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A Study on Selected Ahadith of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)

Mu’adh bin Jabal (radiallahu anhu) reported:  “I was o­nce riding behind the Prophet o­n a donkey, when he said to me:  ‘Do you know what Allah’s right over His slave is and what the slave’s right over Allah is?  I said:  ‘Allah and His Messenger knows best.’ He (alayhi salatul wasalaam) said:  ‘Allah’s right over His slaves is that they worship Him and not associate anything with Him (in worship).  And the right the slaves have over Allah is that He doesn’t punish the o­ne who doesn’t associate something with Him (in worship).’ I said:  ‘O Messenger of Allah!  Shall I not give the people the good tidings of this?’ He said: ‘Do not inform them for they will rely (solely) o­n it.” [Reported by al-Bukhari (Book of Dresses, #5967), Muslim (Book of Faith: 48-51,53), At-Tirmidhi (Book of Faith, 2643, (5/26)), Ibn Majah (Book of Aseceticsim: 4269, (12/1435)), and Ahmad (3/260-261)]

Narrator of the Hadith:

He is Mua’dh bin Jabal bin ‘Amr bin Aws Al-Ansaree Al-Khazrajee, Abu Abdur-Rahman.  He is the well-known Sahabee, from the most distinguised of the Companions.  He witnessed the Battle of Badr and the other battles after it.  He used to be the point of final reference with regard to knowledge, rulings and (issues of) the Quran.  He died in 18H in Sham during the plague of ‘Amwaas.

Vocabulary in the Hadith:

Radeef:  riding behind.

Haqqullah ‘alaal-’Ibaad:  (Allah’s right over His slaves) meaning what He is deserving of from them, such as worship and obedience.

Haqqul-’Ibaad ‘alaallah:  (The slave’s right over Allah) It is the deservingness of blessing and rewarding of (His slaves), which Allah put upon Himself out of his Grace and Goodness for the sincere Muwahideen.  There is no right over Allah, which is obligated by o­n’e intellect as the Mutazilah claim.

A-falaa Absur an-Nas:  (Shall I not give the people the good tidings) meaning:  Inform them of what will bring them joy.

Yattakiloo:  (They will rely o­n it) meaning depend o­n it.

General Meaning of the Hadith:

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) explained in this hadeeth the main purpose for which Allah created the creation-which is:  Singling Allah out alone for worship and sincerity to Him.  Indeed this great right is for none other than Allah, the Creator, the Most Great, the o­ne who bestows his bounty and blessings.

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) also explained what the slaves are deserving of from Allah of reward, if they fulfill this grand obligation of {Sincere Worship} that He will save them from the punishment of the Hellfire and allow them entrance into the Garden of Bliss. This is something, which the believer will be pleased with and find joy in.  This is why Mu’adh said, asking permission of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) :  Shall I not give the people the good tidings (of this)?” However, the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade Mu’adh from doing that for the benefit of his ummah and out of his love that they work earnestly in producing deeds and in those things that draw nearer to Allah.  And it was so that they may compete with o­ne another in it, in order that through this effort, striving and competing, they will be able to achieve the highest levels with Allah.  Contrary to this, if they desist from doing deeds and instead rely o­n the likes this promise, they will surely miss out much good and great reward.

Benefits from the Hadith:

The wisdom of Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in teaching, such that he began this lesson by asking a question.  This was so that it could be more firmly implanted in the soul and foremost in the understanding of the o­ne being taught. In it is proof of the humbleness and good manners of Allah Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), such that he would ride upon a donkey with his Companions behind them. In it is a clarification of the greatest of Allah’s rights over His slaves, which is:  Making Allah o­ne (Tawheed) and singling Him out alone for worship.

Allah will bestow the best of rewards upon His slaves for fulfilling this right. It is recommended to give good tidinds to the Muslim of that which will bring him joy. Fear from relying solely upon Allah’s vast Mercy, for this kind of reliance has harmed many of the ignorant.

From calgaryislam.com