Riyadh Al-Salehin | Episode (54) | Chapter on visiting good people and virtuous sites (1)

0:00 *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.

0:09 Chapter: Visiting the people of virtue, sitting with them, keeping their company, and loving them,

0:18 Seeking to visit them, requesting their supplications, and visiting virtuous places.

0:25 Allah Almighty said:

0:28 “And when Moses said unto his servant: I will not give up until I reach the point where the two rivers meet, though I march on for ages.” (18:60)

0:36 Leading up to His words:

0:38 “Moses said unto him: May I follow thee, to the end that thou mayst teach me right conduct of that which thou hast been taught?” (18:66)

0:46 And Allah Almighty said:

0:48 “Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.” (18:28)

0:55 On the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

1:00 Abu Bakr said to 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, after the passing of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him:

1:08 "Come with us to visit Umm Ayman, may Allah be pleased with her,

1:13 Just as the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, used to visit her."

1:18 When they arrived, she wept,

1:21 So they said to her:

1:23 "What makes you weep?

1:25 Do you not know that what is with Allah is far better for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him?"

1:32 She replied:

1:33 "I do not weep because I am unaware that what is with Allah Almighty is far better for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him;

1:42 Rather, I weep because the divine revelation has ceased from the heavens."

1:47 Thereupon, she moved them both to tears,

1:50 And they began to weep along with her.

1:55 Related by Muslim.

1:57 Umm Ayman was the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his nursemaid, and his caregiver during his childhood.

2:06 "She moved them both to tears" means she stirred within them the urge to weep.

2:11 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

2:15 The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, took the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as an exemplar in every matter.

2:22 The permissibility of weeping out of sorrow over parting from the righteous,

2:27 And over the cessation of the immense good that used to descend through revelation.

2:31 For when revelation ceased, differing sects proliferated and conflicting desires arose,

2:36 Discord spread abroad,

2:38 And trials, tribulations, and afflictions ensued.

2:42 We ask Allah for well-being.

2:44 The permissibility of a person of higher virtue visiting someone below them in status.

2:49 The distinguished merit of Umm Ayman, may Allah be pleased with her.

2:53 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,

2:57 From the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

3:00 That a man set out to visit a brother of his in another village,

3:05 So Allah Almighty stationed an angel to await him along his path.

3:09 When the angel met him, he asked:

3:12 "Where do you intend to go?"

3:14 He replied:

3:15 "I intend to visit a brother of mine in this village."

3:18 The angel asked:

3:20 "Do you owe him some favor that you seek to nurture and repay?"

3:23 He answered: "No,

3:25 Except that I love him purely for the sake of Allah Almighty."

3:28 The angel said:

3:31 "I am indeed a messenger sent by Allah to you,

3:33 To inform you that Allah loves you just as you have loved your brother for His sake."

3:38 Related by Muslim.

3:40 It is said in Arabic:

3:42 "He stationed (*arsada*) someone for such-and-such,"

3:43 Meaning he entrusted him with keeping watch over it;

3:46 And *madrajah* means the pathway.

3:49 The meaning of *tarubbuha*

3:51 Is that you attend to it, tend to it,

3:53 And strive to cultivate it.

3:57 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

3:59 The recommendation of visiting one's brethren for the sake of Allah.

4:02 Brotherhood for the sake of Allah transcends the bonds of blood, lineage, and worldly interests.

4:09 The immense virtue of loving for the sake of Allah and exchanging visits purely for His sake.

4:13 Whoever loves for the sake of Allah, Allah loves him in return.

4:17 Affirmation of Allah's love for His obedient servants,

4:23 Which is a magnificent, real divine attribute,

4:26 Inherent to Allah and belonging to His active attributes (*sifat al-af'al*),

4:30 Established by the Book, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the salaf (early generations).

4:34 We affirm it for Allah, Glorified and Exalted,

4:37 In a manner befitting His majesty and absolute perfection.

4:41 The ability of angels to take on human form.

4:48 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

4:52 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

4:56 "Whoever visits an ailing person or visits a brother of his for the sake of Allah,

5:00 A caller calls out to him: 'May you be blessed, may your walking be blessed,

5:05 And may you take up an abode in Paradise!'"

5:09 Related by al-Tirmidhi.

5:11 "May you be blessed" (*tibt*) means may your heart be gladdened, delighted, and purified;

5:17 "May your walking be blessed" (*taba mamshak*) means may your final resting place be honored;

5:21 And "you take up an abode in Paradise"

5:24 Means that you have attained a dwelling place therein to reside.

5:29 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

5:31 The recommendation of visiting the sick and visiting brethren for the sake of Allah.

5:35 Every angel has an assigned, known station,

5:39 And among them are those who convey glad tidings to the believers

5:42 Whenever they perform deeds beloved to Allah and His Messenger.

5:46 On the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with him,

5:52 That the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

5:56 "The likeness of a righteous companion and an evil companion

6:00 Is like that of a musk seller and a blacksmith's bellows.

6:03 As for the musk seller, he will either give you some,

6:07 Or you will buy from him,

6:09 Or you will at least catch a pleasant fragrance from him.

6:13 But the blacksmith's bellows

6:15 Will either burn your clothes,

6:18 Or you will catch a foul stench from it."

6:22 Agreed upon.

6:25 *Yuhdhiyaka* means he gives to you;

6:28 Musk is a precious perfume;

6:32 *Al-kir* (the bellows) is a leather bag

6:35 With which the blacksmith blows upon the fire;

6:38 And *tabta'* means you purchase.

6:41 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

6:45 The permissibility of striking parables in speech and hadiths

6:48 In order to bring the meaning closer to the listener's understanding.

6:50 The prohibition against accompanying people of wickedness and evil,

6:53 For keeping company with them corrupts both religious and worldly life.

6:58 The encouragement to take righteous friends.

7:02 The purity of musk and the permissibility of selling it,

7:06 Which is why the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, struck it

7:10 As a parable for the righteous companion

7:13 Who gifts you musk to perfume yourself with;

7:16 Thus proving its ritual purity and the permissibility of trading in it.

7:21 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,

7:25 From the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who said:

7:29 "A woman is married for four qualities:

7:32 For her wealth, her lineage,

7:34 Her beauty, and her religious commitment.

7:37 So attain the woman of religious commitment; may your hands be dusted with earth!"

7:41 Agreed upon.

7:43 The meaning is

7:45 That people typically seek in a woman

7:48 These four attributes;

7:50 So make sure you seek out the woman of religious devotion, win her hand,

7:54 And be keen on her companionship.

7:58 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

8:00 The factors that attract a man to marry a woman

8:04 Are wealth, lineage, beauty, and religious commitment.

8:08 The best and most noble of these attributes is religious commitment,

8:13 Because it aids the servant in obeying Allah.

8:16 Islam's emphasis on marrying a righteous woman possessed of religious devotion,

8:21 Because she aids the servant in obeying Allah Almighty.

8:25 When the motive for marriage is religious devotion,

8:30 The marriage endures and lasts,

8:33 Because religion is true guidance and insight.

8:37 On the authority of Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said:

8:42 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Jibril:

8:46 "What prevents you from visiting us more often than you do?"

8:51 So it was revealed: "We descend not except by the command of your Lord."

8:56 “We (angels) come not down save by commandment of thy Lord. Unto Him belongeth all that is before us and all that is behind us and all that is between those two, and thy Lord was never forgetful -” (19:64)

9:01 Related by al-Bukhari.

9:05 *Natanazzalu* means to descend unhurriedly.

9:10 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

9:14 The love of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

9:17 For Jibril, peace be upon him,

9:20 Because he brought with him tidings from the heavens.

9:23 The recommendation of feeling yearning when visits from brethren in faith are delayed,

9:27 And inviting them to visit.

9:31 The permissibility of a Muslim asking his fellow Muslim

9:34 About the reason for his delay in visiting,

9:36 Since this is an indication of affection,

9:39 And expresses a mutual fondness that is praiseworthy in Islamic law.

9:43 The angels do not act or descend

9:46 Except by the command of Allah Almighty.

9:49 On the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him,

9:54 From the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

9:57 Who said: "Do not keep company except with a believer,

10:01 And let no one eat your food except one who is God-fearing."

10:05 Related by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi.

10:08 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

10:12 The prohibition against befriending the disbelievers and the corrupt, and feeling affection toward them.

10:17 The command to adhere closely to the God-fearing and faithful,

10:21 And to associate with them.

10:24 Eating from a friend's house is permissible.

10:27 The prohibition against honoring evil and wicked people,

10:31 Extending favors to them, and spending money upon them.

10:36 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him,

10:40 That the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

10:44 "A person follows the religion of his close friend,

10:47 So let each of you look carefully to whom he befriends."

10:50 Related by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi.

10:53 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

10:57 A Muslim must choose and select his friends with utmost care.

11:02 Among the rights of brotherhood is to regard one's companion with parity and respect.

11:06 A companion inevitably pulls his associate along;

11:10 Therefore, one must watch carefully where he places his footsteps,

11:13 For taking a companion must stem from deliberate reflection.

11:17 A person's faith grows stronger through the company of believers,

11:21 And diminishes through the company of the wicked.

11:24 On the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with him,

11:30 That the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

11:34 "A person will be with whom he loves."

11:37 Agreed upon.

11:39 In another narration, he said:

11:42 It was said to the Prophet, peace be upon him:

11:45 "What of a man who loves a people, yet has not caught up with them in good deeds?"

11:49 He replied:

11:51 "A person will be with whom he loves."

11:54 "A man loves a people"

11:57 Means from among the people of virtue, knowledge, and righteousness;

12:00 "With whom he loves"

12:02 Means that a person will be gathered alongside those he loves;

12:05 "Has not caught up with them"

12:08 Means he is unable to match their deeds,

12:11 Or does not share their high station,

12:14 Or never met them during his earthly life.

12:17 Among the benefits derived from this hadith:

12:21 Whoever is ignorant of any matter of sacred knowledge should ask about it,

12:24 Turning to its scholars and bearers.

12:27 A Muslim must select his friends

12:31 And close allies from among the righteous and God-fearing,

12:34 So that he may be gathered alongside them,

12:37 Because a person will be resurrected with those he loves.

12:40 Close friends will be enemies on the Day of Resurrection,

12:43 except for the righteous.

12:47 Loving for the sake of Allah is an act of obedience

12:50 through which a person can make up for what they missed or fell short in

12:53 regarding supererogatory deeds of worship.

12:56 The believers are of varying ranks in their deeds and obedience:

12:59 among them are the moderate,

13:02 and among them are those foremost in good deeds.

13:07 On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):

13:10 A man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him),

13:13 "When is the Hour?"

13:16 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied,

13:19 "What have you prepared for it?"

13:22 He said, "Love for Allah and His Messenger."

13:25 He said, "You will be with those whom you love."

13:28 Agreed upon,

13:31 and this is the wording of Muslim.

13:34 In a narration reported by both of them:

13:37 "I have not prepared for it an abundance of fasting, prayer, or charity,

13:40 but I love Allah and His Messenger."

13:43 And on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him),

13:46 who said:

13:49 A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

13:52 and said, "O Messenger of Allah,

13:55 what do you say about a man who loves

13:58 a people, but cannot catch up with their deeds?"

14:01 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

14:05 "A person will be with those whom he loves."

14:08 Agreed upon.

14:12 Among the benefits derived from the hadith is

14:15 the wisdom of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

14:18 and his eloquence in answering the questioner,

14:21 as he directed him toward what truly concerns and saves him,

14:24 which is preparing for the Hereafter

14:27 with what is beneficial.

14:31 It is permissible to respond to a questioner with another question,

14:34 with a question that brings benefit to the questioner.

14:37 Allah the Exalted has concealed the knowledge of the Hour

14:40 from His servants so that a person remains

14:43 constantly prepared and ready to meet Allah.

14:47 On the Day of Resurrection, a person will be

14:50 with those whom they loved, whether for good or for evil.

14:53 Loving Allah and obeying Him,

14:56 as well as loving His Messenger (peace be upon him)

14:59 and following him, are among the greatest acts of drawing near to Allah.

15:02 Riyadh al-Salihin.

Riyadh Al-Salehin | Episode (54) | Chapter on visiting good people and virtuous sites (1)

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