Explanation of the Hadeeth: "I Shall teach you some words"

Hadeeth #19 from Sharh al-Arba`een al-Nawawee by Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

On the authority of `Abdullaah bin `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما who said: One day I was (riding) behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (on the same mount) and he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be mindful of Allaah and Allaah will protect you. Be mindful of Allaah and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allaah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allaah [alone]. And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allaah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allaah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2516) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

In another narration, other than that of al-Tirmidhee, reads: “Be mindful of Allaah, and you will find Him in front of you. Recognize and acknowledge Allaah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity. And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease.” [Mustadrak of al-Haakim (6304)]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله comments:

The saying of Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما: “I was behind the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم” can mean that he was either riding with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (on the same mount) or it could be that he was walking behind him. Whatever it was, the important point is that he صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed him with this magnificent advice.

“O young man!”, because Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما was young at that time. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم died when Ibn `Abbaas had just reached the age of puberty, meaning between fifteen or sixteen years of age or even younger.

He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I will teach you some words…”, he said this in order to grab Ibn `Abbaas attention.

“Be mindful of Allaah, and Allaah will protect you”, these are amazing and great words. “Be mindful”, meaning: take care of the limits (set) by Allaah and His Sharee`ah by doing what He تعالى has commanded and shunning that which He تعالى has prohibited, and by learning the Deen by which you can establish (and perfect) your `Ibaadah (worship) and manners, and through which you can invite people towards Allaah عز وجل.

The second thing he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Be mindful of Allaah, and Allaah will protect you”, He تعالى will protect you in your Deen, your family, your wealth, and you (as well). For Allaah سبحانه وتعالى rewards the good doers out of His Grace and the most important of these is that He تعالى protects you in regards to your Deen and safeguards you from deviation and misguidance; for whoever accepts guidance, Allaah عز وجل increases him in guidance:

﴿وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَآتَاهُمْ تَقْوَاهُمْ﴾

{While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety.} [Surah Muhammad (47): 17]

And from this (Hadeeth) it is known that whosoever is not mindful of Allaah (and fails to keep his duties), then he does not deserves Allaah’s عز وجل protection; and in this there is encouragement for us to safeguard the limits set by Allaah عز وجل.

He صلى الله عليه وسلم further said: “Be mindful of Allaah and you will find Him in front of you”. The meaning of “Be mindful of Allaah” is same as we explained earlier. And the meaning of “you will find Him before of you” (or) “in front of you”, the meaning of both these is the same; i.e. you will find Allaah عز وجل in front of you, leading you towards every goodness, making you closer to Him, guiding you towards Him and safeguarding you from every evil, especially when you seek Allaah’s help in being mindful of Him. If a person seeks Allaah’s عز وجل help and relies (Tawakkul) upon Him, then Allaah تعالى would suffice him; and after Allaah he would not be in the need of anyone else. Allaah تعالى says:

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسْبُكَ اللَّـهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾

{O Prophet (Muhammad)! Allaah is Sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you.} [Surah al-Anfaal (8): 64]

i.e. sufficient for you (O Muhammad) and sufficient for the Believers who follow you. So if Allaah is supporting a person, then no harm will afflict him, that’s why he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Be mindful of Allaah, and you will find Him in front of you.”

The third thing he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “If you ask, then ask Allaah [alone]”. If you are in need, then ask no one except Allaah تعالى; do not ask the creation for anything. But if the need arose and you had to ask someone (for something) which he was capable of providing*, then know that he was one out of the many means and that the real provider is Allaah عز وجل. For had Allaah تعالى Willed, He would have not provided you what you had asked; so one should rely upon Allaah (for all his needs).

*[Note: While seeking help from someone, always remember two things: 1) the person you are calling to should be present (someone who is alive and can hear you). 2) He should have the ability to do what you are asking.]

The fourth thing he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “and if you seek help, then seek help from Allaah [alone]”. If you need help (or any assistance), then seek Allaah’s help alone and no one else. For it is Allaah in Whose Hands is the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and it is He who helps you if He Wills. So if you sincerely ask Allaah تعالى for help and trust Him (completely), He would help you. But if one sought help from anyone in which he was capable of providing, then know that he was (only) a means and Allaah is the one who made it to happen for you.

And in these two statements there is evidence that it is from the deficiency in Tawheed that a person asks other than Allaah (for help)*; and that is why it is disliked that a person asks other than Allaah عز وجل (for help) in the matter big or small. When Allaah تعالى Wills to help you, He will make help easy for you (to reach), whether the means are known or unknown. It maybe that Allaah تعالى might help you in ways unknown to you; He may remove from you some harm which no one else has the strength to remove it; and Allaah تعالى can also help you through one of his creations – He تعالى may subdue a person in helping you. But remember that through whatever means Allaah تعالى helps you, don’t forget that He تعالى is the One who made it possible.

