177 00:10:31,490 --> 00:10:34,129 The permissibility of independent legal reasoning (ijtihad), 178 00:10:34,129 --> 00:10:36,129 and the subsequent permissibility of revising it; 179 00:10:36,129 --> 00:10:40,129 for Abu 'Ubaydah initially forbade them from eating the sea creature, 180 00:10:40,129 --> 00:10:44,129 then revised his reasoning and instructed them to eat from it. 181 00:10:44,129 --> 00:10:51,610 Allah Almighty's care and guardianship over the Companions of His Messenger (peace be upon him), 182 00:10:51,610 --> 00:10:53,610 and His honoring them, 183 00:10:53,610 --> 00:10:56,610 by providing them with wholesome sustenance 184 00:10:56,610 --> 00:10:59,610 when He knew their pressing need and sincerity. 185 00:10:59,610 --> 00:11:02,120 What dies in the sea is permissible to eat, 186 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:09,049 as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) ate from it. 187 00:11:09,049 --> 00:11:13,049 On the authority of Asma' bint Yazid (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: 188 00:11:13,049 --> 00:11:19,139 "The sleeve of the shirt of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reached to the wrist." 189 00:11:19,139 --> 00:11:23,940 Related by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi. 190 00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:25,940 *Al-Rusgh* (spelled with sad), 191 00:11:25,940 --> 00:11:28,940 which can also be pronounced *al-rusgh* with sin, 192 00:11:28,940 --> 00:11:33,549 is the joint between the hand and the forearm. 193 00:11:33,549 --> 00:11:35,549 Among the lessons of the hadith: 194 00:11:35,549 --> 00:11:39,940 Encouragement toward modesty in clothing and avoiding excessively long garments, 195 00:11:39,940 --> 00:11:42,940 as it may lead to arrogance and ostentation, 196 00:11:42,940 --> 00:11:45,940 or hinder a person's mobility. 197 00:11:45,940 --> 00:11:50,669 *Riyad al-Salihin*.