← Hadith encyclopedia

Elders & Vulnerable People

Read published English translations and explanations on this topic. These are related source narrations; their wording and selection may differ from the Arabic site’s short selections. Every card identifies its own source.

Narrated by Abu DaoudGood hadith

It is out of glorification of Allah, Almighty, to honor the grey-haired (old) Muslim, and the bearer of the Qur'an who neither exaggerates concerning it nor neglects it, and to honor the just ruler.

Narrator in the source: Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari

Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is out of glorification of Allah, Almighty, to honor the grey-haired (old) Muslim, and the bearer of the Qur'an who neither exaggerates concerning it nor neglects it, and to honor the just ruler.”
Grade in the source
Good hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Abu Daoud
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قالَ رسول اللَّه -صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم-: «إِنَّ مِنْ إِجْلاَلِ الله -تَعَالَى-: إِكْرَامَ ذِي الشَّيْبَةِ المُسْلِمِ، وَحَامِلِ القُرْآنِ غَيرِ الغَالِي فِيه، وَالجَافِي عَنْه، وَإِكْرَام ذِي السُّلْطَان المُقْسِط».
Understand this hadith

This Hadīth mentions things whereby one reveres Allah and glorifies Him: - Honoring the old Muslim by treating him with respect, gentleness, and compassion. By doing so, one is glorifying Allah, because the elders have a special status in the sight of Allah. - Honoring the bearer of the Qur'an (its memorizer) in his heart. Included are the reciters and interpreters of the Qur'an. The bearer of the Qur'an, as this Hadīth says, must fulfill two things: 1. Not to exaggerate towards the Qur'an, that is not to go off the limit in applying it, tracing its ambiguities, and reading it too quickly or too slowly in such a way that one does not understand its meanings. 2. Not to turn away from the Qur'an by not mastering its recitation, knowing its meanings, and following it. Turning away also means ceasing to act upon the Qur'an after one has learned, out of negligence. Honoring the just ruler, i.e. the person in authority who treats his subjects fairly. So, he is honored for his public good and social reform.

References (original Arabic)

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415هـ. تطريز رياض الصالحين للشيخ فيصل المبارك، ط1، تحقيق: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله آل حمد، دار العاصمة، الرياض، 1423 هـ. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين لمحمد علي بن محمد بن علان، ط4، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة، بيروت، 1425 هـ. رياض الصالحين للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428 هـ. رياض الصالحين، ط4، تحقيق: عصام هادي، وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية القطرية، دار الريان، بيروت، 1428هـ. سنن أبي داود، تحقيق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد، المكتبة العصرية، بيروت. عون المعبود شرح سنن أبي داود، ومعه حاشية ابن القيم: تهذيب سنن أبي داود وإيضاح علله ومشكلاته للعظيم آبادي ط3، دار الكتب العلمية، بيروت، 1415 هـ. كنوز رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين برئاسة حمد بن ناصر العمار، ط1، كنوز إشبيليا، الرياض، 1430هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين لمجموعة من الباحثين، ط14، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1407هـ. مشكاة المصابيح، للتبريزي. تحقيق الألباني. الناشر : المكتب الإسلامي - بيروت. الطبعة : الثالثة - 1405 – 1985

Agreed uponAuthentic

The one who looks after a widow or a needy person is like one who performs Jihad in the cause of Allah, or one who regularly observes voluntary prayer at night and fasting during the day

Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who looks after a widow or a needy person is like one who performs Jihad in the cause of Allah, or one who regularly observes voluntary prayer at night and fasting during the day."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Agreed upon
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «السَّاعِي عَلَى الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالمِسْكِينِ، كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، أَوِ القَائِمِ اللَّيْلَ الصَّائِمِ النَّهَارَ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs us that the one who tends to the needs of a woman whose husband has died and has none to look after her or the needy person, and provides for them seeking the reward from Allah Almighty will have the same reward as the one who fights in the cause of Allah, or the one who performs the voluntary night prayer and never gets tired, and the one who always fasts incessantly.

Lessons from the hadith
  • Promoting cooperation, solidarity, and the act of fulfilling the needs of the weak.
  • Worship includes every good deed and looking after the widows and the needy is an act of worship.
  • Ibn Hubayrah said: "This means that Allah Almighty combines for him the rewards of the one who fasts on a regular basis, the one who observes voluntary night prayer on a regular basis, and the one who engages in Jihad altogether. This is because he took care of the widow in place of her husband and took care of the needy person who was unable to take care of himself, thus, spending the surplus of his provision and giving his forbearance in charity, which makes his benefit equal to that of fasting, praying at night and engages in Jihad."
References (original Arabic)

صحيح البخاري (7/ 62) (5353). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2286) (2982). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم بن عيد الهلالي (1/ 351). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل بن عبد العزيز المبارك (ص198). رياض الصالحين (ص107) (265). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (3/ 99). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (275).

Search all translated hadith →