When will I know that I am pious?”

Al-Samaqandee writes in his “Tanbeeh Al-Ghafileen”:

وعن عائشة رضي اللَّه تعالى عنها أنه سألها رجل فقال متى أعلم أني محسن؟ قالت إذا علمت أنك مسيء، قال متى أعلم أني مسيء؟ قالت إذا علمت أنك محسن

A man came to “Aishah (رضي الله عنها) and asked: “When will I know that I am pious?” She said: “When you realise that you are a sinner”. He said: “And when will I realise I am a sinner?” She replied: “When you think you are pious”.

[“Tanbeeh Al-Ghafileen”, 251].

A huge fish that lasted for 18 days…

Imam Malik bin Anas recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) said, “Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) sent an army towards the east coast and appointed Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah (رضي الله عنه) as their commander, and the army consisted of three hundred men, including myself. We marched on until we reached a place where our food was about to finish. Abu `Ubaydah (رضي الله عنه) ordered us to collect all the food for our journey, and it was collected in two bags of dates. Abu `Ubaydah kept on giving us our daily ration in small amounts from it, until it was exhausted. The share of each of us used to be one date only.” I (one of the narrators from Jabir) said, “How could one date suffice for you” Jabir replied, “We came to know its value when even that finished.” Jabir added, “When we reached the seashore, we saw a huge fish which was like a small mountain. The army ate from it for eighteen days. Then Abu `Ubaydah ordered that two of its ribs be affixed in the ground. Then he ordered that a she-camel be ridden, and it passed under the two ribs (forming an arch) without touching them.”

This Hadith was also collected in the Two Sahihs.

When the verse concerning Khamr was revealed…

Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas (رضي الله عنه) said, “I once was giving an alcoholic beverage to Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah (رضي الله عنه), `Ubayy bin Ka`b (رضي الله عنه), Suhayl bin Bayda’ (رضي الله عنه) and several of their friends meeting at Abu Talhah’s (رضي الله عنه) house. When they were almost intoxicated, some Muslims came and said, `Did you not know that Khamr has been prohibited’ They said, `We’ll wait and ask.’ They then said, `O Anas! Spill the remaining alcohol out of your container.’ By Allah! They never drank it again, and their Khamr at that time was made from unripe and normal dates.”’ This is also recorded in the Two Sahihs.

In another narration by Anas, “I was the butler of the people in the house of Abu Talhah when Khamr was prohibited, and in those days alcohol was made from unripe and normal dates. A caller then heralded, and Abu Talhah ordered me to see what it was about. So I found that a person was announcing that alcoholic drinks had been prohibited. Abu Talhah ordered me to go out and spill the wine. I went out and spilled it, and it flowed in the streets of Al-Madinah. Some people said, `Some people were killed (before the prohibition of Khamr) and wine was still in their stomachs.’ Later on, Allah’s revelation came,

[لَيْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُواْ]

(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate…)[5:93].”

Ibn Jarir recorded that Anas bin Malik said, “I was serving Abu Talhah, Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah, Abu Dujanah, Mu`adh bin Jabal and Suhayl bin Bayda’, until they became intoxicated from an alcoholic drink made of mixed unripe and normal dates. Then I heard someone herald, `Khamr has been made illegal.’ So no one went in or out until we spilled the alcohol and broke its barrels. Some of us then performed ablution and others took a shower, and we wore some perfume. We then went out to the Masjid while the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) was reciting,

[يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالاٌّنصَابُ وَالاٌّزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ]

(O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are only an abomination of Shaytan’s handiwork. So avoid that…)[5:90], until,

[فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُّنتَهُونَ]

(So, will you not then abstain)[5:91]. A man asked, `O Allah’s Messenger! What about those who died drinking it (before the prohibtion of Khamr)?’ Allah sent down the verse,

[لَيْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُواْ]

(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate.)[5:93].”

“By Allah! We have seen some errors, but we feared…”

Ibn Majah recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) gave a speech once and said,

«أَلَا لَا يَمْنَعَنَّ رَجُلًا هَيْبَةُ النَّاسِ أَنْ يَقُولَ الْحَقَّ إِذَا عَلِمَه»

(Behold! Fear from people should not prevent one from saying the truth if he knows it.) Abu Sa`id then cried and said, “By Allah! We have seen some errors, but we feared (the people).”

“…enjoin righteousness and forbid evil…”

خطب علي بن أبي طالب فحمد الله وأثنى عليه ، ثم قال : أيها الناس ، إنما هلك من كان قبلكم بركوب المعاصي ، ولم ينههم الربانيون والأحبار ،فلما تمادوا في المعاصي ، ولم ينههم الربانيون والأحبار ، أخذتهم العقوبات . فمروا بالمعروف وانهوا عن المنكر ، قبل أن ينزل بكم مثل الذي نزل بهم ، واعلموا أن الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر لا يقطع رزقا ولا يقرب أجلا

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Yahya bin Ya`mar said, ” `Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) once gave a speech, which he started by praising Allah and thanking Him. He then said, `O people! Those who were before you were destroyed because they committed sins and the Rabbaniyyun and Ahbar did not forbid them from evil. When they persisted in sin, they were overcome by punishment. Therefore, enjoin righteousness and forbid evil before what they suffered also strikes you. Know that enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil does not reduce the provision or shorten the term of life.”

