Part of Riyad as-Salihin — Gardens of the Righteous (series completed)
· Lesson 74 of 190
Riyadh Al-Salehin | Episode (84) | Chapter on humility and lowering one's wings for believers
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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*Riyadh al-Salihin* (The Meadows of the Righteous) from the Words of the Master of the Messengers, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
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Chapter: The Virtue of Mingling with People, Attending Their Friday and Congregational Prayers, Gatherings of Goodness, and Assemblies of Dhikr with Them;
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Visiting Their Sick, Attending Their Funerals, Assisting Their Needy, Guiding Their Ignorant,
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And Other Aspects of Their Welfare for Whomever Is Able to Enjoin Good and Forbid Evil,
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Restrain Themselves from Causing Harm, and Patiently Endure Harm from Others.
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Know that mingling with people in the manner I have described
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Is the preferred way practiced by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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And all the other Prophets, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them,
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As well as the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and after them the Companions and the Tabi'un,
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And the Muslim scholars and righteous individuals who succeeded them.
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This is the stance of the majority of the Tabi'un and those who came after them,
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And it was adopted by al-Shafi'i, Ahmad, and the majority of the scholars of fiqh, may Allah be pleased with them all.
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Allah Almighty said:
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“O ye who believe! Profane not Allah's monuments nor the Sacred Month nor the offerings nor the garlands, nor those repairing to the Sacred House, seeking the grace and pleasure of their Lord. But when ye have left the sacred territory, then go hunting (if ye will). And let not your hatred of a folk who (once) stopped your going to the inviolable place of worship seduce you to transgress; but help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. Help not one another unto sin and transgression, but keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is severe in punishment.” (5:2)
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And the verses conveying the meaning of what I have mentioned are numerous and well known.
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Chapter: Humility and Lowering the Wing of Kindness to the Believers.
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Allah Almighty said:
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﴾And lower your wing to those who follow you among the believers.﴿
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And He Almighty said:
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“O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah, and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (5:54)
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“O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah, and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (5:54)
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“O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah, and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (5:54)
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And He Almighty said:
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“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49:13)
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﴾And We made you into peoples and tribes that you may know one another.﴿
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“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49:13)
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And He Almighty said:
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“Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations, save the unwilled offences - (for them) lo! thy Lord is of vast mercy. He is Best Aware of you (from the time) when He created you from the earth, and when ye were hidden in the bellies of your mothers. Therefor ascribe not purity unto yourselves. He is Best Aware of him who wardeth off (evil).” (53:32)
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And He Almighty said:
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﴾And the companions of the Elevations will call to men whom they recognize by their mark.﴿
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“And the dwellers on the Heights call unto men whom they know by their marks, (saying): What did your multitude and that in which ye took your pride avail you?” (7:48)
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“Are these they of whom ye swore that Allah would not show them mercy? (Unto them it hath been said): Enter the Garden. No fear shall come upon you nor is it ye who will grieve.” (7:49)
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“Are these they of whom ye swore that Allah would not show them mercy? (Unto them it hath been said): Enter the Garden. No fear shall come upon you nor is it ye who will grieve.” (7:49)
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On the authority of 'Iyad ibn Himar, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
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The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
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"Indeed, Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble,
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So that no one boasts over another,
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And no one transgresses against another."
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Narrated by Muslim.
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"So that no one boasts": meaning no one shows off or acts haughty regarding their virtues, merits, lineage, or noble descent.
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"No one transgresses": meaning no one oppresses or wrongs another.
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Among the benefits of the hadith: it indicates that the Sunnah is based on revelation from Allah Almighty,
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Though it is non-recited revelation.
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Humility is among the means of spreading equality, justice, and benevolence among people.
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Arrogance breeds boastfulness, which in turn gives rise to transgression.
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On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,
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That the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
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"Charity does not decrease wealth,
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Allah increases a servant in honor only through forgiveness,
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And no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah elevates him."
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Narrated by Muslim.
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On the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him:
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He passed by some young boys and greeted them with peace,
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And said:
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"The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to do this."
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Agreed upon.
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Among the benefits of the hadith:
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The recommendation of greeting children with peace,
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And training them in Islamic etiquettes.
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The keenness of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to follow the Messenger, peace be upon him.
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Adults casting aside the disease of arrogance
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And adopting humility and gentleness
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Fosters affection between them and the young,
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And makes children feel valued and dignified
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When an adult initiates the greeting of peace to them.
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Rather, it cultivates within the child's soul
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Reverence and respect for the elder,
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And the sense that the elder truly deserves such respect.
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On the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
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"Any female servant among the maidservants of Medina
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Would take the hand of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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And lead him wherever she wished."
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Narrated by al-Bukhari.
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Among the benefits of the hadith:
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An illustration of his accessibility, peace be upon him, to the public,
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And his closeness to them,
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So that rightful claimants could obtain their rights,
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Those seeking guidance could be directed,
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And people could witness his actions and conduct
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In order to emulate him.
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His profound humility, peace be upon him,
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In attending to women, bondswomen,
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And anyone who needed him.
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In this Prophetic act,
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There is a call to equality among people,
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Offering assistance to every person in need,
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And fulfilling the needs of people,
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Whether their residence is near or far.
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Never disheartening a young person,
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Nor rebuffing a petitioner or a poor person,
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And responding to their request as long as it does not involve sin.
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On the authority of al-Aswad ibn Yazid, who said:
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'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked:
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"What did the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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Use to do in his home?"
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She replied:
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"He used to be in the service of his family—
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Meaning serving his family—
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And when the time for prayer arrived,
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He would go out to the prayer."
