40 Hadith Lesson 49: Hadith 31 Abstinence From the World

Sun 29th Dec 2019

Lesson 49: Hadith 31 (Abstinence From the World)

Read by our brother Abu Arwa Ali

Summary:

  • What does Zuhd mean?
  • Having certainty in Allah
  • How to deal with calamities in your life?
  • Loss of wealth, life and health
  • How should you deal with people who criticise you?

Recap of Last week:

  • What did we learn from Hadith 30?
  • Allah has set limits for certain things, what are they?
  • Allah has remained silent about certain things, what does this mean? Why is this the case?

Hadith 31

  • From Sahl bin Saʿd al-Sāʿidī (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu) who said: A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “O Messenger of Allāh, direct me to an act which, if I do it, [will cause] Allāh to love me and people to love me.” He said, “Abstain from (pursuit of) the world and Allāh will love you, and abstain from (pursuing) what people possess and people will love you.” [Related by Ibn Mājah]
  • Imam Nawawi graded this Hadith as Hasan (sound)
  • The explanation of this hadith is split into 4 parts

Part 1: The eagerness of the companions for good

  • The companions of the Messenger of Allah were the most keen of people in wanting to know the avenues to good
  • Sahl bin Sa’d may Allah be pleased with him wanted to know how to attain the love of Allah
  • Why should one want the people to love him? What is the benefit in this?
  • When is the love of the people dispraise worthy

Part 2: The statement of the Prophet (ﷺ) “abstain from the world”

  • The word used for abstain was “Zuhd”, what does it mean?
  • What did ibnu Rajab say about the meaning of Zuhd?
  • Leaving that which preoccupies you and busies you from Allah, the Most High
  • Before a person embarks on Zuhd concerning worldly matters that are permitted, he should pay attention to sins and the forbidden matters
  • Abstaining from Shirk (polytheism) and disbelief
  • The error of Sufi, Khawarij and Christian asceticism
  • The underlying component of Zuhd is found in the Heart
  • What did Ibnu Rajab say about the 3 underlying component of the true Zahid?
    • 1. To have more confidence and certainty concerning what is in the Hand of Allah for you of the dunya than what is in your hand
    • 2. That your condition and state of mind when you are afflicted with a calamity, is the same as when you were not afflicted with it
    • 3. That the one who praises you, and the one who rightfully criticises you are the same in your eyes
  • What do these three points mean?