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الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتاب المعروفBook of Good Deeds
بَابُ إِمَاطَةِ الأذَىChapter: Removing Harm
Hadith 229
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: ”مَرَّ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ بِشَوْكٍ فِي الطَّرِيقِ، فَقَالَ: لَأُمِيطَنَّ هَذَا الشَّوْكَ، لاَ يَضُرُّ رَجُلاً مُسْلِمًا، فَغُفِرَ لَهُ.“
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "A man passed by a thorn lying on the road and said: I will surely remove this thorn from the road so that it does not harm any Muslim, so he was forgiven (because of this deed)."
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ Removing something harmful from the path is, outwardly, a minor act that does not require much effort or time, yet it is a definite means of entering Paradise. The real reason for this is the motivation that urges a person to perform this act, which is sympathy for Muslims and the creation of Allah, and making life easier. In the first hadith, there is the command to remove harmful things from people. Although its apparent meaning is that stones, thorns, etc., which cause people difficulty while passing, should be removed, it also includes the meaning that any thing which troubles people should be removed. Another point is that a person who is so sensitive that he cannot even tolerate a thorn pricking a Muslim will certainly be one who greatly observes the rights of Allah, Who is the Creator of all creation, and the one who observes the rights of the Creator is certainly destined for Paradise.
➋ The meaning of this hadith is by no means that a person, without caring for the fundamental obligations of Islam such as prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), pilgrimage (hajj), zakat, etc., merely keeps clearing the path and will thus become a person of Paradise, as some Sufis derive such meanings from these kinds of ahadith, or as many officials and workers of welfare organizations, being heedless of the symbols of Islam, consider service to creation as everything. Because the fulfillment of obligations comes first.
➌ In such good deeds, it is necessary that the person performing them is a Muslim and that his intention is also the pleasure of Allah and the removal of harm from creation.
➍ From these ahadith, it can be estimated that if keeping people’s paths clean is such a great act of reward, then how great a sin it must be to block their paths or to throw filth on them. In the present era, even weddings and religious programs are held by blocking main roads, and it seems that unless the public is caused inconvenience, our gatherings and processions are not considered successful. Those in authority should impose a complete ban on holding gatherings and processions at intersections and roads so that the creation of Allah may be spared from this torment.
➊ Removing something harmful from the path is, outwardly, a minor act that does not require much effort or time, yet it is a definite means of entering Paradise. The real reason for this is the motivation that urges a person to perform this act, which is sympathy for Muslims and the creation of Allah, and making life easier. In the first hadith, there is the command to remove harmful things from people. Although its apparent meaning is that stones, thorns, etc., which cause people difficulty while passing, should be removed, it also includes the meaning that any thing which troubles people should be removed. Another point is that a person who is so sensitive that he cannot even tolerate a thorn pricking a Muslim will certainly be one who greatly observes the rights of Allah, Who is the Creator of all creation, and the one who observes the rights of the Creator is certainly destined for Paradise.
➋ The meaning of this hadith is by no means that a person, without caring for the fundamental obligations of Islam such as prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), pilgrimage (hajj), zakat, etc., merely keeps clearing the path and will thus become a person of Paradise, as some Sufis derive such meanings from these kinds of ahadith, or as many officials and workers of welfare organizations, being heedless of the symbols of Islam, consider service to creation as everything. Because the fulfillment of obligations comes first.
➌ In such good deeds, it is necessary that the person performing them is a Muslim and that his intention is also the pleasure of Allah and the removal of harm from creation.
➍ From these ahadith, it can be estimated that if keeping people’s paths clean is such a great act of reward, then how great a sin it must be to block their paths or to throw filth on them. In the present era, even weddings and religious programs are held by blocking main roads, and it seems that unless the public is caused inconvenience, our gatherings and processions are not considered successful. Those in authority should impose a complete ban on holding gatherings and processions at intersections and roads so that the creation of Allah may be spared from this torment.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 229
