Saturday, March 5, 2022

Explanation of the Hadeeth: Cleanliness Is Half Of Faith

  بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

Abu Maalik al-Ash`aree رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allaah  said:

1. Cleanliness is half of Imaan (Faith),

2. and al-Hamdu Lillaah (Praise be to Allaah) fills the Scale,

3. and Sub-haan Allaah (Glory be to Allaah) and al-Hamdu Lillaah (Praise be to Allaah) fill up what is between the heavens and the earth,

4. and prayer is a light,

5. and charity is proof (of one's faith),

6. and endurance is a brightness,

7. and the Qur’aan is a proof on your behalf or against you.

8. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.

📚[Saheeh Muslim (223)]


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1. Cleanliness is half of Imaan (Faith)

 Notes:

This is a great Hadeeth, and it is one of the fundamental Ahaadeeth, in which the Prophet mentioned everything that is beneficial for a Muslim in his life and the Hereafter. In it, the Prophet tells that Cleanliness is half of Faith, meaning: the reward of ablution leads to half the reward of Imaan (Faith). Al-Tuhoor (Purification) and it is ablution (Wudhoo, Ghusl); and as for “purity”, its origin is cleanliness and removal of impurity. Purification is to remove the impurities from the body and clothes, and to clean or wash it with water.

Scholars have differed in their understanding of the phrase: Cleanliness is half of Faith. Some said: The Characteristic of Imaan – and it comprises of actions and statements – is that it purifies the heart, and helps in cleansing it from Shirk, Kufr, envy, etc. As for cleaning with the water (ablution, Ghusl), then it is specific to physical cleaning and purification of the body. So, by cleanliness, here it is referring to the cleanliness of the inner self with Imaan and the cleaning of the physical body with water. So, in this regard, Imaan and cleanliness together are half and half.

The  second  meaning  is  that  by  “Imaan”  here  it  refers to al-Salaah (prayer), as in the saying of Allaah تعالى:

وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ

{And Allaah would never make your Faith (prayers) to be lost}

📚 [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 143]

In this Aayah, Allaah تعالى referred to al-Salaah (prayer) as al-Imaan (Faith). So, with this meaning, perfecting the Wudhoo (ablution) is part of perfecting the Salaah (prayer), and Allaah تعالى does not accept al-Salaah without purification. So, with this, cleanliness is half of Faith.

📚 [Source: الدرر السنية]


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2. and al-Hamdulillaah (Praise be to Allaah) fills the Scale

 Notes:

Al-Hamdulillaah (الحمد الله – Praise be to Allaah) fills the Scale. Meaning: The phrase (Alhamdulillaah) will be weighed on the Day of Judgment, and it will fill the Scale with reward and recompense so that the Scale tilts towards the side with the good deeds. This will take place on the Day of Judgment, on the Day when the deeds of the people will be weighed, and they will be recompensed accordingly, good for good, and evil for evil.

The Scale which will weigh the deeds of the People on the Day of Judgment is real, and it is not something metaphorical, and there is nothing on this earth that resembles it. The Scale is from the matters of the unseen, and it is obligatory to believe in it, the way we believe in the other matters of the unseen like the belief in the Angels, and the existence of Jannah and Jahannam.

📚 [Source: الدرر السنية]

The other things that will be weighed on the scale:

1. Deeds (actions and statements) of the creation.

2. Record Books.

3. The people themselves.

 Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

The author’s (Imaam al-Bukhaaree’s) statement (in his Saheeh): The deeds and the statement of Aadam's offspring will be weighed., this is the most preferred statement; i.e. the thing that will be weighed is the deed, whether it is the action (of the limbs) or the statement (of the tongue).

Some scholars have preferred (the opinion) that the thing which will be weighed is the book of deeds.

Others have preferred (the opinion) that the thing which will be weighed will be the doer himself.

