بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد
6- The Prophet ﷺ said:
❝Does not one of you go out in the morning to the Masjid
and learn or recite two Aayaat (verses) from the Book of Allaah عز وجل?
That is better for him than two she-camels, and three Aayaat (verses) are
better (than three she-camels), and four verses are better for him than four
(she-camels), and so on their number in camels.❞ [1]
Explanation:
First: The wordings of the Ḥadeeth:
(Ḥadeeth #13-a) `Uqbah Ibn `Aamir رضي الله عنه [2] reported: When we were in al-Ṣuffah, the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ came out and said: ❝Which of you would like to go out every morning to Buṭḥaan or al-`Aqeeq and bring two large she-camels without being guilty of sin or severing the ties of kinship?❞ We said: “Messenger of Allaah, we would love to do it.” Upon this, he ﷺ said: ❝Does not one of you go out in the morning to the Masjid and learn or recite two Aayaat (verses) from the Book of Allaah عز وجل? That is better for him than two she-camels (Naaqah), and three Aayaat (verses) are better (than three she-camels (Naaqah)), and four verses are better for him than four (she-camels (Naaqah)), and so on their number in camels (Ibl).❞ [3]
(Ḥadeeth #13-b) `Uqbah Ibn `Aamir رضي الله عنه
said: When we were in al-Ṣuffah, the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ asked: ❝Which of you
would like to go out every morning to Buṭḥaan or al-`Aqeeq and bring two large
humped and fat she-camels without being guilty of sin and severing ties of
relationship?❞ They (the people) said: “Messenger of Allaah, we
would all like that.” He ﷺ said: ❝If
any one of you goes out in the morning to the Masjid and learns two Aayaat
(verses) of the Book of Allaah عز
وجل, it is better for him than two she-camels
(Naaqah), and three Aayaat (verses) are better for him than three she-camels
(Naaqah), and so on than their numbers in camels (Ibl).❞ [4]
Second: Explanation of selected words from the Aḥaadeeth:
1. The statement of `Uqbah Ibn `Aamir رضي الله عنه: “When we were in al-Ṣuffah”, al-Ṣuffah was a sheltered raised platform that was at the rear side of the Prophet’s Masjid. The poor Muhaajiroon (immigrants from Makkah) who did not have shelter or relatives in Madeenah dwelled in al-Ṣuffah. They were the guest of Islaam. Sometimes, their numbers reached up to two hundred. They spent most of their time learning the Qur’aan and Sunnah. These people were called Aṣḥaab al-Ṣuffah (Companions of the Ṣuffah). [5] The Prophet ﷺ gave them preference, for whenever someone donated food, he ﷺ would offer it to them, and whenever he ﷺ received gifts, he would share it with them. [6]
2. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝Which of you would like to❞, al- Ṭeebee said: “In this question from the Prophet ﷺ, there is guidance and motivation, encouraging them to listen to what is being said.” [7]
3. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝go out every morning❞, the word: “يَغْدُو”, meaning: going out early morning, in the first part of the day.
4. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝Buṭḥaan or al-`Aqeeq❞, these are the two valleys of al-Madeenah. They are broad valleys and were known for the marketplace for buying and selling camels. Al-Qurṭobee said: “The distance between these two valleys and al-Madeenah was around three miles.” [8]
5. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝and bring two large humped and fat she-camels❞, al-Ṭeebee said: “The Prophet ﷺ set forth this parable because the `Arabs considered the camels from the best of wealth.” [9] The camels were considered the most prized property to the `Arabs. [10]
6. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝without being guilty of sin❞, that is, without the fear of stealing, unlawful possession, or disobedience to Allaah عز وجل.
7. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝or severing the ties of kinship❞, i.e., abandoning kindness and goodness towards family and relatives and cutting off contact and communication with them. It is the opposite of maintaining ties of kinship. After mentioning sins in general, cutting-off ties of kinship was mentioned specifically due to the severity of the sin, for it is one of the major sins. [11]
8. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝and learn or recite❞, reciting the Qur’aan, learning it, and teaching it are among the best good deeds a person can do. [12]
9. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝two Aayaat from the Book of Allaah عز وجل❞, it is possible that the intended meaning is that reciting two Aayaat is better than two she-camels and the like number of (male) camels. Reciting three Aayaat is better than three she-camels and a similar number of (male) camels. And four are better than four.
The outcome is that the Aayaat are preferred over their numbers of she-camels and a similar number of male camels.
