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الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتاب الأكابرBook of the Elders
بَابُ تَسْوِيدِ الأكَابِرِChapter: Giving Status to the Elders
Hadith 361
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَرْزُوقٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ: سَمِعْتُ مُطَرِّفًا، عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ قَيْسِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ أَوْصَى عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ بَنِيهِ فَقَالَ: اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَسَوِّدُوا أَكْبَرُكُمْ، فَإِنَّ الْقَوْمَ إِذَا سَوَّدُوا أَكْبَرَهُمْ خَلَفُوا أَبَاهُمْ، وَإِذَا سَوَّدُوا أَصْغَرَهُمْ أَزْرَى بِهِمْ ذَلِكَ فِي أَكْفَائِهِمْ. وَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمَالِ وَاصْطِنَاعِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْبَهَةٌ لِلْكَرِيمِ، وَيُسْتَغْنَى بِهِ عَنِ اللَّئِيمِ. وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمَسْأَلَةَ النَّاسِ، فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ آخِرِ كَسْبِ الرَّجُلِ. وَإِذَا مُتُّ فَلاَ تَنُوحُوا، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يُنَحْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. وَإِذَا مُتُّ فَادْفِنُونِي بِأَرْضٍ لاَ يَشْعُرُ بِدَفْنِي بَكْرُ بْنُ وَائِلٍ، فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أُغَافِلُهُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ.
It is narrated from Hakim bin Qais bin Asim (may Allah have mercy on him) that his father, Sayyiduna Qais bin Asim (may Allah be pleased with him), while advising his sons at the time of his death, said: Fear Allah, and appoint as your leader the eldest among you. Indeed, any people who appoint their elder as their leader, they truly establish their father’s rightful successor, and when they appoint the younger as their leader, this causes all of them to be disgraced among their peers. And be mindful of earning wealth and increasing it through lawful means, for this is a matter of honor for a noble person, and through it he becomes independent of a lowly person. And do not ask people (for anything), for this is the last resort for earning wealth (that when a person is completely compelled, then he asks someone), and when I die, do not wail over me, for wailing was not done over the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). And after my death, bury me in such a place that Bakar bin Wa’il does not know of it, for in the days of ignorance I used to attack them unawares.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ In this narration as well, there is an instruction to observe respect and reverence for elders, and that families who do not uphold this practice become disgraced in society.
➋ It is a Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) to make a good bequest to one’s children and family at the time of death, and this was also the way of the Salaf. One should strive to act upon this.
➌ If a person fears that after his death there will be innovations such as wailing (niyahah) and the like, he should prohibit them during his lifetime.
➍ Wealth, when accompanied by piety, is a blessing from Allah. Striving to acquire it and to increase it through lawful (halal) means is a commendable act so that a person may live an honorable life. On the contrary, extending one’s hand to others in need is a cause of disgrace in this world and the Hereafter.
➎ Qays ibn ‘Asim (radi Allahu anhu) was the chief of his tribe, a man of noble character and great bravery. Forbearance and patience were his special qualities. Someone once asked Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays from whom he had learned forbearance, and he replied: “From Qays ibn ‘Asim.” He explained: One day, Qays was sitting in his tent with his sword at his side, conversing with people, when a man was brought in with his hands tied behind his back, and with him was brought a murdered person. It was said to Qays: “Your nephew has killed your son.” Al-Ahnaf says: By Allah! Qays neither untied the cloth he was leaning on nor interrupted his conversation. When he had finished speaking, he said to another of his sons: “Get up and arrange for your brother’s burial, and untie your cousin’s bonds.” Then he said to his nephew: “You have diminished your own numbers, weakened your own strength, and made the enemy laugh, thus harming your own people.” Then he said that the mother of the (deceased) should be given one hundred camels as blood money (diyah). (Fadl Allah al-Samad: 1/386)
➊ In this narration as well, there is an instruction to observe respect and reverence for elders, and that families who do not uphold this practice become disgraced in society.
➋ It is a Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) to make a good bequest to one’s children and family at the time of death, and this was also the way of the Salaf. One should strive to act upon this.
➌ If a person fears that after his death there will be innovations such as wailing (niyahah) and the like, he should prohibit them during his lifetime.
➍ Wealth, when accompanied by piety, is a blessing from Allah. Striving to acquire it and to increase it through lawful (halal) means is a commendable act so that a person may live an honorable life. On the contrary, extending one’s hand to others in need is a cause of disgrace in this world and the Hereafter.
➎ Qays ibn ‘Asim (radi Allahu anhu) was the chief of his tribe, a man of noble character and great bravery. Forbearance and patience were his special qualities. Someone once asked Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays from whom he had learned forbearance, and he replied: “From Qays ibn ‘Asim.” He explained: One day, Qays was sitting in his tent with his sword at his side, conversing with people, when a man was brought in with his hands tied behind his back, and with him was brought a murdered person. It was said to Qays: “Your nephew has killed your son.” Al-Ahnaf says: By Allah! Qays neither untied the cloth he was leaning on nor interrupted his conversation. When he had finished speaking, he said to another of his sons: “Get up and arrange for your brother’s burial, and untie your cousin’s bonds.” Then he said to his nephew: “You have diminished your own numbers, weakened your own strength, and made the enemy laugh, thus harming your own people.” Then he said that the mother of the (deceased) should be given one hundred camels as blood money (diyah). (Fadl Allah al-Samad: 1/386)
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 361