Some said that the things which will be weighed are the record books, and their evidence was the Hadeeth of the “al-Bataaqah” (the card):

`Abdullaah bin `Amr رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: A man from my nation will be called before all of creation on the Day of Resurrection, and ninety-nine scrolls will be spread out for him, each one extending as far as the eye can see. Then Allaah will say: {Do you deny anything of this?} He will say: “No, O Lord.” (Allaah) will say: {Have My recording scribes been unfair to you?} Then (Allaah) will say: {Apart from that, do you have any good deeds?} The man will be terrified and will say: “No.” (Allaah) will say: {Indeed, you have good deeds with Us, and you will not be treated unjustly this Day.} Then a card will be brought out on which is written: “Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah wa anna Muhammadan `abduhoo wa rasooluhu” (I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger). He will say: “O Lord, what is this card compared with these scrolls?” (Allaah) will say: {You will not be treated unjustly.} Then the scrolls will be placed on one side of the Balance and the card on the other. The scrolls will go up (i.e., be light) and the card will go down (i.e., will weigh heavily) [Nothing will be heavier than the Name of Allaah].

📚 [Sunan Ibn Maajah (4300) and the wordings are his, Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2639) and the last part is from him, and graded as “Saheeh as per the condition of Imaam Muslim” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (135)]

This is the evidence that the things which will be weighed are the record books.

The third saying: the thing which will be measured is the doer himself; they base this on the following Hadeeth:

Umm Moosaa said: “I heard `Alee رضي الله عنه say that the Prophet commanded `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood to climb a tree and bring him something from it. His Companions looked at `Abdullaah’s shanks and laughed at its thinness. The Messenger of Allaah said: Why are you laughing? The shanks (in another narration: the legs) of `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood will be heavier on the scale than the mountain of Uhud.

📚 [Al-Adab al-Mufrad (237), Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (920, 3991) and graded as “Saheeh li ghairihee” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. See al-Saheehah (2750, 3192)]

And the most preferred opinion from all these three sayings is: The things that will be measured on the scale will be the deeds, as Imaam al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله had said (in his Saheeh).

📚 [Source: Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaaree of Shaikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen (9/570-572/7563) as well as in Sharh Saheeh Muslim (7/575)]


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3. and Sub-haan Allaah (Glory be to Allaah) and al-Hamdu Lillaah (Praise be to Allaah) fill up what is between the heavens and the earth

 Notes:

Sub-haan Allaah (Glory be to Allaah), meaning: declaring Allaah to be free from all types of imperfections and weaknesses, or anything that has been falsely attributed to Him. And at the same time affirming all the perfect Names and Attributes to Him.

Al-Hamdulillaah (الحمد الله – Praise be to Allaah), meaning: affirming that only Allaah alone deserves to be praised and thanked for His favors and blessings.

And these two phrases: “Sub-haan Allaah and Al-Hamdulillaah” together – i.e., the reward for remembering Allaah with these phrases - fill up what is between the heavens and the earth.

📚 [Source: الدرر السنية]

 Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله:

And the Prophet’s saying: سُبْحَانَ اَللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ, meaning: I glorify Allaah with the Glorification accompanied with His praises; connecting between Takhliyah (removing) and Tahliyah (adorning/affirming).

Takhliyah, meaning: Declaring Allaah to be free from all types of deficiencies and shortcomings.

Tahliyah, meaning: Affirming for Allaah all the perfect Attributes.

And only through these (two – Takhliyah and Tahliyah) will one be able to affirm perfection for Allaah. Any perfection which is accompanied by any deficiency is not perfection in the true sense. True perfection is when the deficiencies are removed and only perfect (Attributes) are affirmed. This is why these two words have been joined together: سُبْحَانَ اَللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ. The letter “ب” (Baa) here is for the association.

📚 [Source: Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaaree of Shaikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen (9/570-572/7563) as well as in Sharh Saheeh Muslim (7/575)]

 Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله:

The phrase سُبْحَانَ اَللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ combines between al-Tanzeeh and al-Tamjeed wal-Thanaa’.

