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عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بنِ مَسْعُودٍ رضي الله عنه قال: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَلِمَةً وَقُلْتُ أُخْرَى، قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: «مَنْ مَاتَ وَهُوَ يَدْعُو مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ نِدًّا دَخَلَ النَّارَ» وَقُلْتُ أَنَا: مَنْ مَاتَ وَهُوَ لَا يَدْعُو لِلهِ نِدًّا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs us that whoever devotes anything that must be devoted exclusively to Allah to other than Him, like supplicating other than Allah or seeking relief with other than Him, and dies in this state will be from the dwellers of Hellfire. Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) added that whoever dies while not associating anything with Allah will be eventually admitted to Paradise.

• Du‘ā’ (supplication) is an act of worship that must be exclusively devoted to Allah Almighty.
• The merit of Tawhīd and that whoever dies while upon Tawhīd will be admitted to Paradise, even if punished for some of his sins first.
• The danger of Shirk (polytheism) and that whoever dies upon Shirk will enter Hellfire.

صحيح البخاري (6/ 23) (4497). صحيح مسلم (1/ 94) (92). فتح المجيد شرح كتاب التوحيد، لعبد الرحمن التميمي (ص76). القول المفيد على كتاب التوحيد، لابن عثيمين (1/ 120). الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص47). الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد القرعاوي (ص59). التمهيد لشرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح آل الشيخ (ص42).

عن عبد الله بن مسعود قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «هَلَكَ الْمُتَنَطِّعُون» قالها ثلاثًا.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs about the failure and loss of those who go to extremes - without guidance or knowledge - in their religious and worldly affairs and in their words and deeds, exceeding the Shariah-the prescribed limit outlined by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).

• It prohibits extremism and immoderation in all matters and encourages its avoidance in everything, particularly in worship and the extolling of righteous people.
• Seeking what is more perfect in worship and in other things is commendable, and it should be achieved by adhering to Shariah.
• It is recommended to stress important things, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) repeated his statement three times.
• It shows the tolerance and ease of Islam.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2055) (2670). الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، للقرعاوي (ص180). الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص167).

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا عَدْوَى، وَلَا طِيَرَةَ، وَيُعْجِبُنِي الْفَأْلُ» قَالَ قِيلَ: وَمَا الْفَأْلُ؟ قَالَ: «الْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that transitive disease in which the people of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance used to believe, thinking the disease is transmitted by itself to others apart from Allah's decree, is false. And the Tiyarah, which is regarding something audible or visible, as an evil omen whether it is from birds, animals, people with deformities, numbers, days, etc. He mentioned the "Tayr" (bird) specifically because it was commonly known during the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, as a bird would be urged to fly when someone intended to do something like travel, trade, or anything else. If the bird flew to the right, he would take this as a good omen and proceed with what he intended, whereas if the bird flew to the left, he would take this as a bad omen and refrain from doing what he intended. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that he liked the good omen, which is the happiness and joy that one feels when hearing a good word that makes him have good expectations of his Lord.

• Reliance on Allah Almighty and realizing that none brings goodness except Allah and none wards off harm except Allah.
• Tiyarah, which is believing in bad omens and refraining from doing things based on that, is prohibited.
• A good omen is not part of the forbidden Tiyarah; rather, it signifies having good expectations of Allah Almighty.
• Everything happens in compliance with the decree of Allah Almighty, alone with no partner.

صحيح البخاري (7/ 135) (5756). صحيح مسلم (4/ 1746) (2224). فتح المجيد شرح كتاب التوحيد، لعبد الرحمن التميمي (ص310). القول المفيد على كتاب التوحيد، لابن عثيمين (1/ 570). الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص230). الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد القرعاوي (ص255). التمهيد لشرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح آل الشيخ (ص333).

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «قَارِبُوا وَسَدِّدُوا، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَنْ يَنْجُوَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ بِعَمَلِهِ» قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَلَا أَنْتَ؟ قَالَ: «وَلَا أَنَا، إِلَّا أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urges the Companions to offer good deeds and fear Allah as much as they can, with neither extremism nor negligence, and to intend what is right by their deeds through being fully sincere to Allah and complying with the Sunnah so their deeds would be accepted and would be a cause for bestowing mercy upon them. Then he informed them that none of them would be saved by his deeds alone; rather, there must be Allah's mercy. They said: O Messenger of Allah, not even you would be saved by your deeds despite their great significance? He said: Not even me unless Allah conceals me by virtue of His mercy.

• An-Nawawi said: (Pursue the right course and be as close to it as possible): seek the right path and act upon it, but if you are unable to do so, then be as close to it as possible, i.e., keep close to it. The right course: the sound path, which lies in the middle between exessiveness and negligence, so neither go to extreme nor be negligent.
• Ibn Bāz said: Righteous deeds are the cause of entering Paradise just as evil deeds are the cause of entering Hellfire. The Hadīth shows that their admittance to Paradise is not guaranteed because of their deeds alone; rather, this must be joined with the pardon and mercy of Allah Almighty. So they entered Paradise via their deeds, but this has been affirmed by Allah's mercy, pardon, and forgiveness.
• One should not be proud or amazed by his deeds, no matter what level it reaches, because the right of Allah is greater than his deeds. Rather, one must combine fear and hope all together.
• Allah's favor and mercy upon His slaves are far broader than their deeds.
• Righteous deeds are a cause for entering Paradise, but attaining it is only through the favor and mercy of Allah.
• Al-Kirmāni said: "If all people do not enter Paradise except by Allah's mercy, then the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is particularly mentioned here to prove that although he will definitely enter Paradise and he will still not enter it except by Allah's mercy, then this applies to others with greater reason."
• An-Nawawi said: Regarding the meaning of Allah's statement: {Enter Paradise for what you used to do.} [Surat an-Nahl: 32], {That is Paradise, which you will inherit for what you used to do.} [Surat az-Zukhruf: 72] and the like of these verses denoting that deeds are a means of entering Paradise, they do not contradict these Hadīths. Rather, such verses mean that deeds are a means of entering Paradise; however, guidance to such deeds, adopting sincerity in performing them, and their acceptance are all attained by Allah's mercy and favor. Hence, it is true that one does not enter Paradise by his deeds merely, which is the indication of the Hadīths, and it is also true that he enters it by his deeds, i.e., because of them, which is a sign of Allah's mercy.
• Ibn Al-Jawzi said: This leads to four possibilities. First: Guidance to perform good deeds is from Allah's mercy, and had it not been for Allah's prior mercy, one would not have attained the faith or obedience that results in salvation. Second: The slave's benefits are for his Master; thus, his deeds are due to His Lord, and no matter how great the reward He bestows upon him is, it indicates His grace. Third: It is mentioned in some Hadīths that the act of entering Paradise itself is by virtue of Allah's mercy, but determining the degree therein depends on deeds. Fourth: Acts of obedience are performed in a brief time; however, the reward is endless. So, when an eternal blessing is given as a reward for something transient, this indicates Allah's favor rather than giving one compensation for his deeds.
• Ar-Rāfi‘i said: One should not rely upon his good deeds when seeking salvation and high ranks because he acted only by virtue of success from Allah and was able to avoid sins only through Allah's protection. So, all of this occurs with Allah's favor and mercy.

صحيح البخاري (7/ 121) (5673). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2170) (2816). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 165). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 321). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (1/ 573). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 130).

عن أبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا أتاه طالب حاجة أقبل على جُلسائِه، فقال: «اشْفَعُوا تُؤجَرُوا، ويَقْضِي الله على لسانِ نَبِيِّه ما أحب». وفي رواية: «ما شاء».

This Hadīth sets a major principle and guides to a great benefit; it is that a believer should strive to help fulfill the need of others, whether his efforts bear fruit fully or partially or bear no fruit at all. One way to help people is to intercede on behalf of those who need things from the rulers or the dignitaries, or those who can fulfill their needs. Many people avoid to intercede for others if they are not sure whether their intercession would be accepted or not; hence, they miss much reward from Allah, and miss doing a favor to a fellow Muslim. Therefore, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered his Companions to help the ones with need by interceding with him so that they receive their reward from Allah based on the Prophet's statement: "Intercede and you will receive reward." Good intercession is beloved to Allah; He says in the Quran: {Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a reward therefrom} [Sūrat An-Nisā’: 85]. Along with hastening to receive the reward, the intercessor also hastens to do a favor to his Muslim brother, and that person will owe him. Striving to help people in good things that may or may not bear fruit is indeed an immediate goodness, and a way to train oneself to cooperate in righteousness and piety, and a start to intercede about things which are certain or likely to be fulfilled. The Prophet's statement: "And Allah will decide whatever He wishes on the tongue of His Prophet" means that Allah decrees what He willed in His eternal knowledge as to whether the interceded matter will take place or not. Hence, it is required to intercede and he will be rewarded for his intercession, whether the intercession is accepted or not.

