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 --> 00:00:17,910 Chapter on Forbearance, Deliberation, and Gentleness. 3 00:00:17,910 --> 00:00:19,910 Allah the Exalted said: 4 00:00:19,910 --> 00:00:23,910 "And those who restrain anger and pardon people," 5 00:00:23,910 --> 00:00:26,910 "and Allah loves the doers of good." 6 00:00:26,910 --> 00:00:28,910 And the Exalted said: 7 00:00:28,910 --> 00:00:33,909 "Take to pardoning, enjoin what is right, and turn away from the ignorant." 8 00:00:33,909 --> 00:00:35,909 And the Exalted said: 9 00:00:35,909 --> 00:00:38,909 “The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend.” (41:34) 10 00:00:38,909 --> 00:00:41,909 "Repel [evil] by that which is better." 11 00:00:41,909 --> 00:00:47,909 “The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend.” (41:34) 12 00:00:47,909 --> 00:00:51,909 “But none is granted it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted it save the owner of great happiness.” (41:35) 13 00:00:51,909 --> 00:00:56,909 “But none is granted it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted it save the owner of great happiness.” (41:35) 14 00:00:56,909 --> 00:00:58,909 And the Exalted said: 15 00:00:58,909 --> 00:01:04,909 “And verily whoso is patient and forgiveth - lo! that, verily, is (of) the steadfast heart of things.” (42:43) 16 00:01:06,060 --> 00:01:10,129 On the authority of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), who said: 17 00:01:10,129 --> 00:01:15,129 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Ashajj 'Abd al-Qays: 18 00:01:15,129 --> 00:01:19,129 "Indeed, you possess two qualities that Allah loves:" 19 00:01:19,129 --> 00:01:22,219 "forbearance and deliberation." 20 00:01:22,219 --> 00:01:24,219 Related by Muslim. 21 00:01:24,219 --> 00:01:28,250 Among the benefits of the hadith: 22 00:01:28,250 --> 00:01:30,250 Affirming the attribute of love for Allah. 23 00:01:30,250 --> 00:01:35,790 Moral traits are of two kinds: innate and acquired. 24 00:01:35,790 --> 00:01:41,790 For it occurred in the hadith of al-Ashajj in another narration in al-Bukhari and others: 25 00:01:41,790 --> 00:01:44,790 He said: "O Messenger of Allah," 26 00:01:44,790 --> 00:01:49,790 "did I acquire them myself, or did Allah create me naturally disposed to them?" 27 00:01:49,790 --> 00:01:53,819 He said: "Rather, Allah created you naturally disposed to them." 28 00:01:53,819 --> 00:02:00,859 He said: "Praise be to Allah, Who created me naturally disposed to two qualities that Allah and His Messenger love." 29 00:02:00,859 --> 00:02:06,299 Encouragement to verify matters and consider their consequences, 30 00:02:06,299 --> 00:02:10,300 as well as to be deliberate before passing judgments on them. 31 00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:15,300 And on the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: 32 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:19,360 The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 33 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:24,490 "Indeed, Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters." 34 00:02:24,490 --> 00:02:27,699 Agreed upon. 35 00:02:27,699 --> 00:02:29,699 Among the benefits of the hadith: 36 00:02:29,699 --> 00:02:33,900 Encouragement to maintain a gentle demeanor in word and deed, 37 00:02:33,900 --> 00:02:35,900 and to choose the easier option, 38 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:38,900 due to the connection and harmony it brings. 39 00:02:38,900 --> 00:02:44,860 Gentleness should encompass the entirety of a Muslim's life. 40 00:02:44,860 --> 00:02:48,860 Returning the greeting to the *Ahl al-Dhimmah* (non-Muslim citizens) is done by saying: 41 00:02:48,860 --> 00:02:50,860 "And upon you." 42 00:02:50,860 --> 00:02:53,860 This is clarified by the context of this hadith's occurrence: 43 00:02:53,860 --> 00:02:56,860 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: 44 00:02:56,860 --> 00:03:01,860 A group of Jews entered upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 45 00:03:01,860 --> 00:03:04,860 and said: "Death be upon you." 46 00:03:04,860 --> 00:03:06,860 I understood what they meant, 47 00:03:06,860 --> 00:03:10,860 so I said: "Upon you be death and curse!" 48 00:03:10,860 --> 00:03:14,860 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 49 00:03:14,860 --> 00:03:16,860 "Be calm, O 'A'ishah!" 