الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتابBook of a Man’s Responsibility to His Family
بَابُ مَنْ صُنِعَ إِلَيْهِ مَعْرُوفٌ فَلْيُكَافِئْهُChapter: Whoever is Shown Kindness Should Recompense It
Hadith 216
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ”مَنِ اسْتَعَاذَ بِاللَّهِ فَأَعِيذُوهُ، وَمَنْ سَأَلَ بِاللَّهِ فَأَعْطُوهُ، وَمَنْ أَتَى إِلَيْكُمْ مَعْرُوفًا فَكَافِئُوهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا فَادْعُوا لَهُ، حَتَّى يَعْلَمَ أَنْ قَدْ كَافَأْتُمُوهُ.“
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever seeks refuge with you in the name of Allah, grant him refuge; and whoever asks you in the name of Allah, give to him; and whoever does a favor to you, repay him; and if you do not have anything to repay him with, then pray for him so much that it becomes known that you have repaid him."
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ There are two forms of seeking protection: One is that a person, in order to be saved from the evil of someone, says to him, “I seek protection from you by invoking Allah’s name, so do not harm me.” The second form is when a weak person, while escaping from an enemy, seeks help and requests, “For the sake of Allah, grant me protection.” In such a case, it is obligatory upon a Muslim to grant protection to that person, except if the one seeking protection is a habitual criminal or murderer, or he has usurped someone’s right and wishes to suppress it; then it is not permissible to grant protection to such a person.
➋ Whoever asks by invoking Allah’s name should be given something out of respect for Allah’s name, and if one is unable to give, then one should excuse oneself in the best manner. It is not permissible to rebuke the beggar, especially when he is asking by Allah’s name. However, whoever asks by the name of other than Allah should not be given. If someone is a professional beggar and the one being asked knows that he is not in need, then it is permissible not to give to such a person, so that this profession is discouraged. Moreover, he should also be advised in an appropriate manner.
➌ In place of “hatta yu‘lam,” the wording of Abu Dawud is: “hatta taraw”—until it becomes clear to you that you have repaid him. When someone does a favor to another, the one who receives the favor should be grateful and should repay his benefactor with a good recompense. However, if a person is unable to repay a financial or any other favor, then he must at least make supplication (du‘a) for him, and he should make so much supplication that he is convinced he has repaid the favor. Ingratitude is never the trait of a believer.
Just as it is necessary to repay a worldly benefactor, it is also necessary to repay a religious benefactor. Whoever has been a means of guidance for a person, or fulfills his religious needs—whether as a teacher, preacher, or author—it is also necessary to supplicate for him; otherwise, it will be ingratitude. And sending blessings (salat) upon the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is also obligatory upon the believer.
➊ There are two forms of seeking protection: One is that a person, in order to be saved from the evil of someone, says to him, “I seek protection from you by invoking Allah’s name, so do not harm me.” The second form is when a weak person, while escaping from an enemy, seeks help and requests, “For the sake of Allah, grant me protection.” In such a case, it is obligatory upon a Muslim to grant protection to that person, except if the one seeking protection is a habitual criminal or murderer, or he has usurped someone’s right and wishes to suppress it; then it is not permissible to grant protection to such a person.
➋ Whoever asks by invoking Allah’s name should be given something out of respect for Allah’s name, and if one is unable to give, then one should excuse oneself in the best manner. It is not permissible to rebuke the beggar, especially when he is asking by Allah’s name. However, whoever asks by the name of other than Allah should not be given. If someone is a professional beggar and the one being asked knows that he is not in need, then it is permissible not to give to such a person, so that this profession is discouraged. Moreover, he should also be advised in an appropriate manner.
➌ In place of “hatta yu‘lam,” the wording of Abu Dawud is: “hatta taraw”—until it becomes clear to you that you have repaid him. When someone does a favor to another, the one who receives the favor should be grateful and should repay his benefactor with a good recompense. However, if a person is unable to repay a financial or any other favor, then he must at least make supplication (du‘a) for him, and he should make so much supplication that he is convinced he has repaid the favor. Ingratitude is never the trait of a believer.
Just as it is necessary to repay a worldly benefactor, it is also necessary to repay a religious benefactor. Whoever has been a means of guidance for a person, or fulfills his religious needs—whether as a teacher, preacher, or author—it is also necessary to supplicate for him; otherwise, it will be ingratitude. And sending blessings (salat) upon the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is also obligatory upon the believer.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 216