Al-Tanzeeh is in the saying: “سُبْحَانَ اَللَّهِ”, which is to declare Allaah to be free from all imperfections (and weaknesses and everything that is falsely attributed to Him and that does not suit His Majesty such as attributing to Him a son, or trinity, etc.)

Al-Tamjeed wal-Thanaa’ is in the saying: “وَبِحَمْدِهِ”, which is praise and affirm all the Beautiful Names and Lofty Attributes of Allaah.

📚 [Source: Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaaree of Shaikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen (8/598/6682)]

 

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4. and prayer is a light

 Notes:

And prayer is a light, meaning: as some say, part of the reward of offering al-Salaah is that Allaah تعالى will provide that person with a light on the Day of Judgment, and it can also be a light for him in this world and brightness on his face, in opposition to those who do not pray.

And some say: It is a light which stops a person from committing sins, and prevents him from al-Fahshaa’ (i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse, immorality, etc.) and al-Munkar (i.e., disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.), and guides him towards the right path.

Al-Salaah is indeed a light in the hearts of the obedient slaves of Allaah, and on their faces, in their graves, and on the Day of Judgment.

📚 [Source: الدرر السنية]

 Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Similarly, it will be light for the individual in his heart. It opens for the servant the door to knowing Allaah سبحانه وتعالى, the door of understanding Allaah’s rulings, His actions, Names and

Attributes. It is also light in the grave of the individual. All this is for the fact that the Prayer is the pillar of Islaam; and when the pillar is established, the building stands firm, and when the pillar does not stand firm then there is no building.

Likewise, it will be light during his resurrection on the Day of Judgment as the Messenger mentioned that: Whoever preserves it, it shall be light, proof and salvation for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever does not preserve it, it will neither be light nor proof nor salvation for him on the Day of Resurrection. He will be raised in the company of Fir`awn, Haamaan, Qaaroon and Ubayyu bin Khalaf!

📚 [Musnad Ahmad (6576) and graded as “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Dha`eef al-Jaami` (2851), Dha`eef al-Targheeb (312), whereas there are others who have authenticated this narration. Shaikh Shuaib al-Arnaa’oot said: it is “Hasan” in his checking of Musnad Ahmad. Shaikh Ahmad Shaakir said: It is “Saheeh”. Al-Haithamee said: “This was reported by Ahmad (in his Musnad), al-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer and al-Awsat, and the narrators in the narration from (Imaam) Ahmad are all reliable.”]

Therefore, it is a light for the individual in all his conditions necessitating that he should maintain it, work towards it and engage in much of it in order to increase his light, knowledge, and Faith.

📚 [Source: Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (1/190-191)]

 

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5. and charity is proof (of one's faith)

Notes:

And charity is proof (of one's faith), meaning: it is proof of the true Faith of the Believers, in opposition to the hypocrites. A hypocrite abstains from giving charity because he does not truly believe in Allaah and the Last Day. So, whoever gives charity, then through his actions he is proving the sincerity of his Faith in Allaah and the Last Day. As Allaah تعالى said:

الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

{Who believe in al- Ghaib (the unseen) and perform al-Salaah, and spend out of what we have provided for them [i.e., give charity]}

📚 [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 3]

As for the hypocrites and the Kuffaar, Allaah تعالى mentioned about them:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنُطْعِمُ مَن لَّوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ أَطْعَمَهُ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

{And when it is said to them: “Spend of that with which Allaah has provided you,” those who disbelieve say to those who believe: “Shall we feed those whom, if Allaah willed, He (Himself) would have fed? You are only in a plain error.”}

📚 [Surah Yaaseen (36): 47]

And if the hypocrites and the Kuffaar were to spend, they mostly do it for showing-off:

وَالَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۗ وَمَن يَكُنِ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ قَرِينًا فَسَاءَ قَرِينًا

{And (also) those who spend of their substance to be seen of men, and believe not in Allaah and the Last Day [they are the friends of Shaitan], and whoever takes Shaitan as a companion; then what a dreadful companion he has!}

