Indexed OCR Text

5
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah &, the Lord of the worlds.
And peace, blessings and salutations be upon His
Messenger, Muhammad
.

رَاضْ الْصَالحِينْ
مِنْ كَلَا مِسَيِّدِالمَرْسَلِين
by Imam Nawawī
A Translation and Commentary
of
RIYAD
AL-ȘĀLIHÎN
Volume 2
Hadīth 602 to 1270
General Editor
Moulana Afzal Ismail
MUSLIMS AT WORK
Publications

First Edition Sha'ban 1436 / May 2015
Second Edition Rabī ul-ākhir 1437 / February 2016
Third Edition Rabī ul-akhir 1439 / January 2018
Fourth Edition Jumādal ūla 1441 / January 2020
Reprint Sha'baan 1442 / March 2021
Published by:
Muslims at Work Publications
P.O. Box 606, Heidelberg, 1438
South Africa
ISBN 978-0-620-60249-5
Distributed by:
Muslims at Work Publications
Website : www.matwork.co.za
Email : info@matwork.co.za
Tel : +27 73 183 0721 / +27 65 942 5923
South Africa
Distributed in the UK by Azhar Academy Ltd. London
sales@azharacademy.com
54-68 Little Ilford Lane, Manor Park - London E12 5QA
Tel. +44 (0) 20 8911 9797

وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّ وَحْيٌ يُؤْحُى
He (Muhammad
does not speak out of (his own) desire.
It is but revelation revealed (to him).
(Sūrah Najm, 3-4)

Transliteration Key
أ إ
,
d ض
1-
£
ā
b !
七·
ب
b
7 ظ
ت
t
¿ ','a, 'i, 'u
th ث
gh غ
ج
j
f ف
خ
kh
ك
k
د
d
ل
1
ذ
dh
م
m
1
ن
n
ز
Z
9
ū
س
S
h
O
ش
sh
y, i ي
ص
S
Used after the name of Allah, translated as, "Blessed and exalted is He."
Used after the name of Nabī Muhammad, translated as, "May Allah's peace and
blessing be upon him."
Stk Used after the name of a Messenger of Allah, translated as, "May Allah's peace
be upon him."
Used after the name of a male Sahabī (companion) of Nabī Muhammad
translated as, "May Allah be pleased with him."
Used after the name of a female Sahabiya (companion) of Nabī Muhammad
translated as, "May Allah be pleased with her."
Used after the names of more than one Sahabī (companion) of Nabī Muhammad
translated as, "May Allah be pleased with them."
Used after the name of a pious person, translated as, "May Allah's mercy be
upon him."
ق
q

Preface to the 4th Edition
All praise belongs to Allāh &s, the Master of the universe. Peace, blessings and salutations
be upon our beloved leader, Nabī
.
It is purely the grace and mercy of Allah & that this translation and commentary of Riyad
al-Șāliķīn has been well received by 'Ulama, teachers, students and general readers.
In this edition the Arabic text has been checked with other printed editions and changes
have been made where it was deemed necessary. The number of ahadith narrated by each
Șaņābī has been checked and mistakes have been corrected. Changes to the translation and
commentary have also been made based on the suggestions of 'Ulama. Changes have also
been made to the typesetting, and typographical errors have been corrected.
We make du'a' that Allah &s accepts this effort and grants the reward of it to all those who
have been part of the project.
Afzal Ismail
24 Rabī ul-Ākhir 1441 / 21 December 2019
Acknowledgments
It is only the grace and mercy of Allah & that He allows every good action to reach
completion. This compilation would not have reached completion without the du'ās and
inspiration of my parents, teachers and well-wishers. In particular, I am especially grateful
to Moulana Moosa Kajee who greatly assisted with the preparation of major sections of
volume 2 and 3 of the commentary; Moulana Imtiaz Kathrada for the proofreading; Moulana
Imran Kajee for helping to locate and reference some of the narrations; and all those sincere
individuals who assisted on condition that their contributions remain anonymous. May Allah
reward them all abundantly in this world and the next.
Afzal Ismail
2 Jumādal Ūlā 1436 / 22 February 2015

