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Fear of Allah & Watchfulness

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 At-TermedhyAuthentic hadith

Two eyes will not be touched by the Fire: an eye which has wept out of fear of Allah, and an eye which has spent the night guarding in the cause of Allah

Narrator in the source: Ibn ‘Abbās

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Two eyes will not be touched by the Fire: an eye which has wept out of fear of Allah, and an eye which has spent the night guarding in the cause of Allah."
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by At-Termedhy
Original Arabic wording
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما مرفوعاً: «عَيْنَانِ لاَ تَمسُّهُمَا النَّار: عَيْنٌ بَكَتْ من خَشْيَة الله، وعَيْنٌ بَاتَت تَحْرُسُ في سَبِيل الله».
Understand this hadith

The Fire of Hell will not touch an eye that cried out of fear of Allah, the Almighty. When a person remembers the greatness of Allah, His power over His servants, and, at the same time, he recalls his own state and his negligence in fulfilling the rights of Allah upon him, he weeps in hope of receiving Allah's mercy and in fear of His wrath and punishment. Such a person is promised to be saved from the Fire. Another eye that the Fire will not touch is an eye that stayed up at night guarding in the cause of Allah in battlefields and on Muslim frontiers to protect the lives of Muslims. The statement: "Two eyes will not be touched by the Fire," is a figure of speech whereby a part of something is mentioned with the intention of referring to the whole. Thus, the intended meaning is that the person who weeps out of fear of Allah, as well as he who spends the night guarding in the cause of Allah, Allah will make their whole bodies (not just the eyes) forbidden to the Fire.

References (original Arabic)

- رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير-دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428ه . - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي- الطبعة الأولى1418ه - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. سنن الترمذي، لمحمد بن عيسى الترمذي، تحقيق وتعليق: أحمد محمد شاكر ومحمد فؤاد عبد الباقي وإبراهيم عطوة عوض -شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي - مصر الطبعة: الثانية، 1395 هـ - 1975 م مشكاة المصابيح، لمحمد بن عبد الله الخطيب العمري أبو عبد الله ولي الدين التبريزي، المحقق: محمد ناصر الدين الألباني المكتب الإسلامي – بيروت- الطبعة: الثالثة، 1985.

Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimAuthentic hadith

The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone. So when you see that, supplicate to Allah, say Takbīr, pray, and give charity

Narrator in the source: ‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, reported saying:

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) the sun eclipsed, so he led the people in prayer. He stood for a long time and then bowed for a long time. He stood again for a long time, but this time the period of standing was shorter than the first time. He then bowed again for a long time, but it was shorter than the first time, and then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration. He did the same in the second Rak‘ah and then finished the prayer. By that time, the sun had appeared. He delivered a sermon to the people and, after praising and glorifying Allah, he said: "The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone. So when you see that, supplicate to Allah, say Takbīr, pray, and give charity." Then he said: "O followers of Muhammad, by Allah! No one gets more jealously protective than Allah when His male or female servant commits adultery. O followers of Muhammad, by Allah! If you knew what I know, you would laugh a little and weep a lot." The wording of another narration reads: "He completed bowing four times and four prostrations."
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: « خَسَفَتِ الشمس على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فصَلَّى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالناس. فأطال القيام، ثم ركع، فأطال الركوع، ثم قام، فأطال القيام -وهو دون القيام الأول- ثم ركع، فأطال الركوع -وهو دون الركوع الأول- ثم رفع فأطال القيام -وهو دون القيام الأول- ثم سجد، فأطال السجود، ثم فعل في الركعة الأخرى مثل ما فَعَل في الرَّكعة الأولى، ثم انصرف، وقد تَجَلَّتْ الشمس، فخَطَب الناس، فحَمِد الله وأَثْنَى عليه، ثُمَّ قال: إِنَّ الشَّمس والقمَر آيَتَان مِن آيات الله، لا ينْخَسِفَانِ لموت أحد ولا لِحَيَاته، فَإِذا رَأَيتُم ذلك فَادْعُوا اللَّه وكَبِّرُوا ، وصَلُّوا وتَصَدَّقُوا. ثم قال: يا أُمَّة مُحمَّد، واللهِ ما من أحد أغْيَرُ من الله أن يَزْنِيَ عبده أو تَزْنِيَ أَمَتُهُ. يا أُمَّةَ محمد، والله لو تعلمون ما أعلم لَضَحِكْتُمْ قليلا ولَبَكَيْتم كثيرا». وفي لفظ: «فاسْتَكَمَل أَرْبَع رَكَعَاتٍ وَأَرْبَع سَجَدَاتٍ».
Understand this hadith

