Allah's Messenger said: "Shall I tell you that for which Allah will wipe out your sins, and raise your ranks?" They said, "Of course Allah's Messenger!" He said: "Performing Wudu well in difficulty, and taking many steps to the Masajid, and waiting for Salat after Salat, That is the Ribat."
Hadith Text & Reference
Allah's Messenger said: "Shall I tell you that for which Allah will wipe out your sins, and raise your ranks?" They said, "Of course Allah's Messenger!" He said: "Performing Wudu well in difficulty, and taking many steps to the Masajid, and waiting for Salat after Salat, That is the Ribat."
Source: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 51 - The Book on Purification
Meaning of Key Terms
Wudu well in difficulty: Performing thorough ablution despite challenging circumstances like extreme cold, illness, or lack of water.
Taking many steps to the Masajid: Walking longer distances to reach the mosque, earning greater reward with each step.
Waiting for Salat after Salat: Remaining in the mosque between prayers in a state of worship and remembrance.
Ribat: Spiritual guarding and striving in Allah's cause, here referring to constant vigilance in worship.
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith reveals three profound acts that erase sins and elevate spiritual ranks. Performing wudu properly during hardship demonstrates strong faith and patience, as the believer prioritizes purity despite discomfort.
Walking far to the mosque shows earnest desire for congregational prayer, with each step increasing in reward. Waiting between prayers transforms the mosque into a fortress of faith, where the heart remains connected to Allah.
Imam at-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan sahih (good and authentic). The term "Ribat" here elevates these acts to the status of spiritual jihad, indicating they constitute a form of continuous struggle in Allah's path.
Practical Benefits & Wisdom
These acts combine physical and spiritual purification, creating a comprehensive system for sin eradication and rank elevation.
The sequence demonstrates progression: purification of body through wudu, purification of limbs through walking to mosque, and purification of heart through waiting in prayer.
This teaching makes worship accessible to all believers, not just those engaged in physical jihad, showing that spiritual struggle through consistent acts of devotion holds immense merit.