Contents
Chapter on the virtue of mixing with people and attending their Jumu'ah prayers, other congregational
prayers, gatherings of good, gatherings of dhikr, visiting those who are ill, attending their funerals,
consoling those in need, guiding those who are ignorant, and other such matters which are in their
best interests for one who is able to command good and forbid evil, and prevent himself from causing
injury, and exercise patience upon difficulty .
17
Chapter on humility and being lenient with the believers.
18
Chapter on the prohibition of pride and self-conceit.
25
Chapter on good character.
32
Chapter on forbearance, composure and softness
....
........
......................
38
Chapter on forgiving and turning away from the ignorant ones
.45
Chapter on enduring difficulty
49
........
Chapter on anger when the sacred laws of Allah ds are violated, and helping the religion of Allah .. 50
Chapter on commanding those in authority to be kind to their subjects, to give them good advice and
to be compassionate towards them, and forbidding those in authority from deceiving them, being harsh
to them, neglecting their best interests and being unmindful of them and their needs.
......
.. 54
Chapter on the just ruler
.........
.59
Chapter on the obligation to obey those in authority in lawful matters and the prohibition of obeying
them in unlawful matters
61
....
Chapter on encouraging a ruler, judge and others in authority to appoint righteous ministers, and
warning them against evil companions and accepting their advice
............
71
Chapter on the prohibition against appointing leaders, judges and granting positions of authority to
those who ask for it or desire it by offering themselves
72
THE BOOK OF GOOD MANNERS
73
Chapter on modesty and its virtue, and encouraging people to implement it ..
.
.73
Chapter on protecting a secret ...
..........
.....
77
Fulfilling pledges and keeping promises
.....
............
83
............
86
Chapter on being steadfast on good habits
Chapter on the desirability of speaking good words and having a smiling face when meeting people
.88
...............

CONTENTS
Chapter on the desirability of speaking clearly and plainly and using repetition so that those who do
not understand may understand.
.. 90
Chapter on listening attentively to the words of one's companion as long as what he is saying is not
unlawful, and a scholar or speaker asking his audience to remain silent
.91
..............
Chapter on dignity and composure.
...........
.. 96
Chapter on the desirability of going to salah, knowledge and other forms of worship with composure
and dignity .
......
....
97
Chapter on honouring the guest
......
100
Chapter on the desirability of giving glad tidings and congratulating on the performance of good deeds
103
Chapter on someone saying farewell and his advice when he departs on a journey, etc., and supplicating
for him and asking him to supplicate
111
Chapter on seeking guidance from Allah &s and on mutual consultation
.......
117
Chapter on the desirability of going to the 'Id salah, visiting the ill, going for Haj, jihad, janāzah, etc. by
one route and returning by another in order to increase the places of worship
....
120
Chapter on the desirability of giving preference to the right in all matters of honour such as wudū',
ghusl, tayammum, wearing clothing, shoes, leather socks and trousers, entering the masjid, using miswāk,
applying antimony, cutting nails, trimming the moustache, removing of underarm hair, shaving the
hair, salām after șalāh, eating, drinking, shaking hands, istilām of the Hajr al-Aswad, emerging from the
toilet, receiving, giving, etc .; and the desirability of giving preference to the left for undesirable actions
such as cleaning the nose, spitting, entering the toilet, emerging from the masjid, removing leather
socks, shoes, trousers and clothing, purification after relieving oneself, cleaning of dirty objects, etc.
122
THE BOOK OF THE ETIQUETTE OF EATING
127
Chapter on taking the name of Allah & before meals and praising Him after
.
127
Chapter on abstaining from criticising food, and the desirability of praising it .
132
Chapter on what a person should say if food is brought before him while he is fasting and he does not
break his fast.
134
Chapter on what a person should say when he is invited to a meal and another person joins him.135
Chapter on eating food that is closest to one and instructing one who does not know the etiquette of
eating ..........
......
.136
Chapter on the prohibition of eating two dates, etc. together without the permission of others when