📚 [Surah al-Nisaa (4): 38]

Be prompt in giving out your Zakaah and Sadaqah

Have you ever contemplated why the dead would prefer “Sadaqah” as his choice of good deed over the other things if he were ever allowed to return to this world?! As Allaah تعالى mentioned:

فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ

{…and he would say: "My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (charity of my wealth)…}

📚 [Surah al-Munaafiqoon (63): 10]

It is not mentioned that he would say: “so that I could fast”, or “I could pray”…

Perhaps the reason for mentioning the Sadaqah here is because of its great virtues and its lasting effects which the dead will see after his death, as the believers will be under the shade of their Sadaqah…

`Uqbah bin `Aamir رضي الله عنه said that the Messenger of Allaah said: Every person will be under the shade of his Sadaqah (charity) till the Judgment has been settled among the people.

📚 [Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (17333), Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan (3310) and al-Haakim in his Mustadrak (1517) and Saheeh Ibn Khuzaimah (2431) and Shaikh al-Albaanee commented on Ibn Khuzaimah saying: “It is Saheeh as per the condition of Imaam Muslim” See also Takhreej Mushkilah al-Faqr (118) and Saheeh al-Jaami` (4510) and Saheeh al-Targheeb (872) of Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Also, the Prophet said: Seven people will be shaded by Allaah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His. They are: …a person who practices charity so secretly that his left -and does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity)…

📚 [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (660, 1423, 6479, 6806) and Saheeh Muslim (2248)]

 

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6. and endurance is a brightness 

Notes:

Sabr is brightness, meaning: it is the shining light which gives off heat and which can burn, like the brightness of the sun which is bright and hot, in opposition to the moon which is only light and no heat, and which illuminates without giving off heat.

Being patient in the face of hardship is difficult for the soul to bear, and therefore the soul needs to strive and struggle, and needs to place constrain over the desires.

Patience is of three types:

1. Patience to fulfill the obligations and to do the righteous acts.

2. Patience in abstaining from evil, prohibited, and disliked acts.

3. Patience during times of hardship.

 Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله explained the saying of the Prophet : the prayer is light...and patience is brightness

As for patience (endurance) he said it is "brightness", in which there is light – but light in which there is heat, as Allaah تعالى said:

هو الذي جعل الشمس ضياءً والقمر نوراً

{It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light}

📚 [Surah Yunus (10): 5]

And bright light (الضوء) without doubt has heat in it. Similarly, patience too without doubt has its heat and fatigue; because in it there is great hardship and that is why its reward is without measure. [1]

So, the difference between the Noor (light) in al-Salaah and al-Dhiyaa’ (brightness) in al-Sabr is: the brightness in al-Sabr is accompanied by heat, because of what it contains of the hardship of the heart (i.e. mental fatigue) and at other times physical tiredness.

📚 [Source: Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (1/191)]

[1] The Shaikh رحمه الله is referring to the aayah:

إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

{Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning}

📚 [Surah al-Zumar (39):10]

 

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7. and the Qur’aan is a proof on your behalf or against you.

 Notes:

Meaning: Due to the person’s recitation of the Qur’aan and acting upon its commandments, it will be proof for him on the Day of Resurrection.

`Abdullaah Ibn `Amr رضي الله عنهما reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: The Fast and the Qur’aan are the two intercessors for the servant of Allaah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: “O Lord, I prevented him from his food and drink during the day. Let me intercede for him.” The Qur’aan will say: “I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.” And their intercession will be accepted.

📚[Mu`jam al-Kabeer of al-Tabaraanee (14672) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Tamaam al-Minnah (1/394-395)]

Abu Al-`Aliyah said that Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said, By Allaah, in Whose Hand is my soul! The right Tilaawah (recitation of the Qur’aan) is allowing what it makes lawful, prohibiting what it makes unlawful, reciting it as it was revealed by Allaah, not changing the words from their places, and not interpreting it with other than its actual interpretation.