The conclusion is that the Prophet ﷺ wanted to encourage them to seek (the righteous good deeds) that will last (in the Hereafter) and to make them lose interest in transient things. So, his ﷺ mentioning of this is by way of example and to make it easier for them to understand. Otherwise, the entire world is too insignificant to be compared to learning and reciting an Aayah from the Book of Allaah العزيز الحميد, or the reward of gaining higher ranks (in the Jannah). [13]
The remembrance of Allaah is greater, loftier, and better
than anything else. It is the best thing person can do, as Allaah تعالى said:
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ
الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ
وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
{Recite (O Muhammad ﷺ) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Qur’aan), and perform al-Ṣalaah. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allaah is greater. And Allaah knows what you do} [14]
The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝The two Rak`aat (before) the Fajr (prayer) are better than this world and everything in it.❞ [15]
Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said: ❝For me to say: “Sub-ḥaan Allaah (Allaah is free from imperfection), wal-ḥamdulillaah (all praise is due to Allaah), wa laa ilaaha illallaah (there is none worthy of worship but Allaah), wal-laahu Akbar (Allaah is the Greatest)”, is more beloved to me than all that the sun has risen over (i.e., the whole world).❞ [16]
And there are many more Aḥaadeeth that speak about the
virtues of the remembrance of Allaah, for example, saying: “Sub-ḥaan Allaahi wa
bi ḥamdih” and “Sub-ḥaan Allaahi al-`Aẓheem” are the most beloved words to
Allaah and the heaviest on the scales. Also, the Ḥadeeth that “Laa ilaaha
illallaah” will outweigh everything on the scale.
Third: Lessons learned from this Ḥadeeth:
1. The Prophet ﷺ taught his companions the virtue of the Noble Qur’aan and explained to them the reward for learning it, teaching it, and reciting it. In this Ḥadeeth, `Uqbah Ibn `Aamir رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ came to them while they were sitting in al-Ṣuffah, which is a shaded area in the Prophet’s Masjid (al-Masjid al-Nabawee). The poor Muhaajiroon (immigrants from Makkah) who did not have a house or relatives in Madeenah used to stay there.
He ﷺ asked them: ❝Which of you would like to go out every morning❞, i.e., in the early part of the day, ❝to Buṭḥaan❞, and it a place near the al-Madeenah, extending from its south to its west. ❝or al-`Aqeeq❞, it is a valley in al-Madeenah whose waters are collected from the al-`Aqeeq area, which is more than a hundred kilometers south of al-Madeenah and reaches to the outskirts of the city. The Prophet ﷺ specifically mentioned Buṭḥaan and al-`Aqeeq because they are the closest places to al-Madeenah, where camel markets are held. ❝And bring two large she-camels❞, i.e., bring two large humped and fat she-camels. He ﷺ used them as an example because the `Arabs considered the camels among the best of wealth. Would they like to obtain the two camels without committing a sin, such as theft, or without severing the ties of kinship because of them? The Companions replied that they would love to do that.
He ﷺ replied to all those who liked to amass that good: ❝Does not one of you go out in the morning to the Masjid❞, i.e., wakes up early morning and goes to the Masjid, ❝and learn or recite two Aayaat (verses) from the Book of Allaah عز وجل? That is better for him than two she-camels❞, meaning: the good that comes from learning two Aayaat or reciting them is better with Allaah than obtaining two she-camels and whatever good they would have accumulated from these two she-camels.
Similarly, three Aayaats are better than three she-camels, and four Aayaats are better than four. And the statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝and so on their number in camels❞, meaning: The more Aayaat they learn or recite then that will be far better for them than the same number of camels.
From this, one learns that learning the Qur’aan is better than seeking wealth, and this is general, and it is significantly more appropriate for those with free time.
From this Ḥadeeth, one also learns about the virtue of seeking knowledge, learning the Qur’aan and reciting it, and remembering Allaah.
From this Ḥadeeth, one also learns that they should be keen in teaching others that would benefit them in this world and the Hereafter.
2. In this Hadeeth, when the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Which of you would like to go out every morning to Buṭḥaan or al-`Aqeeq and bring two large she-camels?❞, he ﷺ also emphasized two things. The first thing he ﷺ mentioned was in general, and it is related to the actions before gaining wealth, while the other is more specific, and it is related to the actions after gaining wealth. He ﷺ said: ❝without being guilty of sin or severing the ties of kinship!❞
❝Without being guilty of sin❞, i.e., without the fear of stealing or unlawful possession. The Prophet ﷺ did not specify any particular sin; instead, he mentioned sin in general. Allaah knows best, but this may refer to the sins associated with obtaining wealth, either by stealing, deception, cheating, or any other way of unlawful possession. It also includes buying things that one knows are stolen.
Another sin people commit is taking loans and mortgages to buy cars, homes, furniture, etc., and paying interest. In addition to that, they also look for ways and Fatawaas to allow that which Allaah has forbidden.
In short, this includes any sin or act of disobedience (to Allaah) that a person commits to gain wealth.
❝Or severing ties of kinship❞,
i.e., abandoning kindness and goodness towards family and relatives, cutting
off contact with them, ignoring them, etc. This behavior is vastly seen in
people after they have gained wealth and become rich and famous. Their wealth
and pride deceive them, and they look down upon their poor relatives and ignore
them.
It is also seen that when a wealthy person passes away, his children fight among themselves for wealth, cut off communications with each other, drag each other to court, and have lengthy court cases. Sometimes, one of the siblings inherits more through deceit, preventing others from getting what is rightfully theirs.
So, when
Prophet ﷺ said: ❝or severing ties of
kinship❞, it is like he ﷺ
is warning not to ignore the relatives after one has gained some wealth.