138
CONTENTS
eating in a group
Chapter on the command to eat from the side of a bowl and the prohibition from eating from the
centre
.140
Chapter on the recommendation of eating with three fingers and licking the fingers; the dislike for
wiping them before licking them; the recommendation of licking the plate, picking up a fallen morsel
of food and eating it; and wiping the hand on the arm, foot, etc. after licking it
........
143
Chapter on many hands sharing food
.........
......
148
....
Chapter on the etiquette of drinking and the recommendation of taking three breaths outside the
container and the detestability of breathing into the container; and the recommendation of passing
the container around to those on the right
......
149
Chapter on the undesirability of drinking from the mouth of a utensil and clarification that this is only
undesirable, not prohibited.
152
Chapter on the undesirability of blowing into a drink.
154
Chapter on the permissibility of standing and drinking, and clarification that it is superior to sit and
drink
155
Chapter on the permissibility of drinking from all pure utensils except those of gold and silver; the
permissibility of drinking from a river, etc. with the mouth without using a utensil or hand; and the
prohibition of using gold and silver utensils for drinking, eating, purification and other uses ......... 158
THE BOOK OF CLOTHING
161
Chapter on the desirability of wearing white clothing, and the permissibility of wearing red, green,
yellow and black, and the permissibility of wearing cotton, hair, wool and other fabrics except silk
.161
Chapter on the desirability of wearing a qamīs ..
168
Chapter on the length of the qamis, sleeves, pants and the end of the turban, and the prohibition of
wearing any of these below the ankles out of pride, and the detestability of it when done without pride
169
Chapter on the desirability of abstaining from elegant clothing out of humility
.
.179
Chapter on wearing average quality clothing and abstaining from wearing such clothing which would
be the subject of ridicule, without need or purpose.
180
Chapter on the prohibition of wearing silk clothes for men and the prohibition of them sitting or
leaning upon silk, and the permissibility for women to wear it ..........
182
Chapter on the permissibility of wearing silk for those who have itchy skin.
....
185
........

CONTENTS
Chapter on the prohibition of sitting and riding on leopard skins.
185
Chapter on the supplication to make when wearing new clothes, shoes, etc.
187
Chapter on the desirability of commencing with the right when dressing.
....
........
188
THE BOOK OF THE ETIQUETTE OF SLEEPING
188
The chapter on the etiquette of sleeping, lying down, sitting, a gathering, companionship, and dreams
188
Supplications at the time of sleeping.
...........
........
.188
Chapter on the permissibility of lying on one's back and placing one leg over the other provided one's
private parts are not exposed, and the permissibility of sitting cross-legged and sitting with one's legs
drawn up.
193
Chapter on the etiquette of a gathering and those who sit in it.
...........
195
Dreams and related matters
.....
204
THE BOOK OF SALĀM
209
Chapter on the virtue of salam and the command to make it common
210
Chapter on the manner of offering salām
..........
215
Chapter on the etiquette of salām.
.......
219
Chapter on the desirability of repeating the salam to the person one meets after a short time after he
has come in or gone out and then returned immediately, or a tree or something similar comes between
them.
220
Chapter on offering salām to children
....
223
Chapter on a man offering salām to his wife, mahram females and strange women if there is no fear of
evil. Offering salām to them is conditional upon this
223
Chapter on the prohibition of us initiating the salam to a disbeliever and how to reply to their greeting;
and the desirability of offering salam to a mixed gathering of Muslims and disbelievers ................... 225
Chapter on the desirability of offering salam when leaving a gathering and parting from one's
companions
227
Chapter on seeking permission and its etiquette
228
Chapter on the clarification that the Sunnah is that when a person who sought permission to enter
is asked, "Who are you?" he should identify himself by his name or title; and it is disliked for him to
say, "I" or any similar words.
231

CONTENTS
Chapter on the desirability of saying yarhamukallah when a person praises Allah &s after sneezing, and
the undesirability of doing so if he does not praise Allah de; and clarification of the etiquette of saying
yaramukallah to one who has sneezed, and the etiquette of sneezing and yawning.
.......
233
Chapter on the desirability of shaking hands when meeting, having a cheerful countenance, kissing
the hand of a pious man, kissing one's child out of compassion, embracing one who arrives from a
journey, and the dislike of bowing down
....
.. 237
THE BOOK OF VISITING THE ILL, ESCORTING THE DECEASED, PERFORMING
SALAH FOR HIM, ATTENDING HIS BURIAL AND BRIEFLY REMAINING AT HIS
GRAVE AFTER HIS BURIAL
243
Chapter on visiting the ill
243
Chapter on the supplication to be made for the ill person.
...............
248
Chapter on the desirability of asking the family of a ill person about his condition ..
...................
254
Chapter on what should be said by one who has lost hope of life
255
Chapter on the desirability of advising the family of the ill person and those who are nursing him to
be kind to him, tolerate him and exercise patience over the difficulties he causes to them; and that
similar treatment should be applied to one whose death is near because of the penal law, the law of
retribution, etc.
256
Chapter on the permissibility for the ill person to say, "I am in pain", "I am in severe pain", "I am
unwell", "O the pain in my head", etc .; and clarification that this is not disliked if it is not said out of
anger or to display fear.
....
258
Chapter on encouraging the dying person to say La ilaha illallah
......
.260
Chapter on what to say after covering the eyes of the deceased
261
....
Chapter on what is to be said in the presence of the deceased, and what to say to the relatives of the
deceased.
262
Chapter on the permissibility of crying for the deceased when it is done without being invited and
without wailing .............
266
Chapter on refraining from relating anything disliked one notices in a corpse.
.............
268
Chapter on performing salah for the deceased, accompanying his funeral, attending his burial, and the
dislike for women to follow funerals
269
Chapter on the desirability for many people to perform the Janazah salah and to make their rows three
or more
271
Chapter on what should be recited in the Janāzah salah
...............
273

CONTENTS
Chapter on hastening with the carrying of the deceased
......
.. 278
Chapter on hastening to fulfil the debts of the deceased and hastening in his burial arrangements
unless he passed away suddenly, in which case he should be left until his death is confirmed ......... 280
Chapter on advising at a grave.
...........
................
281
Chapter on supplicating for the deceased after his burial, remaining at his grave for a while to supplicate,
seek forgiveness, and recite (the Qur'an).
282
Chapter on charity and supplicating for the deceased.
.......
284
Chapter on people praising the deceased
286
Chapter on the merit of the person whose little children pass away
287
Chapter on crying and being fearful when passing by the graves and ruins of the wrongdoers, and
showing one's dependence on Allah and warning against negligence in this regard.
..
289
THE BOOK OF THE ETIQUETTE OF TRAVELLING
291
Chapter on the desirability of departing on a Thursday and in the early part of the day .................. 291
Chapter on the desirability of travelling in company and appointing one of them as their leader whom
they will obey
293
Chapter on the etiquette of travelling, stopping, spending the night and sleeping while travelling. The
desirability of travelling by night, being kind to animals and seeing to their needs. To order those who
are deficient in fulfilling the rights of animals to fulfil their rights. The permissibility of two people
sitting on an animal if it is able to bear it.
.....
.................
295
Chapter on helping one's travel companion
.......
....
.
301
Chapter on the supplication one should make when mounting his conveyance ......
303
Chapter on a traveller saying "Allahu Akbar" when he ascends a mountain pass or the like thereof,
"Subhanallah" when he descends a valley or the like thereof, and the prohibition of raising the voice
when saying these words.
.......
.306
Chapter on the desirability of supplicating while on a journey
.....
310
Chapter on what supplication to make when one fears people or something else.
................
311
Chapter on what to say when stopping over at a place
....
...........
311
Chapter on the desirability of a traveller hastening in his return to his family after fulfilling his objective
.313
Chapter on the desirability of returning to one's family during the day, and the dislike of returning at

CONTENTS
night without any reason
......
.313
Chapter on what to say when one returns and sees his town
......
315
Chapter on the desirability of one who returns to first go to the masjid in his area and perform two
rak'āts of șalāh.
............
315
Chapter on the prohibition of a woman travelling on her own.
316
THE BOOK OF VIRTUES
318
Chapter on the virtue of reciting the Qur'an ................
........
.318
Chapter on the command to continuously adhere to the Qur'an and to be careful not to allow oneself
to forget it
......
.326
Chapter on the desirability of reciting the Qur'an in a beautiful tone and requesting someone with a
good voice to recite, and to listen to it.
327
Chapter on the encouragement of reciting certain chapters and verses
.....
.
331
Chapter on the desirability of gathering to recite the Qur'an.
.......
342
Chapter on the virtue of wudū'
.
.........
.............................. 344
Chapter on the virtue of adhan
.......
351
Chapter on the virtue of the Fajr and 'Asr salahs
......
.......
361
Chapter on the virtue of walking to the masajid ..
365
Chapter on the virtue of waiting for salah
370
Chapter on the virtue of performing salah in congregation.
.......
.......
.371
Chapter on the command to safeguard the obligatory salahs and the severest prohibition and warning
against abandoning them
.379
Chapter on the virtue of the first row, the order to fill the front rows, to straighten them and to stand
close together
........
.384
Chapter on the virtue of performing the Sunnah salahs with the obligatory salahs and clarification of
their minimum number, their perfect number and what is between the two
.. 393
Chapter on the importance of the two rak'āts Sunnah of the Fajr salah
.............. 394
Chapter on performing two short rak'āts for Fajr and clarification of what should be recited in them
and the time to do so .......
.397
.................
Chapter on the desirability of lying down on the right side after performing the two rak'ats of the Fajr