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Narrated by al-Bukhari.
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Among the benefits of the hadith:
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His consummate humility, peace be upon him,
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And his kindness toward his family.
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Worldly tasks
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Ought not to distract a servant from the prayer.
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True servitude
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Is for the servant to perform every act of obedience in its proper time.
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On the authority of Abu Rifa'ah,
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Tamim ibn Usayd, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
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"I approached the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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While he was delivering a sermon,
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And I said:
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'O Messenger of Allah,
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A stranger
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Has come asking about his religion,
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Not knowing what his religion is.'
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So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned to me
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And paused his sermon
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Until he reached me.
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A chair was brought,
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And he sat on it
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And began teaching me from what Allah had taught him.
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Then he returned to his sermon
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And completed the rest of it."
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Narrated by Muslim.
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"Delivering a sermon":
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Meaning the Friday sermon.
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"Asking about his religion":
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Meaning about the obligatory rulings of his faith.
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Among the benefits of the hadith:
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His consummate humility, peace be upon him,
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His gentleness toward the Muslims,
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His complete compassion for them,
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And lowering his wing of kindness to them.
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The permissibility of interrupting the preacher and asking him questions
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If the matter is necessary.
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The permissibility of interrupting the sermon
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If the reason for doing so takes precedence over continuing it.
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Whoever is ignorant of something
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Must ask the people of knowledge,
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Because the cure for ignorance is asking questions,
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And knowledge is acquired through learning.
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The permissibility of delivering lessons,
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Giving lectures,
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And teaching people while seated on a chair.
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Hastening to answer the questioner,
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Prioritizing the most important matters
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Over less pressing ones.
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Whoever interrupts their sermon
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Completes it upon returning to it,
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Without starting over from the beginning.
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On the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him,
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That the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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When he ate food,
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Would lick his three fingers.
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He said: And he said:
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"If a morsel falls from any of you,
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Let him remove whatever dirt is on it
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And eat it,
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And not leave it for Satan."
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And he commanded that the dish be scraped clean,
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Saying: "For you do not know
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In which part of your food the blessing lies."
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Narrated by Muslim.
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"Licked": meaning sucked clean
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His three fingers:
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Namely the middle finger,
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Followed by the index finger and the thumb.
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"Let him remove":
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Meaning let him clear away
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The dirt:
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Meaning any uncleanliness or dust.
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"Be scraped clean":
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Meaning licked and wiped clean.
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"The dish" (*al-qas'ah*):
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A large bowl from which up to ten people can eat.
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Among the benefits of the hadith:
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The Sunnah in taking food
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Is to pick it up with three fingers.
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It is from the Sunnah to lick the three fingers,
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Or have them licked by another.
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The Prophet, peace be upon him, clarified
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The rationale for licking the fingers
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And scraping the dish clean,
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Which is that the servant does not know where the blessing lies;
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It may well be in what remains stuck to the fingers or the dish
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From the traces of that food.
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One should preserve fallen food,
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For doing so preserves the blessing of provision
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And prevents the waste of wealth,
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However little it may be.
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Islam is a religion of cleanliness;
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Thus, if food falls,
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Any dirt on it should be removed
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Before eating it again.
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The explanation that Satan
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Partakes with a servant in their food and drink
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If one does not protect oneself from him
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Through the prescribed Islamic means.
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On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,
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From the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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Who said:
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"Allah has not sent any Prophet
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Except that he tended sheep."
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His Companions asked:
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"Even you?"
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He replied:
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"Yes,
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I used to tend them for small wages (qirarīt)
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for the people of Makkah."
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Related by al-Bukhari.
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And on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him),
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from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him),
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who said:
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"If I were invited to a meal of a trotter or a shoulder,
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I would accept;
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and if a shoulder or a trotter were given to me as a gift,
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I would accept it."
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Related by al-Bukhari.
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The trotter (kurā')
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in cattle and sheep
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is the slender, lower part of the leg;
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while the arm/shoulder (dhira')
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extends from the fingertips to the elbow in the foreleg,
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and it is better in quality than the trotter.
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Among the lessons of the hadith is:
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accepting an invitation,
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even if it is for a meager amount of food,
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due to the humility it embodies
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and the harmony it fosters among people.
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Also, accepting a gift no matter how small it is,
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because of the way it unites hearts
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and establishes bonds of love among Muslims.
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It also shows his profound humility (peace be upon him)
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and how he would comfort the hearts of people.
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And on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
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"The she-camel of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), named al-'Adba',
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could never be outrun,"
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or he said, "could hardly be outrun.
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Then a Bedouin came riding a young riding camel of his
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and outran her.
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That weighed heavily on the Muslims,
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to the point that the Prophet (peace be upon him) noticed it.
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So he said:
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'It is a right upon Allah
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that nothing in this world is elevated
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except that He brings it down.'"
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Related by al-Bukhari.
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Al-'Adba'
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is the name of the she-camel of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
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A qa'ud
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is a young male camel
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that has become fit to be ridden.
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"Right"
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means an obligation that Allah has taken upon Himself.
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"Brings it down"
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means He lowers and humbles it.
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Among the lessons of the hadith:
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demonstrating the insignificance of worldly life to Allah,
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forsaking boastfulness and rivalry in pride,
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encouraging humility,
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and casting off the cloak of arrogance.
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It also demonstrates that worldly matters are inherently deficient and incomplete,
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and that nothing rises in this world except that it is eventually lowered.
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It shows the great level the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was upon
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in terms of humility
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and comforting the hearts of his Companions.
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The permissibility of keeping camels for riding
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and competing in races with them.
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Riyad al-Salihin.