كنوز رياض الصالحين - حمد بن ناصر بن عبد الرحمن العمار - دار كنوز اشبيليا- الطبعة الأولى: 1430 هـ بهجة الناظرين - سليم بن عيد الهلالي - دار ابن الجوزي. نزهة المتقين - مصطفى سعيد الخن، مصطفى البغا، محي الدين مستو، علي الشرجبي، محمد أمين لطفي - مؤسسة الرسالة ، بيروت - الطبعة الأولى : 1397 هـ 1977 م - الطبعة الرابعة عشر 1407 هـ 1987م. شرح رياض الصالحين - محمد بن صالح بن محمد العثيمين - الناشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض - الطبعة: 1426 هـ. دليل الفالحين - محمد بن علان - دار الكتاب العربي. رياض الصالحين- د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل - الناشر: دار ابن كثير للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، دمشق - بيروت - الطبعة: الأولى، 1428 هـ - 2007 م. صحيح البخاري - محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري - دار طوق النجاة - الطبعة : الأولى، 1422هـ صحيح مسلم - مسلم بن الحجاج أبو الحسن القشيري النيسابوري - المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي - الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي - بيروت. بهجة قلوب الأبرار وقرة عيون الأخيار في شرح جوامع الأخبار - المؤلف: أبو عبد الله، عبد الرحمن بن ناصر بن عبد الله بن ناصر بن حمد آل سعدي المحقق: عبد الكريم بن رسمي ال الدريني دار النشر: مكتبة الرشد للنشر والتوزيع الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ - 2002م.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَقُولُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي، وَأَنَا مَعَهُ حِينَ يَذْكُرُنِي، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُ، وَإِنِ اقْتَرَبَ إِلَيَّ شِبْرًا، تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِنِ اقْتَرَبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا، اقْتَرَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا، وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Allah Almighty says: I am as My slave thinks of Me, so I treat My slave according to his thoughts about Me when hoping for and expecting pardon, and I do to him what He expects of Me either good or other than that; and I am with him through mercy, success, guidance, care, and support when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me inwardly while being alone and in seclusion through Tasbīh (exalting Allah), Tahlīl (proclaiming Allah's oneness), or others, I remember him within Myself. And if he remembers Me in an assembly, I remember him in a larger and better assembly. And whoever draws near to Allah by a handspan, Allah will add to this and draw near to him by a cubit, and if he draws near to Him by a cubit, Allah draws near to him by a fathom. And if he comes walking to Allah, Allah will come to him jogging. When the slave seeks to get closer to his Lord by obeying Him and focusing on Him, the Almighty Lord brings him even closer to Him as a recompense that suits his deed. The more perfect the believer's worship of his Lord is, the closer Allah Almighty brings him, as the bestowal and reward of Allah exceed the slave's deeds and toil. In fact, Allah's reward outweighs the slave's deeds in terms of quality and quantity. The believer, thus, entertains good expectations of Allah, acts, hastens, and increases his good deeds until he meets Allah.

• This Hadīth is part of what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) narrates from his Lord and is called a Qudsi or Divine Hadīth. Its wording and meaning are from Allah, yet it does not have the unique characteristics of the Qur’an that include reciting it as a form of worship, getting purified for it, presenting it as a challenge, its miraculousness, etc.
• Al-Ājurri said: People of the truth describe Allah Almighty with what He has described Himself and with what His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) described Him, and with what the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) described Him, and this is the methodology of the scholars who have complied and did not innovate. End quote. So, Ahl-us-Sunnah establish for Allah what He has established for Himself of the names and attributes without Tahrīf (distortion), Ta‘tīl (negation), Takyīf (asking how), or Tamthīl (likening). They negate from Allah what He has negated from Himself and keep silent regarding what has neither been negated nor established. Allah Almighty says: {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.}
• Having good expectations of Allah must be coupled with action. Al-Hasan al-Basri said: The believer thinks well of his Lord and, thus, performs good deeds, whereas the wrongdoer thinks ill of his Lord and, thus, performs evil deeds.
• Al-Qurtubi said: It is said: The meaning of "what My slave thinks of Me" is expecting fulfillment when supplicating, acceptance when repenting, forgiveness when seeking forgiveness, and recompense when fulfilling worship according to its conditions out of firm belief in His true promise. Hence, one must be diligent in carrying out his duties while being certain that Allah accepts and forgives him because He has promised this and He never breaks His promise. However, if one thinks or has doubts that Allah does not accept it and that it will be of no benefit to him, then this is the despair of Allah's mercy, which is from the major sins, and whoever dies on such a belief will be entrusted to his thoughts, as in some narrations of the mentioned Hadīth: "Let My slave think of Me as he wishes." He said: As for expecting forgiveness along with insistence on sins, this is nothing but absolute ignorance and heedlessness.
• Encouraging the act of remembering Allah frequently both within yourself and with your tongue. One should fear Allah within himself and in his heart and should remember His greatness and His right. He should also invoke Him, glorify Him, love Him, think well of Him, and sincerely devote his deeds to Him. He should utter with his tongue: "Subhānallāh" (Glorified is Allah), "Al-hamdulillāh" (praise be to Allah), "La ilāha illallāh" (there is no god but Allah), "Allāhu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest), and "La hawla wala quwwata illa billāh" (there is no power and no strength except with Allah).
• Ibn Abi Jamrah said: Whoever remembers Him while feeling fear, He secures him; or, feeling desolate, He provides him with serenity.
• "Shibr" (handspan): the distance between the tip of the little finger and the thumb when the hand is outstretched. "Dhirā‘" (cubit): the distance between the tip of the middle finger and the elbow bones. "Bā‘" (fathom): the length of man's both arms, upper arms, and the width of his chest, which is four cubits.