CONTENTS
salah and encouragement to do so whether one has performed Tahajjud salah or not ..
...............
401
Chapter on the Sunnah before and after the Maghrib salah ..
407
Chapter on the Sunnah before and after the 'Isha' salah .
.....
409
Chapter on the desirability of performing optional salāhs at home but not the obligatory salahs. The
command to perform the optional salah away from the place where the obligatory salah was performed,
or to separate between the two salahs by talking
........
.....
.. 410
Chapter on the encouragement of performing the Witr salah and clarification that it is Sunnah
Mu'akkadah, and its time
Chapter on the virtue of Salat al-Duļā, clarification of its minimum, maximum and intermediate number,
and encouragement to safeguard it .
416
...........
413
Chapter on the permissibility of performing Salat al-Duha from after sunrise until mid-day; it is best
to perform it when it is relatively hot and at mid-morning.
.418
Chapter on the encouragement to perform two rak'āts of Tahiyyat al-Masjid, and the detestability of
sitting down before doing so, at whatever time one enters the masjid, and irrespective whether he offers
these two rak'āts with the intention of Tahiyyat al-Masjid, an obligatory salah, a Sunnah salah, etc. .. 419
Chapter on the desirability of performing two rak'āts after wudū'
......
...
.. 420
Chapter on the virtue of the day of Jumu'ah, its obligation, performing ghusl, applying 'itr and going
early for it. Clarification of the time of acceptance of du'as, and encouragement to remember Allah in
abundance after Jumu'ah
421
......
Chapter on the virtue of spending the night in worship
........
430
Chapter on the desirability of worshiping at night in Ramadan, i.e. Tarāwīņ salah
....
.445
Chapter on the virtue of the night of Qadr and clarification of its occurrence
447
Chapter on the virtue of the miswak and qualities of the natural disposition
...............
452
Chapter on emphasising the obligation of zakah and clarification of its virtue and related matters 458
Chapter on the obligation of fasting in Ramadan and clarification of the virtue of fasting and whatever
is related to it
.....
....
.469
Chapter on generosity and doing good and virtuous actions in Ramadan, and increasing them in the
last ten days of the month
....... 477
.....
Chapter on the prohibition of fasting before Ramadan, after the 15th of Sha'ban, except for one who
also fasts before it, or it coincides with his habit of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays
.. 478
Chapter on the du'a' to recite when seeing the new moon
480

CONTENTS
Chapter on the virtue of suhur and delaying it as long as one does not fear the break of dawn ..
.. 481
Chapter on the virtue of hastening to break the fast, that with which one should break his fast, and
what one should say after breaking the fast
........
.483
Chapter on commanding the fasting person to safeguard his tongue and limbs from arguments, abusive
language, etc.
..........
488
Chapter on regulations regarding fasting.
........
489
Chapter on the virtue of fasting in al-Muharram, Sha'ban and the sacred months
....
491
Chapter on the virtue of fasting and other actions in the first ten days of Dhul Hijah ...............
.. 494
Chapter on the virtue of fasting on the day of 'Arafah, 'Ashura' and 9th of al-Muharram .................
.495
Chapter on the desirability of fasting six days in Shawwal.
..........
498
Chapter on the desirability of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays
.......
498
Chapter on the desirability of fasting for three days of every month.
....
.....
499
THE BOOK OF I'TIKĀF
505
Chapter on the virtue of I'tikaf.
.....
505

CHAPTER 70
باب فضل الاختلاط بالناس وحضور جُمَعِهم وجماعاتهم ، ومشاهد الخير ، ومجالس الذكر معهم
، وعيادة مريضهم ، وحضور جنائزهم ، ومواساة محتاجهم ، وإرشاد جاهلهم ، وغير ذلك من
مصالحهم لمن قدر عَلَى الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر ، وقمع نفسه عن الإيذاء وصبر عَلَى الأذى
Chapter on the virtue of mixing with people and attending their Jumu'ah
prayers, other congregational prayers, gatherings of good, gatherings of
dhikr, visiting those who are ill, attending their funerals, consoling those
in need, guiding those who are ignorant, and other such matters which
are in their best interests for one who is able to command good and forbid
evil, and prevent himself from causing injury, and exercise patience upon
difficulty
اعْلم أنَّ الاختلاط بالنَّاسِ عَلَى الوجِهِ الَّذِي ذَكَرْتُهُ هُوَ المختارُ الَّذِي كَانَ عَلَيْهِ رسول الله
﴿ وسائر الأنبياء صلواتُ اللهِ وسلامه عَلَيْهِمْ، وكذلك الخُلفاءُ الرَّاشدون ، ومن بعدَهُم
مِنَ الصَّحَابَةِ وَالنَّابِعِينَ ، ومن بَعدَهُم من عُلَماءِ المُسلمين وأَخْيَارِهم، وَهُوَ مَذْهَبُ أكْثَرِ
التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ بَعدَهُمْ ، وبه قَالَ الشافعيُّ وأحمدُ وأكثَرُ الفقهاءِ رضي اللهُ عنهم أجمعين.
Mixing with people in the way I have mentioned is the preferred way
which was practised by the Messenger of Allah
all the Messengers&
the rightly guided khalīfs, the Șahabah
and Tābi'în, the 'ulamā' of the
Muslims and the righteous who followed them. This was the practice of the
majority of the Tabi'in and those who followed them. It is also the opinion
of Imam Shafi'i Imam Ahmad , and the majority of the jurists. May
Allah &'s be pleased with all of them.
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَتَعَاوَنُوْا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى﴾ (المائدة : ٢)
Allāh &s says: "Assist each other in good deeds and piety." (Sūrah al-Ma'idah,
5: 2)
والآيات في معنى ما ذكرته كثيرة معلومة.
Similar Qur'anic verses are many and well known.

18
RIYĀD AL-ȘĀLIĶĪN
General Remarks
Scholars state that if a person has the ability of inviting towards good and abstaining from
evil and no harm comes to his faith by mixing with others, then he should do so. However,
if he fears that he will be negatively influenced or led towards the forbidden by mixing with
others, then he should isolate himself from them in order to save himself and his faith.
CHAPTER 71
باب التواضع وخفض الجناح للمؤمنين
Chapter on humility and being lenient with the believers
قَالَ الله تَعَالَى: ﴿وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ﴾ (الشعراء : ٢١٥)،
Allāh &s says: "Be humble to those believers who follow you." (Sūrah al-
Shu arā', 215)
وقال تَعَالَى: ﴿يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ أُمَنُوْا مَنْ يَّرْتَدَّ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِيْنِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِى اللهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُّحِبُّهُمْ
وَيُحِبُّوْنَةَ اذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكَفِرِيْنَ﴾ (المائدة: ٥٤)،
Allāh &s says: "O believers! Whoever among you turns away from his religion,
then Allah will soon bring another nation whom He loves and who love
Him; who will be kind to the believers, stern towards the disbelievers ... "
(Sūrah al-Mā'idah, 54)
وقال تَعَالَى: ﴿يَآَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنُكُمْ مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنُكُمْ شُعُوْبًا وَّقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوْا
إِنَّ اكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ اَتْقُكُمْ﴾ ( الحجرات : ١٣)،
Allāh &s says: "O people! We have certainly created you from a single male
and female and We made you into various families and tribes so that you
may recognise each other. Verily, the most honoured of you in Allah's sight
is the one with the most taqwa." (Sūrah al-Hujurāt, 13)
وقال تَعَالَى: ﴿فَلاَ تُزَكُّؤْا أَنْفُسَكُمْ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَى﴾ ( النجم: ٣٢)،

