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الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتاب الكرم و يتيمBook of Generosity and the Orphan
بَابُ الْكَرَمِChapter: Generosity
Hadith 129
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدَةُ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَكْرَمُ؟ قَالَ: ”أَكْرَمُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ أَتْقَاهُمْ“، قَالُوا: لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ، قَالَ: ”فَأَكْرَمُ النَّاسِ يُوسُفُ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ابْنُ نَبِيِّ اللهِ ابْنِ خَلِيلِ اللهِ“، قَالُوا: لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ، قَالَ: ”فَعَنْ مَعَادِنِ الْعَرَبِ تَسْأَلُونِي؟“ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: ”فَخِيَارُكُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ خِيَارُكُمْ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ إِذَا فَقِهُوا.“
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked: "Which people are the most honorable and noble?" The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: "The most honorable in the sight of Allah is the one who is most God-fearing." The people said: "We are not asking about this." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Then the best of people is Allah’s Prophet Yusuf, son of Allah’s Prophet, son of Allah’s Khalil (friend)." They said: "This is not what we mean." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Alright, you want to ask about the families of the Arabs?" They said: "Yes!" The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Those among you who were best in the pre-Islamic period are the best in Islam as well, provided they gain understanding and knowledge of the religion."
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ In the mentioned hadith, various forms of honor and nobility are discussed. The highest form of honor and nobility is that a person attains closeness to Allah by adopting piety (taqwa) and performing righteous deeds (a‘maal salihah). Then, it is explained that in terms of lineage and ancestry, if anyone is the most honorable, it is Sayyiduna Yusuf (alayhis salam), because his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were also prophets, and all the qualities of knowledge, prophethood, and high moral character were present in them. As for the tribes of the Arabs, whoever was considered honorable and noble in the era of ignorance (jahiliyyah) is also more honorable in Islam, but with the condition that after accepting Islam, he attains understanding of the religion (fiqh). That is, along with familial honor and nobility, if a person also advances in knowledge and practice, then he will certainly be more honorable than others. In other words, if a person was honorable and noble even in the era of ignorance, and after accepting Islam he also attained a distinguished position in knowledge and practice, then he is the most honorable, compared to the one who was not honorable in the era of ignorance but attained understanding of the religion (fiqh) in Islam.
The summary of the discussion is that true honor and nobility are attained only through faith (iman) and righteous deeds. Mere familial lineage does not benefit anyone.
➋ Islam has recognized familial honor and nobility. Likewise, if Allah, the Exalted, has granted someone honor, then it is necessary to respect and honor him. However, in the implementation of the Shari‘ah rulings, all are equal, and the limits set by Allah (hudud Allah) will be enforced equally upon everyone.
➊ In the mentioned hadith, various forms of honor and nobility are discussed. The highest form of honor and nobility is that a person attains closeness to Allah by adopting piety (taqwa) and performing righteous deeds (a‘maal salihah). Then, it is explained that in terms of lineage and ancestry, if anyone is the most honorable, it is Sayyiduna Yusuf (alayhis salam), because his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were also prophets, and all the qualities of knowledge, prophethood, and high moral character were present in them. As for the tribes of the Arabs, whoever was considered honorable and noble in the era of ignorance (jahiliyyah) is also more honorable in Islam, but with the condition that after accepting Islam, he attains understanding of the religion (fiqh). That is, along with familial honor and nobility, if a person also advances in knowledge and practice, then he will certainly be more honorable than others. In other words, if a person was honorable and noble even in the era of ignorance, and after accepting Islam he also attained a distinguished position in knowledge and practice, then he is the most honorable, compared to the one who was not honorable in the era of ignorance but attained understanding of the religion (fiqh) in Islam.
The summary of the discussion is that true honor and nobility are attained only through faith (iman) and righteous deeds. Mere familial lineage does not benefit anyone.
➋ Islam has recognized familial honor and nobility. Likewise, if Allah, the Exalted, has granted someone honor, then it is necessary to respect and honor him. However, in the implementation of the Shari‘ah rulings, all are equal, and the limits set by Allah (hudud Allah) will be enforced equally upon everyone.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 129