The sun eclipsed during the lifetime of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). As that was something unfamiliar to the people, he led them in a prayer that was also unfamiliar in its appearance and its manner. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood for a long time, bowed for a long time, and then he raised his back up and his recitation was long, but not as long as his first recitation. Then he bowed again, but this time it was shorter than the first time and then he prostrated and prolonged the prostration. He repeated the same thing in the second Rak‘ah, even though it was a little shorter. Every pillar of the prayer was shorter than what preceded it, until he completed bowing four times and performed four prostrations in two Rak‘ahs. Then he finished the prayer, and by that time the sun had appeared again. He delivered a sermon to the people, as he usually would on special occasions. He started by praising Allah and glorifying Him. It happened that the day on which the eclipse occurred was the same day as his son Ibrahīm died. So some of the people said: “The sun eclipsed because Ibrahīm died”, as in the pre-Islamic era they had thought that the sun only eclipsed due to the death or birth of a great person. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) intended to remove such superstitions from their minds and benefit the people through his advice and sincerity in conveying his message, as those beliefs were not based upon authentic textual proofs or sound logic. He wanted to clarify the wisdom behind the eclipse of the sun and the moon, so he said during his sermon: “The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse on the death or life of anyone”, rather Allah, the Almighty, makes these things occur by His omnipotence to scare His Servants and remind them of His blessings. So if you see an eclipse, turn to Allah, the Almighty, in repentance, supplicate to Him, say Takbīr, pray, and give charity, as such acts can repel anticipated affliction and descending punishment. he then started to explain in detail some of the grave major sins, such as fornication, that cause corruption in society and morals, and necessitate the Wrath and punishment of Allah. He, swore in this sermon, and he is the truthful one, saying: “O followers of Muhammad, by Allah! No one gets more jealously protective than Allah when His male or female servant commits adultery.” The Prophet explained that they knew only a little about the punishment of Allah, and if they knew what he knew, they would be obsessed by fear, they would only laugh a little and cry a lot, and they would be filled with grief. However, Allah has concealed this from them, out of His wisdom.

References (original Arabic)

تيسير العلام، للبسام، الناشر: مكتبة الصحابة، الأمارات، مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة العاشرة، 1426هـ - 2006م. تنبيه الأفهام، للعثيمين، طبعة مكتبة الصحابة، الامارات، مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة الأولى 1426هـ. الإفهام في شرح عمدة الأحكام، عبد العزيز بن باز، اعتناء سعيد بن علي بن وهف القحطاني، الرياض، الطبعة الأولى 1435هـ. الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، لإسماعيل الأنصاري، طبعة دار الفكر، دمشق، الأولى 1381. خلاصة الكلام، فيصل المبارك الحريملي، الطبعة: الثانية، 1412 هـ - 1992 م. صحيح البخاري، لأبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، تحقيق محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة -الطبعة : الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. تأسيس الأحكام، لأحمد بن يحيى النجمي، دار المنهاج، القاهرة، مصر، الطبعة الأولى. فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري، لأحمد بن حجر، الناشر: دار المعرفة - بيروت، 1379-رقم كتبه وأبوابه وأحاديثه: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي- قام بإخراجه وصححه وأشرف على طبعه: محب الدين الخطيب-عليه تعليقات عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز. الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية، وزارة الأوقاف والشئون الإسلامية، الكويت، الطبعة: (من 1404 - 1427 هـ).

Narrated by At-TermedhyAuthentic hadith

The one who is afraid (of the pillage of the enemy) sets out in the early part of the night, and the one who sets out early will reach his destination. Verily, the commodity of Allah is precious. Verily, the commodity of Allah is Paradise

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who is afraid (of the pillage of the enemy) sets out in the early part of the night, and the one who sets out early will reach his destination. Verily, the commodity of Allah is precious. Verily, the commodity of Allah is Paradise."
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by At-Termedhy
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «مَنْ خَافَ أَدْلَجَ، ومَنْ أَدْلَجَ بَلَغَ المنْزِلَ، أَلَا إِنَّ سِلْعَةَ اللهِ غَالِيَةٌ، أَلَا إِنَّ سِلْعَةَ اللهِ الجَنَّةُ».
Understand this hadith

Whoever fears Allah, the Exalted, then let him stay away from sins and exert his efforts in doing acts of obedience to Allah, the Almighty. The provision that is with Allah is precious. It is Paradise; nothing suits its price except sacrificing one's self and one's wealth.

References (original Arabic)

دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لابن علان، نشر دار الكتاب العربي. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر، 1407ه 1987م. سنن الترمذي، نشر: شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي – مصر، الطبعة: الثانية، 1395هـ - 1975م. صحيح الجامع الصغير وزياداته، للألباني، نشر: المكتب الإسلامي.