📚 [Tafseer Ibn Katheer (1/403)]

And due to the person’s abandonment of its recitation, and not acting upon its commandments, the Qur’aan will be a proof against him and source of loss for him on the Day of Resurrection, and the Prophet will testify against him:

وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا

{And the Messenger (Muhammad ) will say: “O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur’aan (neither listened to it nor acted on its laws and orders).}

📚 [Surah al-Furqaan (25): 30]

 Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Then the Prophet said: and the Qur’aan is a plea in your favor or against you, because the Qur’aan is the strong rope of Allaah, and it is Allaah’s proof on His creatures. It will either be in your favor – and that is if you try to reach Allaah through it, and uphold its obligations, such as accepting what is mentioned therein, acting upon its commands, abstaining from its prohibitions, and venerating this noble Qur’aan and honoring it.

But if the matter is contrariwise; you put down the Qur’aan, desert it in words and meaning and in your actions, not observing its obligations, it will surely be proof against you on the Day of Resurrection. The Messenger did not mention any rank in-between the two! That is, he did not say that the Qur’aan will neither be proof for you nor against you because in any case, it must be either for you or against you. We ask Allaah to make it proof for us all; the proof from which we take guidance in this world and in the Hereafter. He is certainly the Most Generous and Most Honorable.

📚 [Source: Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (1/192)]

 Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله also said:

But most of the people who recite the Qur’aan do not recite it as it should be recited. They establish the proper pronunciation of its words, but do not understand its meaning, nor establish the Sharee`ah it came with. So, if one were to look at the condition of the Muslim world today, one will find that most of them only establish the pronunciation and wording without implementing its meaning and teachings. We seek Allaah’s guidance for us and them.

📚 [Source: Sharh Saheeh Muslim of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (1/489-490)]

 

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8. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves. 

 Notes:

The statement of the Prophet : All men go out in the morning…, meaning: In the morning, the very early part of the day.

and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves, every person who exerts himself in the obedience of Allaah and His worship, then he has taken the path of freeing himself from the punishment of the Hell-Fire by Allaah’s permission. And if he exerts himself in the obedience of Shaitaan, and chasing his desires, then it will destroy him, and he has embarked on the path leading towards the Hell-Fire.

 Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said (paraphrased):

Every person starts his day in the morning with certain actions, as the nights are for resting:

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِالنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ

{It is He (Allaah), Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and knows all that you have done by day, then he raises (wakes) you up again}

📚 [Surah al-An`aam (6): 60]

The sleep that comes in the night is a minor death, in which the nerves are relaxed, and the body is rested and rejuvenated and is ready for another day of work. So, once it is morning – the early part of the day, people go out to work. The Believers proceed towards doing good deeds, whereas the disbelievers will proceed towards evil.

As for a (sincere) Muslim, the first thing he does after waking up in the morning is to perform Wudhoo (ablution), Cleanliness is half of Imaan, as mentioned in this Hadeeth. Thereafter, he leaves to offer the Salaah. So, he begins his day with the worship of Allaah. He commences his day with good deeds. So, with Allaah’s permission, he has ransomed from the punishment.

or destroying themselves, meaning: the one who trades his soul and puts it into perdition. The disbelievers set out on the path of evil deeds - the path of destruction. They commence their day with disobedience to Allaah, even if they were to start their day with eating and drinking. (They have started their day without mentioning Allaah’s name), so, they will be punished for eating and drinking and will be made to account for it on the Day of Resurrection.

From the moment the disbeliever wakes up in the morning – and the refuge is with Allaah - he goes on trading his soul in what destroys it. As for the believer, he exchanges his soul with what expiates it and protects it from the Hellfire.

At the end of the Hadeeth the Prophet categorized people into two groups:

The First: the Qur’aan will proof for them, and they liberate themselves by doing righteous deeds.

The Second: the Qur’aan will proof against them, and they destroy themselves by doing evil deeds.

📚 [Source: Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (1/192-194)]


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