صحيح البخاري (9/ 121) (7405). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2067) (2675). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (17/ 151). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (5/ 516). منار القاري شرح مختصر صحيح البخاري، حمزة محمد (5/ 372). الجواب الكافي لمن سأل عن الدواء الشافي أو الداء والدواء (ص25). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 510). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 983).

عن أبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «إذا أراد الله تعالى رحمة أُمَّة، قَبض نبيَّها قبلها، فَجَعَلَهُ لها فَرَطًا وسَلفًا بين يديها، وإذا أراد هلَكَةً أُمَّة، عَذَّبَها ونَبِيُّهَا حَيٌّ ، فأهْلَكَها وهو حَيٌّ يَنظرُ، فأقرَّ عينَه بِهَلاَكِهَا حين كذَّبُوه وعَصَوا أمرَه».

As indicated by the Hadīth, if Allah, the Almighty, wills good for a certain people, He causes their prophet to die before them, and thus he gets to Paradise ahead of them and becomes their intercessor. A similar meaning was expressed in another Hadīth, in which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I shall be there at the Basin before you.” In other words, I will be there before you so as to get the water for you. “And if He wills to destroy a people, He punishes them whilst their prophet is alive, witnessing their destruction.” This is similar to what had befallen the people of Prophet Nūh and other prophets (peace be upon them). It is as if Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to tell them about the favor and kindness of their Lord who sent him as a source of mercy for this Muslim Ummah. In the Qur’an, He says: {And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds} [Sūrat al-Anbiyā': 107] Allah, the Almighty, promised the Muslims that He would not punish them while the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was still alive among them, and He even bestowed more of His favor and bounty upon them. He says: {But Allah would not punish them while you are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness.} [Sūrat al-Anfāl: 33]

- كنوز رياض الصالحين أ. د . حمد بن ناصر بن عبد الرحمن العمار دار كنوز اشبيليا ـالطبعة الأولى : 1430 هـ. - بهجة الناظرين ،الشيخ: سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي- الطبعة الأولى1418ه. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشرة، 1407هـ. - شرح الشفا- المؤلف: علي بن سلطان القاري دار الكتب العلمية - بيروت الطبعة: الأولى، 1421 هـ. - رياض الصالحين للنووي، تحقيق د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل دار ابن كثير للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، دمشق - بيروت الطبعة: الأولى، 1428 هـ - 2007 م. - صحيح مسلم؛ للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - شرح رياض الصالحين المؤلف: الشيخ الطبيب أحمد حطيبة - مصدر الكتاب: دروس صوتية قام بتفريغها موقع الشبكة الإسلامية.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَسْتُرُ عَبْدٌ عَبْدًا فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا سَتَرَهُ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarifies that no Muslim covers his fellow Muslim in any matter except that Allah Almighty would cover him on the Day of Judgment, as every deed has a recompense that suits it. Allah's covering for him would be by covering his faults and sins without disclosing them to the people gathered on Judgement Day, or it could be by not holding him accountable for them and not mentioning them to him.

• It is legitimate to cover a Muslim if he sins, along with expressing disapproval, offering him advice, and threatening him with Allah. However, if he is from the evildoers and from the corrupt who commit sins and acts of defiant disobedience openly, then he should not be covered, for this would encourage him to commit more sins. Therefore, his case should be referred to the ruler, even if he is to be mentioned, because he is known for his defiant disobedience and sinning.
• Urging the act of covering others' faults.
• The benefits of covering include: giving the sinner the chance to reconsider his actions and repent to Allah because publicizing defects and faults is from spreading immorality and it spoils the social atmosphere besides tempting people to commit them.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2002) (2590). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 329). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 255). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (4/ 533). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (3/ 14).