Narrated by At-Termedhy - An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by AhmadAuthentic hadith

He who weeps out of fear of Allah, will not enter the Hell till the milk returns into the udder

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

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He who weeps out of fear of Allah, will not enter the Hell till the milk returns into the udder; and the dust raised while fighting in the path of Allah and the smoke of Hell will not come together."
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by At-Termedhy - An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by Ahmad
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة ـ رضي الله عنه ـ قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «لا يَلِجُ النارَ رجُل بَكى من خشية الله حتى يَعود اللَّبنُ في الضَّرْع، ولا يَجتمع غُبَارٌ في سبيل الله وَدُخَانُ جهنم».
Understand this hadith

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stated that the person who weeps out of fear of Allah will not enter the Hellfire, because fear of Allah usually arises from obedience to Him and refraining from sins. He used the metaphor "until milk returns into the udders" to indicate impossibility. Similarly, the dust raised when someone is fighting for the sake of Allah will prevent him from being exposed to the smoke of the Hellfire, as they (that dust and that smoke) are two opposites, just as the worldly life and the Hereafter are two opposites.

References (original Arabic)

- كنوز رياض الصالحين، أ. د. حمد بن ناصر بن عبد الرحمن العمار -دار كنوز اشبيليا، الطبعة الأولى : 1430 هـ - بهجة الناظرين، الشيخ: سليم بن عيد الهلالي-دار ابن الجوزي -الطبعة الأولى 1418ه - نزهة المتقين، د . مصطفى سعيد الخن، د. مصطفى البغا، محي الدين مستو، علي الشرجبي، محمد أمين لطفي، مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت -الطبعة الرابعة عشرة 1407 هـ 1987م - رياض الصالحين د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل دار ابن كثير للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، دمشق - بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428 هـ - 2007 م - سنن الترمذي - محمد بن عيسى ، الترمذي، تحقيق وتعليق:أحمد محمد شاكر ومحمد فؤاد عبد الباقي وإبراهيم عطوة عوض -شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي – مصر الطبعة: الثانية، 1395 هـ - 1975 م - مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل المحقق: شعيب الأرنؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون إشراف: د عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي مؤسسة الرسالة الطبعة: الأولى، 1421 هـ - 2001 م - السنن الكبرى المؤلف: أبو عبد الرحمن أحمد بن شعيب النسائي-حققه وخرج أحاديثه: حسن عبد المنعم شلبي، أشرف عليه: شعيب الأرناؤوط- الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة - بيروت- الطبعة: الأولى، 1421 هـ - 2001 م - صحيح الجامع الصغير وزياداته : محمد ناصر الدين الألباني -دار المكتب الإسلامي-بيروت لبنان.

Narrated by At-TirmidhiAt-Tirmidhi said: It is a Hasan (sound) Hadīth

Fear Allah wherever you are; follow a bad deed with a good deed and it will erase it; and treat people with good morals

Narrator in the source: Abu Dharr، Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal

Abu Dharr, Jundub ibn Junādah, and Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmān, Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Fear Allah wherever you are; follow a bad deed with a good deed and it will erase it; and treat people with good morals."
Grade in the source
At-Tirmidhi said: It is a Hasan (sound) Hadīth
Reported by
Narrated by At-Tirmidhi
Original Arabic wording
‌عَنْ ‌أَبِي ‌ذَرٍّ، ‌جُنْدُبِ ‌بْنِ ‌جُنَادَةَ، ‌وَأَبِي ‌عَبْدِ ‌الرَّحْمَنِ، ‌مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْت، وَأَتْبِعْ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا، وَخَالِقْ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (ﷺ) enjoins three things: First: fear of Allah, by fulfilling the duties and avoiding the prohibitions, in every place, time, and condition, and in secret and public, and at good times and bad ones, and so on. Second: If you fall into a sin, do a good deed after it, like prayer, charity, an act of kindness, upholding kinship ties, repentance, etc., for that erases the sin. Third: Treat people with good morals, like smiling at them, showing them gentleness and leniency, doing good to them, and averting harm from them.

Lessons from the hadith
  • The Hadīth shows Allah's grace toward His servants through His mercy, forgiveness, and pardon.
  • The Hadīth comprises three rights: the right of Allah, which is to fear Him; the right of oneself, which is to perform good deeds after bad ones; and the right of people, which is to treat them with noble manners.
  • The Hadīth encourages us to do good deeds after bad ones and to possess good morals. These two are among the traits of piety, and he singled them out to clarify them.
References (original Arabic)

الأربعون النووية (ص100) (ح18). سنن الترمذي (3/ 526) (1987). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (ص40). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص195). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، لعبد المحسن البدر (ص67).

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