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

“My Khalil (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) has commanded me to do seven deeds

.Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه) said, “My Khalil (intimate friend, the Messenger) (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) has commanded me to do seven deeds. He commanded me to love the poor and to be close to them. He commanded me to look at those who are less than me and not those who are above me. He commanded me to keep the relations of the womb, even if they cut it. He commanded me not to ask anyone for anything, to say the truth even if it was bitter, and to not fear the blame of anyone for the sake of Allah. He commanded me to often repeat, `La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no strength or power except from Allah)’, for these words are from a treasure under the Throne (of Allah).”

Musnad Ahmad

“He who disbelieves in stoning…

In his Mustadrak, Al-Hakim recorded that Ibn `Abbas (رضي الله عنه) said, “He who disbelieves in stoning (the adulterer to death) will have inadvertently disbelieved in the Qur’an, for Allah said,

[يَـأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيراً مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَـبِ]

(O People of the Scripture! Now has come to you Our Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture) and stoning was among the things that they used to hide.” Al-Hakim said, “Its chain is Sahih, and they did not record it.”

There are some of Allah’s servants who, if they take an oath by Allah, Allah fullfils them.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) said, “Ar-Rabi` (رضي الله عنها) (his aunt) broke the tooth of a girl, and the relatives of Ar-Rabi` requested the girl’s relatives to forgive (the offender), but they refused. So, they went to the Prophet who ordered them to bring about retaliation. Anas bin An-Nadr (رضي الله عنه), her brother, asked, `O Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم )! Will the tooth of Ar-Rabi` be broken’ The Messenger of Allah said, `O Anas! The Book of Allah prescribes retaliation.’ Anas said, `No, by Him Who has sent you with the Truth, her tooth will not be broken. ‘ Later the relatives of the girl agreed to forgive Ar-Rabi` and forfeit their right to retaliation. The Messenger of Allah said,

«إن من عباد الله من لو أقسم على الله لأبره»

(There are some of Allah’s servants who, if they take an oath by Allah, Allah fullfils them.)” It was recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Allah accepts only from the those who have Taqwa

وَقَالَ اِبْن أَبِي حَاتِم : حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيم بْن الْعَلَاء بْن زَيْد حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيل بْن عَيَّاش حَدَّثَنِي صَفْوَان بْن عَمْرو عَنْ تَمِيم يَعْنِي اِبْن مَالِك الْمُقْرِي قَالَ : سَمِعْت أَبَا الدَّرْدَاء يَقُول : لَأَنْ أَسْتَيْقِنَ أَنَّ اللَّه قَدْ تَقَبَّلَ لِي صَلَاة وَاحِدَة أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا إِنَّ اللَّه يَقُول ” إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّل اللَّه مِنْ الْمُتَّقِينَ

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Ad-Darda’ (رضي الله عنه) said, “If I become certain that Allah has accepted even one prayer from me, it will be better for me than this life and all that in it. This is because Allah says,

[إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ]

(Verily, Allah accepts only from the those who have Taqwa.)

The Righteous Response of the Companions During the Battle of Badr

The  response the Companions gave to the Messenger of Allah during the battle of Badr, when he asked for their advice about fighting the Quraysh army that came to protect the caravan led by Abu Sufyan. When the Muslim army missed the caravan and the Quraysh army, between nine hundred and one thousand strong, helmeted and drawing closer, Abu Bakr stood up and said something good. Several more Muhajirin also spoke, all the while the Messenger of Allah saying,

 

«أشيروا علي أيها المسلمون»

 

(Advise me, O Muslims!) inquiring of what the Ansar, the majority then, had to say. Sa`d bin Mu`adh said, “It looks like you mean us, O Messenger of Allah! By He Who has sent you with the Truth! If you seek to cross this sea and went in it, we will follow you and none among us will remain behind. We would not hate for you to lead us to meet our enemy tomorrow. We are patient in war, vicious in battle. May Allah allow you to witness from our efforts what comforts your eyes. Therefore, march forward with the blessing of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah () was pleased with the words of Sa`d and was encouraged to march on. Abu Bakr bin Marduwyah recorded that Anas said that when the Messenger of Allah went to Badr, he asked the Muslims for their opinion, and `Umar gave his. The Prophet again asked the Muslims for their opinion and the Ansar said, “O Ansar! It is you whom the Prophet wants to hear.” They said, “We will never say as the Children of Israel said to Musa,

 

[فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلا إِنَّا هَـهُنَا قَـعِدُونَ]

 

(So go, you and your Lord, and fight you two, we are sitting right here.) By He Who has sent you with the Truth! If you took the camels to Bark Al-Ghimad (near Makkah) we shall follow you.” Imam Ahmad, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban also recorded this Hadith. In the Book of Al-Maghazi and At-Tafsir, Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, “On the day of Badr, Al-Miqdad said, `O Messenger of Allah! We will never say to you what the Children of Israel said to Musa,

 

[فَاذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلا إِنَّا هَـهُنَا قَـعِدُونَ]

 

(So go, you and your Lord, and fight you two, we are sitting right here.) Rather, march on and we will be with you.’ The Messenger of Allah was satisfied after hearing this statement.”

 

Tafsir Ibn Kathir