(6.13) Explanation Of Hisn Al-Muslim: Merits Of Dhikr

  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 

The Merits Of Dhikr (Remembering Allaah) (Part 13): 

9- The Prophet ﷺ said:

مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ يَقُومُونَ مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ فِيهِ، إِلَّا قَامُوا عَنْ مِثْلِ جِيفَةِ حِمَارٍ وَكَانَ لَهُمْ حَسْرَةً

❝Those people who get up from a gathering in which they did not remember Allaah will be just as if they had got up from (a gathering) similar to that of the carcass of a donkey, and it will be a cause of grief to them.❞ [1]

Explanation:

First: The wordings of the Ḥadeeth:

(Ḥadeeth #17) Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه [2] narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Those people who get up from a gathering in which they did not remember Allaah will be just as if they had got up from (a gathering) similar to that of the carcass of a donkey, and it will be a cause of grief to them.❞ [3]

(Ḥadeeth #18) Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه [4] narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝No people sit together in a gathering and then disperse, without remembering Allaah, except that they dispersed from (a gathering) similar to that of the carcass of a donkey, and this gathering of theirs will be a cause of grief to them on the Day of Resurrection.❞ [5]

 

Second: Explanation of selected words from the Aḥaadeeth:

1. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Those who get up from a gathering❞, meaning: getting up with the purpose to leave the gathering, as the Prophet ﷺ clarified in the other Ḥadeeth: ❝and then disperse❞.

The remembrance can be at the beginning of the gathering, during the conversation, or at the end before dispersing, as this Ḥadeeth suggests. The purpose is to remember Allaah at least once. Al-Mubaarakpooree رحمه الله said: “Some people of knowledge were of the opinion that it is prescribed to seek Allaah’s blessing for the Prophet ﷺ at least once in the gathering, after this it is not prescribed for the remainder of the gathering, but it is preferred to do so (more than once).” [6]

And before getting up, one should conclude the gathering by saying the supplication for “the atonement of the gathering” (كفارة المجلس):

سُبْحـانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمدِك ، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَـيْك

Subḥaanak-Allaahumma wabi ḥamdika, ashhadu allaa ilaaha illaa anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayk - (meaning: O Allaah! You are free from every imperfection; praise be to You, I ask Your pardon and turn to You in repentance).

2. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝from the rotten carcass of a donkey❞, i.e., a gathering similar to the rotten carcass of a donkey, having a foul odor, and is disgusting and repulsive. The person who does not remember Allaah is compared to a dead. The gathering void of remembrance of Allaah is compared to a dead donkey. When there is bad and reprehensible speech like backbiting and slandering, then it is compared to eating the flesh of a dead person.

Third: Lessons learned from this Ḥadeeth:

1. Shaikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله said: “This noble Ḥadeeth and what is similar to it indicate the obligation to remember Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and to send prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ in every gathering. The Ḥadeeth indicates this in several ways:

a. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝If He تعالى wills, He will punish them, and if He wills, He will forgive them❞; this is not said except about a matter that doing it was an obligation and its omission was a sin.

b. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝even if they (are granted permission to) enter Paradise (because of what they missed out) of the reward❞; it is clear that the one who abandons Allaah’s remembrance and sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ deserves to enter Hell, even if he is destined to enter Paradise as a reward for his Imaan (Faith).

c. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: ❝as if they got up (from a gathering, that is) similar to that of a rotten carcass of a donkey❞; this comparison suggests that their actions be deemed as highly repugnant, and this will only happen – by the Will of Allaah - in what is clearly forbidden. And Allaah knows best.

Every Muslim must be aware of this and not neglect to remember Allaah عز وجل and to send prayers upon His Prophet ﷺ in every gathering he sits in. Otherwise, he will be in a state of regret and sorrow on the Day of Resurrection.

Al-Manaawee رحمه الله said in “Faiḍh al-Qadeer”: “It is confirmed to remember Allaah and send prayers upon His Messenger when intending to get up from the gathering, and the Sunnah of remembering Allaah and sending prayers upon His Prophet is achieved through any wording. [7] But (before getting up), the most perfect remembrance is to say:

سُبْحـانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمدِك ، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَـيْك

Subḥaanak-Allaahumma wabi ḥamdika, ashhadu allaa ilaaha illaa anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayk - (meaning: O Allaah! You are free from every imperfection; praise be to You, I ask Your pardon and turn to You in repentance).

As for sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ, the best is to repeat what one recites in the final Tashahhud.”

I (al-Albaanee) say: This remembrance, what al-Manaawee is referring to, is known as Kaffaaratul-Majlis (atonement for the gathering).” [8]

2. One of the things that one learns from this is to fear the gatherings that are void of the remembrance of Allaah, the people are negligent, and where there is a lot of chattering about other people’s faults through backbiting and gossiping. These gatherings are among the things that have become widespread in this age - except those upon whom Allaah has mercy. So the wise person should seize his breath and utilize every opportunity in what will benefit him on that Great Day (the Day of Judgment) when the deeds will be presented before Allaah تعالى.

One should also know that night and day are like two mounts, so he must use them to improve his journey towards Allaah تعالى. [9] And we seek Allaah’s help, and on Him we rely. There is no might and no power except with Allaah.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Sunan Abu Dawood (4855), Musnad Aḥmad (9052, 10413, 10680, 10825), and graded as “Ṣaḥeeḥ” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. See al-Ṣaḥeeḥah (77). Al-Ḥaakim, al-Dhahabee, and al-Albaanee, all agreed that it is “Ṣaḥeeḥ as per the conditions of Imaam Muslim”. Shaikh Muqbil also graded it as authentic as per the conditions of Imaam Muslim in Ṣaḥeeḥ al-Musnad (1328), and al-Jaami` al-Ṣaḥeeḥ (1634, 3590, 4250)

[2] A brief biography of Abu Hurairah was already mentioned in Hadeeth No. 3 under “Explanation”.

[3] Sunan Abu Dawood, Book No. 43 Kitaab al-Adab (Book of Etiquette), Chapter No. (31): Is it disliked for a person to get from his seat without remembering Allaah, Hadeeth No. 4855, and graded as “Ṣaḥeeḥ” by Shaikh al-Albaanee.

[4] A brief biography of Abu Hurairah was already mentioned in Hadeeth No. 3 under “Explanation”.

[5] Musnad Aḥmad (9052, 10413, 10680, 10825), and graded as “Ṣaḥeeḥ” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. See al-Ṣaḥeeḥah (77).

[6] Tuḥfatul Aḥwadhee of al-Mubaarakpooree (9/373)

[7] Like saying: “Sub-ḥaan Allaah, wal-Ḥamdulillaah, waṣ-Ṣalaatu was-Salaamu `alaa Rasoolillaah”

[8] Shaikh Al-Albaanee in al-Ṣaḥeeḥah (1/162-163)

[9] Meaning: One should be keen in doing the Adhkaar of the morning and evening.