*[Note: Asking help from some who is alive and capable of providing/doing it for you is not Shirk. Example: asking a living person for some financial assistance. But it is Shirk to as a person who is not present (either dead or is not able to hear you) for a thing which he cannot provide. Example: going to the grave of a “saint” and asking him to bestow wealth upon you or rain or children etc.]

The fifth thing he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allaah had already prescribed for you.” The Ummah (nation) here is everyone – from the first one to the last. Even if they all gathered together to benefit you with something, they will not be able to do so except with what Allaah تعالى has already prescribed for you. So according to this, whatever benefits a person receives through the creation, then in reality it is from Allaah عز وجل, for it is He تعالى who had prescribed it for him. In this there is encouragement for us that we should rely on Allaah عز وجل ever more; and to know that the Ummah cannot bring us any good except by the Will of Allaah عز وجل.

The sixth thing he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allaah had already prescribed against you.” And according to this, if you receive any harm by someone, then know that Allaah تعالى had already prescribed it to happen. So be content (and patient) with what Allaah تعالى has preordained and Willed. There is no problem if one tries (to seek the means)* to remove the harm that has afflicted him, for Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِثْلُهَا﴾

{The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof.} [Surah al-Shooraa (42): 40]

*[Note: Seeking the means to remove the harm can either be by: 1) Beseeching Allaah تعالى to remove it. As Allaah تعالى said:

﴿أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ الْأَرْضِ ۗ أَإِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّـهِ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ﴾

{Is not He (Allaah) (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations. Is there any ilaah (god) with Allaah? Little is that you remember!} [Surah al-Naml (27): 62]

2) Doing good deeds, as has been mentioned in the long Hadeeth of the three who got stuck in a cave. [Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

3) Seeking help from someone who has the ability to do so (which is explained by the Shaikh further into the topic).]

The seventh thing he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” Meaning: whatever Allaah تعالى wanted to write has been completed. The pens have been lifted and pages have dried and there can be no change to the Words of Allaah عز وجل.

*[Note: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The first thing Allaah created was the pen. He تعالى said to it: {Write}. It asked: What should I write, my lord? He تعالى said: {Write what was decreed about everything till the Last hour comes}.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (4700) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2155, 3319) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]]

In another narration, other than that of al-Tirmidhee, it reads: “Be mindful of Allaah, and you will find Him in front of you.” This has already been explained earlier.

“Recognize and acknowledge Allaah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity.” Meaning: establish the rights of Allaah عز وجل in the times of ease, good health and prosperity and He تعالى will remember you in the times of adversity, when your health and wealth are declining and when things have become difficult - He تعالى will remember you for the good deeds which you had sent forth (and will ease your tasks for you).

“And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by.” Meaning: Whatever befell you, there was nothing you could do to avert it; and whatever passed you by (or whatever you missed), you could not have obtained it (or it was never going to befall you). And it means that whatever Allaah تعالى had Willed that it should befall you, it would never have missed you. Rather, it was going to happen as Allaah تعالى had preordained it to happen.*

*[Note: The subject of time travel is one of the most often depicted subjects in recent movies, documentaries, books and especially in cartoons. Even though the Kuffaar only know it in theory, but they try to present it as if it is an actual reality and that one day man will go back in time and alter the present/future. But little do these Kuffaar know that it is not at all possible to alter the past, the present or the future. This and other similar Ahaadeeth are clear about this and we should therefore guard ourselves and our children from letting them affect our `Aqeedah.]

And if Allaah عز وجل has prescribed that something should not befall you, then it will never harm you. The matter is in the Hands of Allaah, and this only teaches that a person should have (strong) reliance upon his Lord, the perfect and complete reliance.