Similar to what Allaah has mentioned in the Qur’aan about the owners of gardens
(farms) when the time of harvest came, they rushed toward their plantation so
that they could avoid the poor and the needy:
أَنِ
اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ * فَانطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ
يَتَخَافَتُونَ * أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ
{If you want to gather the fruits, let us go early to the plantation. So, they departed, talking in low voices: “Let no needy person come to you within it today”}[17]
Allaah sent a calamity on their farms and destroyed their produce. This warning is a reminder of the importance of humility and compassion, especially towards those who may be less fortunate.
To
summarize, both of these actions mentioned in this Hadeeth is summed up in the
saying of Allaah عز
وجل:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَن
ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ
{O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allaah}[18]
At no point in your life should your wealth make you disobey Allaah.
Footnotes:
[1] Ṣaḥeeḥ Muslim (8.3-251), and Sunan Abu Dawood (1456)
with the wording: ❝and bring two large humped and
fat she-camels.❞
[2] `Uqbah Ibn `Aamir al-Juhanee رضي الله عنه,
the Imaam of the reciters (of the Qur’aan). His Kunya was Abu `Aamir. He was a
scholar among the Companions, a learned man, and a poet. He is the one who
brought the news of the conquering of Damascus to `Umar رضي الله عنه,
and he was among those who conquered Egypt, and he was the governor of Egypt
during Mu`aawiyah’s رضي الله عنه reign. He died in the
year 85H.
[3] Ṣaḥeeḥ Muslim, (6) Book: The Traveler’s prayer and
shortening them, (41) Chapter: The virtue of reciting the Qur’an in prayer and
learning it, Ḥadeeth No. (803)
[4] Sunan Abu Dawood, (8) Book: Prayer (Kitaab al-Salaah):
Detailed Injunctions about Witr, (499) Chapter: Encouragement to Pray the Night
Prayer, Ḥadeeth No. (1456), and graded as “Ṣaḥeeḥ” by Shaikh al-Albaanee
[5] Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه:
“I saw seventy of al-Ṣuffah men and none of them had a Ridaa’ (a garment
covering the upper part of the body). They had either (only) Izaars (lower
garments) or sheets that they tied around their necks. Some of these sheets
reached the middle of their legs, and some reached their heels and they used to
gather them with their hands lest their private parts should become exposed.”
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (442)]
[6] See al-Fatḥ al-Baaree (11/286)
[7] Sharḥ al-Misḥkaat of al- Ṭeebee (10/3676)
[8] Al-Mufham of al- Qurṭobee (4/1453/2110)
[9] Sharḥ al-Misḥkaat of al- Ṭeebee (5/1634)
[10] The camels were considered among the best and most
valuable possession to the `Arabs, especially the red ones. The Prophet ﷺ said to `Alee رضي الله عنه:
❝By Allaah, if a single person is guided by Allaah
through you, it will be better for you than a whole lot of red camels.❞
[Ṣaḥeeḥ al-Bukhaaree (3009, 3701, 4210) and Ṣaḥeeḥ Muslim (2406)]
[11] Those who cut off ties of kinship are cursed in the
Book of Allaah:
فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ
أَن تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ
* أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ
لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَىٰ أَبْصَارَهُمْ
{Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allaah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.}
[Surah Muḥammad (47):22-23]
From `Abdullaah Ibn `Amr رضي الله عنه narrated from the Prophet ﷺ: ❝The Most Merciful has mercy upon those who have mercy. Have mercy to those upon the earth and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you. And the womb (the name ar-rahm – ties of kinship) is derived from al-Rahmaan, so whoever connects it then Allaah will connect him, and whoever cuts it then, Allaah will cut him off.❞ [Sunan Abu Dawood (4941), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (1924), and Shaikh al-Albaanee said in al-Saheehah (925): “Its men are trustworthy”; And in his checking of Sunan Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhee he graded the Hadeeth as “Ṣaḥeeḥ”]
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝The word "Al-Rahm" (the womb) derives its name from al-Rahmaan (i.e., The Most Merciful) and is suspended from al-`Arsh (the Throne) and it says: “He who keeps good relations with me, Allaah will keep connection with him, but whosoever severs relations with me, Allaah will sever connection with him”.❞ [Ṣaḥeeḥ al-Bukhaaree and Ṣaḥeeḥ Muslim]
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ
said: ❝Allaah عز وجل
said: {I am Al-Rahmaan, and I have created al-Rahm (the womb, i.e., the ties of kinship), and I have derived its name from My Name. If anyone maintains ties of
kinship, I keep a connection with him, and I shall cut off anyone who cuts
them off.}❞ [al-Adab al-Mufrad and graded as “Ṣaḥeeḥ” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]
[12] Narrated `Uthmaan Ibn `Affaan رضي الله عنه:
The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝The best among you (Muslims)
are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.❞ [Ṣaḥeeḥ al-Bukhaaree (5027,
5028)]
[13] See `Aun al-Ma`bood (4/231)
[14] Surah al-`Ankaboot (29): 45
[15] Ṣaḥeeḥ Muslim (725)
[16] Ṣaḥeeḥ Muslim (2695)
[17] Surah al-Qalam (68): 22-24
[18] Surah al-Munaafiqoon (63): 9
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