19
RIYĀD AL-ȘĀLIĦĪN
Allāh & says: "So do not ascribe purity to yourselves. He knows best who
is the most pious." (Sūrah al-Najm, 32)
وقال تَعَالَى: ﴿ وَنَاذَى أَصْحُبُ الْأَعْرَافِ رِ جَالاً يَّعْرِفُوْنَهُمْ بِسِيْمُهُمْ قَالُوْا مّا اغْنَى عَنْكُمْ
جَمْعُكُمْ وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَ اَهَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِيْنَ اَقْسَمْتُمْ لَا يَلُهُمُ اللهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ أُدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ
لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَاَ اَنْتُمْ تَحْزَنُوْنَ﴾ (الأعراف: ٤٨-٤٩).
Allāh &s says: "The people of A'raf will call out to those whom they would
recognise by their signs saying: 'Your masses and your pride were of no
avail to you.' Were these the people regarding whom you used to take oaths
that Allah will not have mercy on them? Enter Paradise! No fear shall come
upon you nor shall you grieve." (Sūrah al-A'raf, 48-49)
General Remarks
According to Fath al-Barī, the word oleJI is derived from the word dall which literally means
to be submissive and insignificant. Hence, in a religious context it means that a believer
should display his weakness and inability in relation to the greatness and power of Allah &s.
Scholars state that one should be humble before Allah
9, His Messenger
righteous
scholars, leaders and parents. Similarly, humility before the creation is praiseworthy when it
is for Allah's & pleasure. Allah &s will cause such a person to be honoured in the hearts of
men and on the tongues of people, and his status will be elevated in the Hereafter. However,
to humble oneself before tyrants, oppressors and the materialistic men of this world is not
praiseworthy. It is actually disgraceful to do so and such a person will be humiliated in the
Hereafter.
Hadith 602
: ((إنَّ الله أوْحَى إِلَيَّ أَنْ تَوَاضَعُوا
وعن عِيَاضِ بنِ حمارٍ ﴿لَّهُ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رسول الله
حَتَّى لاَ يَفْخَرَ أحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ ، وَلاَ يَبْغِي أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ )) رواه مسلم .
'Iyad ibn Himar1 4% narrates that the Messenger of Allah
said: “Allāh
revealed to me that you should be humble so that no one will boast
about himself over another and no one will commit injustice over another."
(Muslim)
1 'Iyad ibn Himar 40% was a friend of the Messenger of Allah
from the days of ignorance. He lived
in Başrah and 30 ahādīth are narrated from him.

20
RIYĀD AL-ȘĀLIĶĪN
Vocabulary and Definitions
"No one will boast about himself over another," means that people should not regard
themselves as superior to others and they should not boast over their lineage, financial
status or good qualities.
Commentary
The hadith teaches us that our relations with fellow human beings should be based on love,
softness and kindness rather than pride and arrogance.
Hadith 603
وعن أبي هريرة ﴿له: أنَّ رسول الله ﴿ه، قَالَ: ((مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ، وَمَا زادَ اللهُ
عَبْداً بعَفْوٍ إِلَّ عِزّاً، وَمَا تَوَاضَعَ أحَدٌ للهِ إِلَّ رَفَعَهُ اللهُ)) رواه مسلم.
Abū Hurayrah 4% narrates that the Messenger of Allah
said: "No charity
ever decreases any wealth; no person ever pardons (another) without Allah
des increasing him in honour; and no person ever humbles himself for the
sake of Allah &'s without Allah &'s elevating him." (Muslim)
Commentary
"No charity ever decreases any wealth," means that when a person gives in charity, Allah de
places such blessings in his remaining wealth that compensates for the apparent decrease.
Further, Allah &s will immensely increase his rewards in the Hereafter.
Allah &s increasing the honour of the one who pardons, and His elevating the status of one
who is humble may either refer to the respect and honour a person will enjoy in this world
or it is a reference to the reward he will receive in the Hereafter. It is also possible that Allah
des may reward such a person in both the worlds.
Hadīth 604
وعن أنس ◌َّهُ: أَنَّهُ مَرَّ عَلَى صبيانٍ ، فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وقال: كَانَ النبيُّ :﴿ يفعله . متفقٌ عَلَيْهِ .
Anas de passed by some children and greeted them, saying: "The Messenger
of Allāh
used to do so." (Bukhārī, Muslim)
Commentary
The Messenger of Allah
greeted children due to his humility and simplicity. Another
narration of Anas provides further details of the Messenger of Allah's
interaction with
children: