Sunday, September 3, 2023

(1) Explanation Of Hisn Al-Muslim: Translator's Intro

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ithaaf al-Muslim bi Sharh Hisn al-Muslim
(Gifting A Muslim With Explanation Of Fortress Of The Muslim)

By: Shaikh Sa`eed Ibn `Alee Ibn Wahf al-Qahtaanee رحمه الله.

 

Introduction by the Translator:

The Book “Hisn al-Muslim” (حصن المسلم – Fortress Of The Muslim) needs no introduction. It has become a household name for every Muslim who loves the authentic Sunnah. For the past few decades, it has been a go-to book for many Muslims who wanted to learn the authentic Ad`iyah (sing. Du`aa, supplications) and Adhkaar (Allaah’s remembrance) that are intended to be said at certain times and places.


Among the first books that were written on this subject of Du`aa and Dhikr, was `Amal al-Yaum wal-Lailah by Imaam Abu `Abdul Rahmaan al-Nasaa’ee رحمه الله. Then his student, Ibn Sunnee رحمه الله, also wrote a book and named it `Amal al-Yaum wal-Lailah. Al-Nawawee رحمه الله also wrote a book, entitled: al-Adhkaar. Shaikh al-Islaam, Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, also wrote a book, entitled: al-Kalim al-Tayyib, and Shaikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله also did a checking for this book, and it is now printed as: Saheeh al-Kalim al-Tayyib. Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله also wrote a book, entitled: al-Waabil al-Sayyib. Then in recent times, many other books on Adhkaar were written, among them is Hisn al-Muslim.

From the books that have been written in recent times, no other book has received such a vast audience and widespread acceptance from people around the world like Hisn al-Muslim. There is no house and no Masjid, except that you will find a copy of this book therein, and all praise is for Allaah alone. The book was first published in the year 1409H (1988) by its author, Shaikh Sa`eed Ibn `Alee Ibn Wahf al-Qahtaanee رحمه الله. By Allaah’s permission, in this short period, millions of people benefited from this book. It has been printed numerous times, and in various languages, and millions of copies have been sold or distributed for free. People realized the importance of this book so much so that there is no major language except that this book has been translated into that language. So far, the book has been translated into 40+ languages. This is the favor of Allaah which He bestows on whom He wills from His slaves.

The book is printed in many sizes, but the pocket-size one helped the people to carry it with them wherever they went. Many people memorized the Ad`iyah and Adhkaar in this book and made their children memorize them as well.

To make the book concise, and for easy readability for the common people, the author رحمه الله gathered the narrations without mentioning the chains of narration or the names of the narrators. He limited it to the authentic narrations from the Saheehain, al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, or what the scholars had authenticated, especially Shaikh al-Albaanee and Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمهم الله. He would mention the source of the narration in the footnotes, as well as the names of the scholars who had authenticated that narration.

One of the most important features of this book is the arrangement of the Ad`iyah and Adkhaar in proper chapters. The way the book and chapters have been sequenced helps in the easy access and memorization of the Ad`iyah.

Nearly thirty years after the book was first published, the author, Shaikh Sa`eed al-Qahtaanee رحمه الله, decided to write a detailed explanation (Sharh) for his own book, and this was two years before his death. He embarked on this task, especially, after a few explanations were already written by others, some of which were really short commentaries. He رحمه الله went through a few of these explanations and commentaries and decided to combine them and write a more detailed explanation and correct the errors that were found in those other explanations. He added more narrations to his explanation from the books of Sunan, and from the books of the scholars, especially the commentaries, explanations, and preferences of Shaikh Ibn Baaz, Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen and others رحمهم الله. He named his book: Ithaaf al-Muslim bi Sharh Hisn al-Muslim (Gifting A Muslim With Explanation Of Fortress Of The Muslim). The book is printed in one volume, having more than two thousand pages, and divided into five sections.

In his book, the author رحمه الله, first mentioned the original Du`aa or Dhikr as mentioned in Hisn al-Muslim, then he mentioned the complete Hadeeth for this, then he mentioned other Ahaadeeth which were similar to this narration but with slightly different wording. He would then mention the source of these narrations and discuss their authenticity. Then he would go on to explain the meaning of the words in the narration, and then he would go for a detailed explain, and what it means, and what it entails, the rulings derived from this Hadeeth, and beneficial points from this Hadeeth.

Written by:
Fahad Barmem
17 Safar 1445
02 Sep. 2023

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