50 00:03:16,860 --> 00:03:20,889 "For indeed, Allah loves gentleness in all matters." 51 00:03:20,889 --> 00:03:22,889 I said: "O Messenger of Allah," 52 00:03:22,889 --> 00:03:25,889 "did you not hear what they said?" 53 00:03:25,889 --> 00:03:29,889 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 54 00:03:29,889 --> 00:03:32,889 "I have already said: 'And upon you.'" 55 00:03:32,889 --> 00:03:37,430 A Muslim should accustom his tongue to politeness 56 00:03:37,430 --> 00:03:40,430 and not become habituated to insulting others. 57 00:03:40,430 --> 00:03:43,430 For this reason, the Messenger (peace be upon him) disapproved 58 00:03:43,430 --> 00:03:48,430 of 'A'ishah's response to the Jews with such excess, 59 00:03:48,430 --> 00:03:51,430 even though they deserved that and worse, 60 00:03:51,430 --> 00:03:56,430 for Allah has cursed them and is angry with them in the explicit text of the Noble Qur'an. 61 00:03:56,430 --> 00:04:00,069 The keenness of the Messenger (peace be upon him) 62 00:04:00,069 --> 00:04:04,069 to convey Islam to all people; 63 00:04:04,069 --> 00:04:07,069 therefore, the Messenger wished to win their hearts, 64 00:04:07,069 --> 00:04:10,069 along with his keen discernment (peace be upon him) 65 00:04:10,069 --> 00:04:15,069 and his returning their words back upon them without their even realizing it. 66 00:04:15,069 --> 00:04:19,029 And on the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), 67 00:04:19,029 --> 00:04:22,029 that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 68 00:04:22,029 --> 00:04:26,029 "Indeed, Allah is gentle and loves gentleness," 69 00:04:26,029 --> 00:04:30,029 "and He grants for gentleness what He does not grant for harshness," 70 00:04:30,029 --> 00:04:33,029 "nor does He grant it for anything else." 71 00:04:33,029 --> 00:04:36,220 Related by Muslim. 72 00:04:36,220 --> 00:04:38,930 Among the benefits of the hadith: 73 00:04:38,930 --> 00:04:43,149 Affirming the attribute of love for Allah the Exalted. 74 00:04:43,149 --> 00:04:47,569 The high status of gentleness among noble morals. 75 00:04:47,569 --> 00:04:51,860 The gentle person deserves beautiful praise and immense reward 76 00:04:51,860 --> 00:04:54,860 from Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. 77 00:04:54,860 --> 00:04:59,269 The reprehensibility of harshness, severity, and coarseness, 78 00:04:59,269 --> 00:05:02,269 as the one who possesses them is deprived of good 79 00:05:02,269 --> 00:05:05,269 because he does not do good. 80 00:05:05,269 --> 00:05:09,329 And on the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), 81 00:05:09,329 --> 00:05:13,329 that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 82 00:05:13,329 --> 00:05:18,329 "Indeed, gentleness is not found in anything except that it beautifies it," 83 00:05:18,329 --> 00:05:22,329 "and it is not withdrawn from anything except that it blemishes it." 84 00:05:22,329 --> 00:05:24,519 Related by Muslim. 85 00:05:24,519 --> 00:05:29,100 "Beautifies it" means makes it fine and adorned. 86 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:33,259 "Blemishes it" means faults it and makes it ugly. 87 00:05:33,259 --> 00:05:36,899 Among the benefits of the hadith: 88 00:05:36,899 --> 00:05:39,220 The necessity of adorning oneself with gentleness, 89 00:05:39,220 --> 00:05:46,220 for it adorns a person and beautifies them in the eyes of people and with Allah the Exalted. 90 00:05:46,220 --> 00:05:49,699 Staying away from violence, severity, and harshness, 91 00:05:49,699 --> 00:05:51,699 because they disgrace their possessor, 92 00:05:51,699 --> 00:05:54,699 bring blame upon them among people, 93 00:05:54,699 --> 00:05:57,699 and incur sin with Allah the Exalted. 94 00:05:57,699 --> 00:06:02,939 And on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 95 00:06:02,939 --> 00:06:05,939 A bedouin urinated in the mosque, 96 00:06:05,939 --> 00:06:08,939 so the people rose to fall upon him. 97 00:06:08,939 --> 00:06:12,980 The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 98 00:06:12,980 --> 00:06:17,980 "Leave him, and pour a bucket of water over his urine," 99 00:06:17,980 --> 00:06:19,980 "or a large pail of water," 100 00:06:19,980 --> 00:06:24,980 "for you have only been sent to make things easy, and you have not been sent to make things difficult." 101 00:06:24,980 --> 00:06:27,980 Related by al-Bukhari. 102 00:06:27,980 --> 00:06:32,329 A *sajl* is a bucket full of water, 103 00:06:32,329 --> 00:06:34,329 and likewise is a *dhanub*. 104 00:06:34,329 --> 00:06:40,100 "To fall upon him" means to blame and reprimand him. 105 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:43,259 "Leave him" means let him be. 106 00:06:43,259 --> 00:06:46,379 "Pour" means spill over it. 107 00:06:46,379 --> 00:06:50,379 "To make things difficult" means acting harshly and repelling others. 108 00:06:51,379 --> 00:06:55,060 Among the benefits of the hadith: 109 00:06:55,060 --> 00:06:59,379 This hadith indicates the coarseness of many bedouins 110 00:06:59,379 --> 00:07:02,379 and their ignorance of the rulings of the Sharia. 111 00:07:02,379 --> 00:07:07,920 Avoiding impurities was firmly established in the hearts of the Companions; 112 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:12,920 that is why they rushed to denounce the act in his presence (peace be upon him) 113 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,920 before seeking his permission, 114 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:20,920 because enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong was established with them. 115 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:27,370 Changing an evil is obligatory whenever one has the capacity to change it, and delaying it is not permissible. 116 00:07:27,370 --> 00:07:34,779 Changing an evil must be guided by wisdom and consideration of consequences. 117 00:07:34,779 --> 00:07:39,170 The caller to Allah must give precedence to the weightier interest, 118 00:07:39,170 --> 00:07:44,170 which is repelling the greater of two harms by bearing the lesser of the two, 119 00:07:44,170 --> 00:07:48,170 and attaining the greater of two benefits by foregoing the lesser one. 120 00:07:48,170 --> 00:07:53,170 That is why the Messenger (peace be upon him) forbade them from attacking him 121 00:07:53,170 --> 00:07:55,170 and commanded them to refrain from him, 122 00:07:55,170 --> 00:08:01,170 saying to them: "Do not interrupt him," meaning do not cut off his urination. 123 00:08:01,170 --> 00:08:05,199 For if they had done so, the bedouin would have fled, 124 00:08:05,199 --> 00:08:10,199 and the impurity of his urine would have affected a larger area of the mosque floor; 125 00:08:10,199 --> 00:08:16,199 thus, a greater harm would have occurred than the bedouin's initial act. 126 00:08:16,199 --> 00:08:19,620 One should take the initiative to change evil 127 00:08:19,620 --> 00:08:23,620 and remove harms as soon as impediments are gone. 128 00:08:23,620 --> 00:08:27,620 That is why the Messenger (peace be upon him) commanded them, 129 00:08:27,620 --> 00:08:30,620 as soon as the bedouin had finished urinating, 130 00:08:30,620 --> 00:08:32,620 to pour water over it. 131 00:08:32,620 --> 00:08:37,029 Gentleness must be shown to the ignorant person, treating him with ease, 132 00:08:37,029 --> 00:08:40,029 without rebuking, overpowering, or scolding him, 133 00:08:40,029 --> 00:08:45,029 because doing so prevents him from seeking knowledge and accepting instruction. 134 00:08:45,029 --> 00:08:50,580 Mosques must be venerated and purified of impurities. 135 00:08:50,580 --> 00:08:54,019 A demonstration of the Prophet's keenness (peace be upon him) 136 00:08:54,019 --> 00:08:57,019 to teach people what is good, 137 00:08:57,019 --> 00:09:01,019 his compassion for his Ummah, and his gentleness with the one who errs, 138 00:09:01,019 --> 00:09:04,019 so long as he is not obstinate. 139 00:09:04,019 --> 00:09:07,440 One should admonish the impulsive when they make a mistake 140 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,440 and guide the actions of the overzealous 141 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,440 when they are inflamed with zeal, agitation, and emotion. 142 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,529 And on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), 143 00:09:18,529 --> 00:09:21,529 from the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: 144 00:09:21,529 --> 00:09:24,529 "Make things easy and do not make them difficult," 145 00:09:24,529 --> 00:09:27,529 "and give glad tidings and do not repel people." 146 00:09:27,529 --> 00:09:30,529 Agreed upon. 147 00:09:30,529 --> 00:09:33,460 Among the benefits of the hadith: 148 00:09:33,460 --> 00:09:37,779 It is the duty of the believer to make Allah beloved to the people 149 00:09:37,779 --> 00:09:39,779 and to encourage them toward goodness. 150 00:09:39,779 --> 00:09:42,129 The caller to Allah should 151 00:09:42,129 --> 00:09:45,129 wisely consider how 152 00:09:45,129 --> 00:09:48,129 to convey the message of Islam to people, 153 00:09:48,129 --> 00:09:52,129 namely by being one who facilitates ease, not difficulty. 154 00:09:52,129 --> 00:09:55,580 Giving glad tidings generates joy and receptivity, 155 00:09:55,580 --> 00:09:57,580 as well as trust in the caller 156 00:09:57,580 --> 00:10:00,960 and in what he presents to the people. 157 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,960 Creating hardship generates aversion and withdrawal, 158 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,340 as well as doubt regarding the caller's words. 159 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:10,340 The vastness of Allah's mercy toward His servants, 160 00:10:10,340 --> 00:10:13,340 and that He has approved for them a tolerant religion 161 00:10:13,340 --> 00:10:15,340 and an easy Sharia, 162 00:10:15,340 --> 00:10:18,820 and He expects His callers to be likewise. 163 00:10:18,820 --> 00:10:21,820 Strictness, difficulty, and repelling others 164 00:10:21,820 --> 00:10:25,820 befall people from themselves and by their own hands; 165 00:10:25,820 --> 00:10:30,879 whoever is overly strict, Allah will be strict with him. 166 00:10:30,879 --> 00:10:34,879 And on the authority of Jarir ibn 'Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 167 00:10:34,879 --> 00:10:39,879 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 168 00:10:39,879 --> 00:10:44,009 "Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good." 169 00:10:44,009 --> 00:10:46,259 Related by Muslim. 170 00:10:46,259 --> 00:10:49,259 And on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), 171 00:10:49,259 --> 00:10:53,259 that a man said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): 172 00:10:53,259 --> 00:10:55,259 "Advise me." 173 00:10:55,259 --> 00:10:58,259 He said: "Do not get angry." 174 00:10:58,259 --> 00:11:00,259 The man repeated his request several times, 175 00:11:00,259 --> 00:11:03,299 and he said: "Do not get angry." 176 00:11:03,299 --> 00:11:05,299 Related by al-Bukhari. 177 00:11:05,299 --> 00:11:09,580 Among the benefits of the hadith: 178 00:11:09,580 --> 00:11:13,580 The legitimacy of asking questions and seeking guidance toward goodness, 179 00:11:13,580 --> 00:11:17,580 for this man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) 180 00:11:17,580 --> 00:11:20,580 to give him a brief counsel 181 00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:23,929 that encompasses all virtues of good. 182 00:11:23,929 --> 00:11:26,929 Scholars have considered this hadith 183 00:11:26,929 --> 00:11:32,409 to be among the comprehensive hadiths upon which Islam revolves. 184 00:11:32,409 --> 00:11:35,409 Anger is the key to evil; 185 00:11:35,409 --> 00:11:38,409 that is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised him 186 00:11:38,409 --> 00:11:40,409 not to get angry. 187 00:11:40,409 --> 00:11:43,409 The man then repeated this question several times, 188 00:11:43,409 --> 00:11:46,409 and the Prophet (peace be upon him) 189 00:11:46,409 --> 00:11:49,409 kept repeating this same answer to him. 190 00:11:49,409 --> 00:11:54,529 And on the authority of Abu Ya'la Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him), 191 00:11:54,529 --> 00:11:57,529 from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 192 00:11:57,529 --> 00:11:59,529 who said: 193 00:11:59,529 --> 00:12:03,620 "Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence in all things;" 194 00:12:03,620 --> 00:12:06,620 "so when you kill, kill well," 195 00:12:06,620 --> 00:12:10,620 "and when you slaughter, slaughter well." 196 00:12:10,620 --> 00:12:13,620 "Let one of you sharpen his blade" 197 00:12:13,620 --> 00:12:16,820 "and spare his slaughtered animal suffering." 198 00:12:16,820 --> 00:12:18,820 Related by Muslim. 199 00:12:18,820 --> 00:12:22,710 "Prescribed" means made obligatory. 200 00:12:22,710 --> 00:12:25,710 "Excellence" (*ihsan*) means perfecting the deed, 201 00:12:25,710 --> 00:12:28,940 or bestowing favor and benevolence. 202 00:12:28,940 --> 00:12:32,940 "Kill well" refers to the manner and state of killing. 203 00:12:32,940 --> 00:12:37,190 "Slaughter well" refers to the manner of slaughtering. 204 00:12:37,190 --> 00:12:41,190 "Blade" refers to a wide knife. 205 00:12:41,190 --> 00:12:45,279 Among the lessons derived from this hadith: 206 00:12:45,279 --> 00:12:48,279 One should show excellence, gentleness, 207 00:12:48,279 --> 00:12:51,659 and compassion to all creation. 208 00:12:51,659 --> 00:12:54,659 One should swiftly take the life 209 00:12:54,659 --> 00:12:57,659 of whatever is permissible to slaughter, using the easiest and most humane method. 210 00:12:57,659 --> 00:13:00,659 For this reason, it is impermissible to torture an animal 211 00:13:00,659 --> 00:13:04,820 when slaughtering it. 212 00:13:04,820 --> 00:13:07,820 And on the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), she said: 213 00:13:07,820 --> 00:13:10,820 "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was never given a choice 214 00:13:10,820 --> 00:13:13,820 between two matters 215 00:13:13,820 --> 00:13:16,820 except that he chose the easier of them, so long as it was not a sin. 216 00:13:16,820 --> 00:13:19,820 But if it was a sin, 217 00:13:19,820 --> 00:13:22,820 he was the furthest of all people from it. 218 00:13:22,820 --> 00:13:25,820 And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) never took revenge 219 00:13:25,820 --> 00:13:28,820 for himself in anything at all, 220 00:13:28,820 --> 00:13:31,820 except when the sacred limits of Allah were violated, 221 00:13:31,820 --> 00:13:34,850 in which case he would exact retribution for the sake of Allah the Exalted." 222 00:13:34,850 --> 00:13:39,159 Agreed upon. 223 00:13:39,159 --> 00:13:42,509 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 224 00:13:43,509 --> 00:13:46,860 Choosing the easier option 225 00:13:46,860 --> 00:13:49,860 in all matters of religion and worldly life 226 00:13:49,860 --> 00:13:53,440 is the upright and sound approach. 227 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,440 Staying far away from disobedience and sin, 228 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,440 even if it aligns with one's desires 229 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,440 or one perceives some personal benefit in it, 230 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,980 because all goodness lies entirely in righteousness. 231 00:14:05,980 --> 00:14:08,980 The magnanimity of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 232 00:14:08,980 --> 00:14:11,980 and his pardoning of anyone who mistreated him, 233 00:14:12,980 --> 00:14:15,980 which demonstrates his immense mercy toward his Ummah. 234 00:14:26,340 --> 00:14:30,360 And on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: 235 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,360 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 236 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,389 "Shall I not inform you 237 00:14:36,389 --> 00:14:39,389 of who is forbidden to the Fire, 238 00:14:39,389 --> 00:14:42,549 or for whom the Fire is forbidden? 239 00:14:42,549 --> 00:14:44,549 It is forbidden for everyone who is approachable, 240 00:14:44,549 --> 00:14:47,710 gentle, mild-mannered, and easygoing." 241 00:14:47,710 --> 00:14:52,220 Narrated by al-Tirmidhi. 242 00:14:52,220 --> 00:14:55,220 "Approachable" means close to people 243 00:14:55,220 --> 00:14:58,220 and beloved to them 244 00:14:58,220 --> 00:15:01,409 due to his good companionship and kind treatment. 245 00:15:01,409 --> 00:15:04,500 "Gentle" means humble. 246 00:15:04,500 --> 00:15:07,659 "Mild-mannered" means pleasant in dealings. 247 00:15:07,659 --> 00:15:10,659 "Easygoing" means lenient when settling debts, 248 00:15:10,659 --> 00:15:13,659 claiming rights, or selling. 249 00:15:13,659 --> 00:15:17,750 Among the lessons derived from the hadith: 250 00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:20,750 Noble character is a means of salvation from the punishment of Allah. 251 00:15:20,750 --> 00:15:25,200 Good character toward people is an integral part of faith. 252 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,580 One should draw the attention of the learner or listener 253 00:15:28,580 --> 00:15:31,580 to matters of great importance. 254 00:15:31,580 --> 00:15:35,419 Riyadh al-Salihin.