Part of Riyad as-Salihin — Gardens of the Righteous (series completed)
· Lesson 45 of 190
Riyadh Al-Salehin | Episode (55) | Chapter on visiting good people and virtuous sites (2)
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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*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.
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Chapter: Visiting the People of Goodness, Sitting with Them, Accompanying Them, Loving Them,
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Seeking Their Visits and Supplications, and Visiting Virtuous Places.
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On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
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"People are like mines, just like mines of gold and silver:
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The best of them in the Jahiliyyah are the best of them in Islam, if they gain comprehension in religion (fiqh).
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And souls are like conscripted soldiers:
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Those who recognize one another will harmonize,
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And those who find each other unfamiliar will differ."
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Narrated by Muslim.
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And al-Bukhari narrated his words:
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"Souls..." to the end of the hadith,
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From the narration of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her.
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*Ma'adin* is the plural of *ma'din* (mineral mine),
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Which refers to an established substance within the earth,
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And it may be either precious or base.
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"The best of them" means the most noble of them.
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"If they gain fiqh" means they acquired sacred knowledge and became scholars of fiqh.
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"Conscripted soldiers"
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Means gathered assemblies and distinct varieties.
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Among the lessons of the hadith:
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The virtues and good deeds performed during the Jahiliyyah
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Are not counted unless their performers embrace Islam.
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Knowledge and fiqh are what refine the essence of human character,
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Rather than worldly nobility or wealth.
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Souls harmonize according to the innate temperaments upon which they were fashioned,
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Yet one ought to cultivate the soul
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So that it loves and befriends the righteous believers,
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And recoils and turns away from all others.
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On the authority of Usayr ibn 'Amr—
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Also referred to as Ibn Jabir—
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Who said:
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Whenever the reinforcement contingents of the people of Yemen came to him,
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'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him,
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Would ask them, "Is Uways ibn 'Amir among you?"
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Until he finally met Uways, may Allah be pleased with him,
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And said to him,
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"Are you Uways ibn 'Amir?"
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He replied, "Yes."
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'Umar asked,
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"From Murad, then from Qaran?"
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He replied, "Yes."
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'Umar asked,
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"Did you once have leprosy, then become cured of it except for the space of a dirham?"
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He replied, "Yes."
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'Umar asked,
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"Do you have a mother?"
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He replied, "Yes."
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'Umar said:
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I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say:
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"There will come to you Uways ibn 'Amir
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With the reinforcements of the people of Yemen,
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From Murad, then from Qaran.
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He had leprosy,
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But was cured of it except for the space of a dirham.
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He has a mother to whom he is exceptionally dutiful.
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If he were to adjure Allah, Allah would surely fulfill his oath.
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So if you are able to have him ask forgiveness for you,
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Then do so."
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"So ask forgiveness for me."
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Thereupon Uways asked forgiveness for him.
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Then 'Umar asked him,
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"Where do you intend to go?"
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He said,
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"Kufa."
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'Umar asked,
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"Shall I not write on your behalf to its governor?"
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He replied,
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"To remain among the obscure common folk is more beloved to me."
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When the following year arrived,
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A nobleman among them performed Hajj
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And met 'Umar,
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Who asked him about Uways.
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He replied,
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"I left him living in a dilapidated house with meager provisions."
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'Umar said:
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I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say:
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"There will come to you Uways ibn 'Amir
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With reinforcements from the people of Yemen,
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From Murad, then from Qaran.
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He had leprosy,
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But was cured of it except for the space of a dirham.
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He has a mother to whom he is exceptionally dutiful.
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If he were to adjure Allah, Allah would surely fulfill his oath.
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So if you are able to have him ask forgiveness for you, then do so."
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The man then approached Uways and said,
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"Ask forgiveness for me."
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Uways said,
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"You have only recently returned from a righteous journey,
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So ask forgiveness for me instead."
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Then Uways asked him,
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"Did you meet 'Umar?"
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The man said, "Yes."
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So Uways asked forgiveness for him,
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Whereupon the people recognized his stature,
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So he slipped away into obscurity.
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Narrated by Muslim.
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In another narration of Muslim, also on the authority of Usayr ibn Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him:
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A delegation from the people of Kufa came to 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him,
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And among them was a man who used to mock Uways.
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'Umar said,
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"Is there anyone here from the clan of Qaran?"
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That man stepped forward,
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And 'Umar said:
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The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
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"A man will come to you from Yemen
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Known as Uways.
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He left behind in Yemen none other than his mother.
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He once suffered from a white affliction,
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So he prayed to Allah Almighty, and He removed it,
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Except for the space of a dinar or a dirham.
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Whoever among you meets him,
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Let him ask him to seek forgiveness for you."
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And in another narration of his from 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, he said:
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I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say:
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"Indeed, the best of the Tabi'un
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Is a man called Uways;
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He has a mother,
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And he had a white affliction.
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So bid him ask forgiveness for you."
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His phrase *ghabra' al-nas* (the obscure common folk)
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Refers to the poor and destitute among them,
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And those indistinguishable from the general populace.
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*Al-Amdad* is the plural of *madad*,
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Meaning helpers and supporters
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Who used to reinforce the Muslims during military campaigns.
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Murad
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Is the name of a tribe,
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And Qaran
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Is a clan of the tribe of Murad.
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Leprosy (*baras*)
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Refers to a depigmentation that appears on the body.
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"He was cured"
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Means he was healed.
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"Dutiful" (*barr*)
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Means he showed utmost devotion and kindness to her.
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"If he were to adjure Allah, Allah would surely fulfill his oath"
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Means that if he took an oath by Allah regarding any matter,
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Allah would fulfill his oath
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As a reward for his devotion to his mother.
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"Of dilapidated house"
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Means the furnishings of his house were shabby;
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*Al-rathth* refers to something inferior
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Or old and worn out.
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"Mocks"
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Means he ridicules him.
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Among the lessons of the hadith:
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The distinguished merit of Uways ibn 'Amir al-Qarani,
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And that he is the best of the Tabi'un;
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This is clearly demonstrated by
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His humility, his total focus on the Hereafter,
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And his lack of conceit,
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Even when he learned of his exalted station announced by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
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The term *the Tabi'un*
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Designates those who lived in the era of the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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But did not see the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him;
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It is a Prophetic designation.
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Among the miracles of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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Is his foretelling of future events before they occurred,
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And that was through divine revelation from Allah.
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The permissibility of requesting supplication from righteous people,
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Even if the one asking holds a higher spiritual rank,
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And seizing the opportunity to seek prayers from those whose supplications are likely answered.
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Acknowledging merit in those who possess it.
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The immense virtue of dutifulness toward one's mother,
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And that it is among the greatest acts of worship that bring one near to Allah.
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The virtue of undertaking a righteous journey,
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And that one returning from it is more likely to have their supplication answered.
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The profound humility of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him,
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And his eager pursuit of goodness,
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While serving as the Caliph of the Muslims at that time.
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The hadith demonstrates the proper way to identify individuals,
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Namely by mentioning the name first,
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Followed by related identifiers such as agnomen, origin, or physical description.
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The keenness of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
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To direct his Companions toward the people of goodness and righteousness,
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To meet them and see them,
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And to request supplications from them.
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The permissibility of withdrawing into seclusion from people
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Whenever a person fears trials (*fitnah*) for their religious commitment.
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A person's true worth lies in their inner character, not their outward appearance;
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Therefore, the standard by which human beings evaluate others
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Differs from the standard of the Truth, Blessed and Exalted is He.
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For people look at outward manifestations and worldly ornaments,
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Which is why they may mock the believers,
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Whereas the Truth, Glorified is He, looks at the hearts and deeds of His servants.
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On the authority of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
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I asked permission of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to perform 'Umrah,
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And he granted me permission and said,
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"Do not forget us, my dear brother, in your supplications."
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He uttered a word with which I would not exchange the entire world.
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In another narration he said:
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"Include us, my dear brother, in your supplications."
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Among the lessons of the hadith:
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The supplication of a traveler is answered.
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The recommendation of asking righteous people for supplications.
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The recommendation of a resident asking a traveler for supplication
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And requesting them to pray in blessed places of goodness,
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even if the resident is ordinarily superior in virtue to the traveler,
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especially when that journey is undertaken for Hajj or 'Umrah.
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The virtue of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him):
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the words that brought immense joy to 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
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were the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to him:
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"O my dear brother."
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On the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), he said:
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"The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to visit Quba'
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both riding and on foot,
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and he would pray two rak'ahs there."
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Agreed upon.
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And in another narration:
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"The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to come to the Mosque of Quba'
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every Saturday,
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riding and on foot."
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And Ibn 'Umar used to do likewise.
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"Every Saturday" means every single week.
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Quba' was a village situated about two miles from Madinah,
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where the very first mosque founded upon piety in Islam was established.
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Among the lessons derived from the hadith:
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It is recommended to visit the Mosque of Quba',
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and concerning its virtue, it has been reported that visiting it is equivalent to an 'Umrah.
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The keen dedication of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both)
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to emulating the Prophet (peace be upon him).
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Riyad al-Salihin.