Thereafter, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “And know that victory comes with patience.” In this statement there is encouragement towards being patient; because if victory comes with patience, then it is incumbent upon a person that he should be patient so that he would receive victory. And Sabr (patience) here includes: being patient in following the commands of Allaah تعالى, being patient while avoiding sins, and being patient in what Allaah تعالى has preordained (of the harm that befalls a person), this is because the enemy tries to harm the person in every way possible. And it may occur to a person that he may not be able to confront the enemy, and gets exhausted and abandons the Jihaad; or he did strive against his enemy in Jihaad, but when harm befell him, he stopped it. Rather he should patiently continue and if his enemies harm him, then he should show patience, as Allaah تعالى says:

﴿إِنْ يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِثْلُهُ﴾

{If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others.} [Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 140]

﴿ وَلا تَهِنُوا فِي ابْتِغَاءِ الْقَوْمِ إِنْ تَكُونُوا تَأْلَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَأْلَمُونَ كَمَا تَأْلَمُونَ وَتَرْجُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لا يَرْجُونَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً﴾

{And don't be weak in the pursuit of the enemy; if you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allaah (for the reward, i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not, and Allaah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 104]

So if a person is patient and endures and is stationed against the enemies (and fears Allaah), then Allaah تعالى will provide him victory (over his enemies).

And his صلى الله عليه وسلم statement: “(and know that) relief (follows) affliction, and hardship with ease.” Relief is removing of hardship and suffering. So if a person faces some harship, then (he should know) that relief is nearby because Allaah عز وجل says in His Book:

﴿أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ﴾

{Is not He (Allaah) (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil.} [Surah al-Naml (27): 62]

After every hardship there is relief, rather the hardship is surrounded by two ease – ease which precedes it and ease which follows it. Allaah تعالى says:

﴿فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً * إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً﴾

{So truly with hardship comes ease, truly with hardship comes ease.} [Surah al-Sharh (94): 5-6]

Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما said: “Hardship will never overcome two ease.”*

*[Note: For further explanation on this statement of please visit:
http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2012/11/brief-comments-on-riyaadh-al-saaliheen_6855.html ]

Some benefits from this Hadeeth:

1) The kindness the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم showed to those who were younger than him when he said: “O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice].”

2) The one who has something important to say, should begin in such a way to attract the attention of the listener, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did when he said: “O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice].”

3) Whoever is mindful of Allaah, Allaah تعالى will protect him, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Be mindful of Allaah and Allaah will protect you.”

4) From forgetting about Allaah is: forgetting and giving up on Allaah’s Deen.  So Allaah will let him go to ruin and will not protect him. Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَلا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنْسَاهُمْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ﴾

{And be not like those who forgot Allaah (i.e. became disobedient to Allaah) and He caused them to forget their ownselves, (let them to forget to do righteous deeds). Those are the Faasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allaah). } [Surah al-Hashr (59): 19]

5) Part of Allaah’s عز وجل protection (for His creation) is that He تعالى guides them and leads them towards that which is beneficial for them. And from Allaah’s عز وجل protection is that He prevents them from committing evil deeds.

6) If a person is need of help, he should seek Allaah’s help. But there is no problem in seeking help from someone in the things which he can help in, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “and to help a man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, is also regarded as Sadaqah.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2891, 2989) and Saheeh Muslim (2204)]

7) The Ummah will never be able to benefit anyone except if Allaah تعالى has already preordained it (to happen), and they will never be able to harm anyone except if Allaah تعالى has already preordained it (to happen).

8) It is incumbent that a person’s hope should be upon Allaah عز وجل alone and his hope should not depend upon the creation, as the creation has no power to harm or benefit.

9) And all the affairs have already been written down, as has been authentically reported from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: “Allaah ordained the measures of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.” [Saheeh Muslim (6416)]

10) As per the second narration, if a person remembers Allaah عز وجل (and is obedient to Him) during the times of good health and ease, Allaah عز وجل will remember him during his hardship, will be compassionate towards him, will help him and will remove his difficulty.

11) A person should (always remember) that if Allaah تعالى has preordained that something should happen to him, then there is nothing to prevent it. Similarly, if Allaah تعالى did not preordain it, then it will never befall him.

12) In this there is great glad tiding for those who are patient and steadfast and that victory is the product of Sabr.

13) In this there is also great tiding that easing of distress and the removal of hardship is tied with hardship; that whenever a person faces some trouble, Allaah تعالى will relieve him from it.

14) In this there is also glad tiding that whenever a person faces some hardship, he should wait for the ease from Allaah. As Allaah تعالى has mentioned it in the Qur’aan:

﴿فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً * إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً﴾

{So truly with hardship comes ease, truly with hardship comes ease.} [Surah al-Sharh (94): 5-6]

So if things become difficult for you, then you should turn towards Allaah تعالى, waiting for ease from Him – a promise from Him that will never fail.

15) Being relaxed when some harm befalls a person and when something he liked did not reach him is one of the meanings when he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by.” The first statement is about being relaxed when some hardship befalls a person; and the second statement is about being relaxed when a person does not receive the thing which is liked.

And Allaah is the One who grants success.

[Sharh al-Arba`een al-Nawawee by Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله]