Riyad as-Salihin

Chapter 74: Clemency, Tolerance and Gentleness

- الحلم والأناة والرفق

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت‏:‏ ما خير رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بين أمرين قط إلا أخذ أيسرهما، ما لم يكن إثماً، فإن كان إثماً، كان أبعد الناس منه، وما انتقم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لنفسه في شئ قط، إلا أن تنتهك حرمة الله، فينتقم لله تعالى‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) was given a choice between two matters, he would (always) choose the easier as long as it was not sinful to do so; but if it was sinful he was most strict in avoiding it. He never took revenge upon anybody for his own sake; but when Allah's Legal Bindings were outraged, he would take revenge for Allah's sake.[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ “ألا أخبركم بمن يحرم على النار -أو بمن تحرم عليه النار‏؟‏- تحرم على كل قريب هين لين سهل”‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال‏:‏ حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Shall I not tell you whom the (Hell) Fire is forbidden to touch? It is forbidden to touch a man who is always accessible, having polite and tender nature."[At- Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].

Chapter 75: Forgiveness of the Ignorant

- العفو والإعراض عن الجاهلين

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها قالت للنبى صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ هل أتى عليك يوم كان أشد من يوم أحد‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ “لقد لقيت من قومك، وكان أشد ما لقيته منهم يوم العقبة، إذ عرضت نفسي على ابن عبد ياليل بن عبد كلال فلم يجبنى إلى ما أردت، فانطلقت وأنا مهموم على وجهى، فلم أستفق إلا وأنا بقرن الثعالب، فرفعت رأسى، فإذا أنا بسحابة قد أظلتنى، فنظرت فإذا فيها جبريل عليه السلام، فنادانى فقال‏:‏ إن الله تعالى قد سمع قول قومك لك، وما ردوا عليك، وقد بعث إليك ملك الجبال لتأمره بما شئت فيهم فنادانى ملك الجبال، فسلم على ثم قال‏:‏ يا محمد إن الله قد سمع قول قومك لك، وأنا ملك الجبال، وقد بعثنى ربى إليك لتأمرنى بأمرك،فما شئت‏:‏ إن شئت أطبقت عليهم الأخشبين” فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏"‏بل أرجو أن يخرج من أصلابهم من يعبد الله وحده لا يشرك به شيئاً‏"‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) "Have you ever experienced a day harder than the day of the battle of Uhud?" He replied, "Indeed, I experienced them (dangers) at the hands of your people (i.e., the disbelievers from amongst the Quraish tribe). The hardest treatment I met from them was on the Day of 'Aqabah when I went to Ibn 'Abd Yalil bin 'Abd Kulal (who was one of the chiefs of Ta'if) with the purpose of inviting him to Islam, but he made no response (to my call). So I departed with deep distress. I did not recover until I arrived at Qarn ath-Tha'alib. There, I raised my head and saw a cloud which had cast its shadow on me. I saw in it Jibril (Gabriel) (ﷺ) who called me and said: 'Indeed, Allah, the Exalted, heard what your people said to you and the response they made to you. And He has sent you the angel in charge of the mountains to order him to do to them what you wish.' Then the angel of the mountains called me, greeted me and said: 'O Muhammad, Allah listened to what your people had said to you. I am the angel of the mountains, and my Rubb has sent me to you so that you may give me your orders. (I will carry out your orders). If you wish I will bring together the two mountains that stand opposite to each other at the extremities of Makkah to crush them in between."' But Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "I rather hope that Allah will raise from among their descendants people as will worship Allah the One, and will not ascribe partners to Him (in worship)."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعنها قالت‏:‏ ما ضرب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم شيئاً قط بيده، ولا امرأة ولا خادماً، إلا أن يجاهد في سبيل الله، وما نيل منه شئ قط فينتقم من صاحبه، إلا أن ينتهك شئ من محارم الله تعالى، فينتقم لله تعالى‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never hit anything with his hand neither a servant nor a woman but of course, he did fight in the Cause of Allah. He never took revenge upon anyone for the wrong done to him, but of course, he exacted retribution for the sake of Allah in case the Injunctions of Allah about unlawful acts were violated.[Muslim].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ كنت أمشى مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وعليه برد نجرانى غليظ الحاشية، فأدركه أعرابى، فجبذه بردائه جبذة شديدة، فنظرت إلى صفحة عاتق النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقد أثرت بها حاشية البرد من شدة فضحك، ثم قال‏:‏ يا محمد مر لى من مال الله الذى عندك، فالتفت إليه فضحك ثم أمر له بعطاء‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I was walking with Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who was wearing a Najrani cloak with a very thick border when a bedouin happened to meet him. He took hold of the side of his cloak and drew it violently. I noticed that the violence of jerk had bruised the neck of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The bedouin said: "O Muhammad! Give me out of Allah's wealth that you possess." Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to him and smiled and directed that he should be given something.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ كأنى أنظر إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يحكى نبياً من الأنبياء، صلوات الله وسلامه عليهم، ضربه قومه فأدموه وهو يمسح الدم عن وجهه، ويقول‏:‏ “اللهم اغفر لقومى فإنهم لا يعملون” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I can see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) look like one of the Prophets of Allah whose people beat and made him bleed while he was wiping the blood from his face and supplicating: "O Allah, forgive my people because they know not."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ليس الشديد بالصرعة، إنما الشديد الذى يملك نفسه عند الغضب” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The strong man is not the one who wrestles, but the strong man is in fact the one who controls himself in a fit of rage."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 76: Endurance of Afflictions

- احتمال الأذى

وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رجلاً قال‏:‏ يا رسول الله إن لى قرابة أصلهم ويقطعونى، وأحسن إليهم ويسيئون إلى، وأحلم عنهم ويجهلون على‏!‏ فقال‏:‏ “لئن كنت كما قلت فكأنما تسفهم المل ولا يزال معك من الله تعالى ظهير عليهم ما دمت على ذلك” ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏ وقد سبق شرحه في “باب صلة الأرحام”‏.‏
Translation
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

A man said to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "I have relatives with whom I try to maintain good relationship but they sever relations with me; whom I treat kindly but they treat me badly, with whom I am gentle but they are rough to me." He (ﷺ) replied, "If you are as you have said, then it is as though you are feeding them hot ashes and you will not be without a supporter against them from Allah, as long as you do so."[Muslim].

Chapter 77: Indignation against the Transgression of Divine Laws

- الغضب إذا انتهكت حرمات الشرع والانتصار لدين الله تعالى

وعن أبى مسعود عقبة بن عمرو البدرى رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ جاء رجل إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال‏:‏ إنى لأتأخر عن صلاة الصبح من أجل فلان مما يطيل بنا‏!‏ فما رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم غضب في موعظة قط أشد مما غضب يومئذ، فقال‏:‏ “يا أيها الناس‏:‏ إن منكم منفرين، فأيكم أم الناس فليوجز، فإن من ورائه الكبير والصغير وذا الحاجة” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
Abu Mas'ud 'Uqbah bin 'Amr Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: "I join the morning Salat late because of so-and-so who leads it and prolongs it." (Abu Mas'ud said): I have never seen the Prophet (ﷺ) so angry while giving a speech as he was on that day. He (ﷺ) said, "Some of you create hatred among the people against faith. Whoever leads Salat (the prayer), should make it brief because the congregation includes old men and youngsters and those who have some urgent work to do."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت‏:‏ قدم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من سفر وقد سترت سهوة لى بقرام فيه تماثيل، فلما رآه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم هتكه وتلون وجهه وقال‏:‏ “يا عائشة‏:‏ أشد الناس عذابا عند الله يوم القيامة الذين يضاهون بخلق الله” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) returned once from a journey, and saw a curtain which I had hung along a platform with some pictures on it. The colour of his face changed. He tore it up and said, "O 'Aishah, the most tormented people on the Day of Resurrection are those who contend with Allah in terms of creation."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعنها أن قريشاً أهمهم شأن المرأة المخزومية التى سرقت فقالوا‏:‏ من يكلم فيها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏؟‏ فقالوا‏:‏ من يجترئ عليه إلا أسامة بن زيد حب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏؟‏ فكلمة أسامة، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ “أتشفع في حد من حدود الله تعالى‏؟‏‏!‏” ثم قام فاختطب ثم قال‏:‏ “إنما أهلك من قبلكم أنهم كانوا إذا سرق فيهم الشريف تركوه، وإذا سرق فيهم الضعيف أقاموا عليه الحد‏!‏ وايم الله، لو أن فاطمة بنت محمد سرقت لقطعت يدها” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏
Translation
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Quraish were much worried about the case of a Makhzumiyah woman who had committed theft and wondered who should intercede for her with Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (so that she would not get punished for her crime). Some said Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with him) was his beloved and so he may dare do so. So Usamah(May Allah be pleased with him) spoke to him about that matter and the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Do you intercede when one of the legal punishments ordained by Allah has been voilated?" Then he got up and addressed the people saying, "The people before you were ruined because when a noble person amongst them committed theft, they would leave him, but if a weak person amongst them committed theft, they would execute the legal punishment on him. By Allah, were Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, to commit the theft, I would have cut off her hand."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم رأى نخامة في القبلة، فشق ذلك عليه حتى رؤى في وجهه، فقام فحكه بيده فقال‏:‏ “إن أحدكم إذا قام في صلاته فإنه يناجى ربه، وإن ربه بينه وبين القبلة، فلا يبزقن أحدكم في القبلة، ولكن عن يساره، أو تحت قدمه” ثم أخذ طرف ردائه فبصق فيه، ثم رد بعضه على بعض فقال‏:‏ “أو يفعل هكذا” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) noticed spittle in the mosque in the direction of the Qiblah. The signs of disgust were perceived on his face. Then, he stood up and scraped it away with his own hand and said, "When you stand in Salat, you hold communion with your Rubb and He is between you and the Qiblah. Let no one therefore cast out his spittle in that direction, but only to his left or under his foot." Then he caught hold a corner of his sheet, spat into it and folded it up and said, "Or he should do like this."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 78: Obligation of Rulers to show Kindness to their Subjects

- أمر ولاة الأمور بالرفق برعاياهم ونصيحتهم والشفقة والنهى عن غشهم والتشديد عليهم وإهمال مصالحهم والغفلة عنهم وعن حوائجهم

وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال‏:‏ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ “كلكم راع، وكلكم مسئول عن رعيته‏:‏ الإمام راع ومسؤول عن رعيته، والرجل راع في أهله ومسؤول عن رعيته، والمرأة راعية في بيت زوجها ومسؤولة عن رعيتها، والخادم راع في مال سيده ومسؤول عن رعيته وكلكم راع ومسؤول عن رعيته” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards. The ruler is a guardian and responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian and responsible for his family; the woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husbands house and his offspring; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبى يعلى معقل بن يسار رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ يقول‏:‏ “ما من عبد يستر عليه الله رعية، يموت يوم يموت وهو غاش لرعيته، إلا حرم الله عليه الجنة” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏(‏‏(‏وفي رواية‏:‏ ‏"‏فلم يحطها بنصحه لم يجد رائحة الجنة‏"‏‏)‏‏)‏ وفي رواية لمسلم‏:‏ ‏"‏ما من أمير يلى أمور المسلمين، ثم لا يجهد لهم وينصح لهم، إلا لم يدخل معهم الجنة‏"‏‏.‏
Translation
Abu Ya'la Ma'qil bin Yasar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Any slave whom Allah makes him in charge of subjects and he dies while he is not sincere to them, Allah will make Jannah unlawful for him."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].Another narration is: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "He who does not look after his subjects with goodwill and sincerity, will be deprived of the fragrance of Jannah."A narration in Muslim is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A ruler who, having control over the affairs of the Muslims, does not strive diligently for their betterment and does not serve them sincerely, will not enter Jannah with them."

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت‏:‏ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول في بيتى هذا‏:‏ “اللهم من ولى من أمر أمتى شيئاً فشق عليهم، فاشقق عليه ومن ولى من أمر أمتى شيئاً، فرفق بهم، فارفق به” ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

I heard the the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) supplicating in my house: "O Allah! Treat harshly those who rule over my Ummah with harshness, and treat gently those who rule over my Ummah with gentleness."[Muslim].

وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏"‏كانت بنو إسرائيل تسوسهم الأنبياء، كلما هلك نبى خلفه نبى، وإنه لا نبى بعدى وسيكون بعدى خلفاء فيكثرون” قالوا‏:‏ يا رسول الله فما تأمرنا‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏أوفوا ببيعة الأول فالأول، ثم أعطوهم حقهم، واسألوا الله الذى لكم ، فإن الله سائلهم عما استرعاهم” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The Banu Isra'il were ruled by the Prophets. When one Prophet died, another succeeded him. There will be no Prophet after me. Caliphs will come after me, and they will be many." The Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah, what do you command us to do?" He said, "Fulfill the pledge of allegiance to which is sworn first (then swear allegiance to the others). Concede to them their due rights and ask Allah that which is due to you. Allah will call them to account in respect of the subjects whom He had entrusted to them."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن عائذ بن عمرو رضي الله عنه أنه دخل على عبيد الله بن زياد، فقال له‏:‏ أى بنى، إنى سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ “إن شر الرعاء الحطمة” فإياك أن تكون منهم‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
'Aidh bin 'Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I visited 'Ubaidullah bin Ziyad and said to him: "Dear son, I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, 'The worst of rulers are those who treat their subjects harshly. Beware, lest you should be one of them."'[Al-Bukhari].

وعن أبى مريم الأزدى رضي الله عنه أنه قال لمعاوية رضي الله عنه سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ “من ولاه الله شيئاً من أمور المسلمين، فاحتجب دون حاجتهم وخلتهم وفقرهم، احتجب الله دون حاجته وخلته وفقره يوم القيامة” فجعل معاوية رجلا على حوائج الناس‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود والترمذي‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
Abu Maryam Al-Azdi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I said to Mu'awiyah (bin Abu Sufyan) (May Allah be pleased with them): I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "If Allah invests to someone the affairs of the Muslims and he (i.e., the ruler) ignores their rights, denies their access to him and neglects their needs, Allah will not answer his prayer or realize his hopes and will act towards him with indifference on the Day of Resurrection." So Mu'awiyah appointed a person to keep a vigil on the necessities of the people and to fulfill them.[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

Chapter 79: The Just Ruler

- الوالى العادل

وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ “سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله‏:‏ إمام عادل، وشاب نشأ في عبادة الله تعالى، ورجل قلبه معلق بالمساجد، ورجلان تحابا في الله اجتمعا عليه وتفرقا عليه، ورجل دعته امرأة ذات منصب وجمال، فقال‏:‏ إنى أخاف الله، ورجل تصدق بصدقة فأخفاها حتى لا تعلم شماله ما تنفق يمينه، ورجل ذكر الله خالياً ففاضت عيناه” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏
Translation
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Seven are (the persons) whom Allah will give protection with His Shade* on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection), and they are: A just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosque; two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom a beautiful and high ranking woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer by saying): 'I fear Allah'; a person who gives a charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left hand might not know what the right has given; and a person who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes well up."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].* The Shade of Allah to which this Hadith refers to is the shade of His Throne.

وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏"‏إن المقسطين عند الله على منابر من نور‏:‏ الذين يعدلون في حمكهم وأهليهم وما ولوا‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم ‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Translation
'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The just will be seated upon pulpits of light." Those who are fair with regards to their judgement and their family and those who are under them."[Muslim].