Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The good way is that which has already been determined as good in the Shari‘ah. In this blessed hadith, what is meant by instituting a good way is that a person initiates a good deed in such a manner that it encourages others as well, and they too begin to perform that good deed. Since the initiator becomes the cause for others to perform this righteous act, he will, on account of this, be deserving of the reward for all those people’s actions. The aforementioned hadith was mentioned on the following occasion, and this incident makes the meaning of the hadith easy to understand: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jarir radi Allahu anhu, who says: “We were with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam at the beginning of the day. Then a group of people came, barefoot, naked, wearing woolen cloaks or garments, with swords hanging from their necks. Most of them, rather all of them, were from the tribe of Mudar. The face of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam changed when he saw their poverty. He went inside, then came out, and ordered Bilal radi Allahu anhu, who gave the call to prayer and the iqamah. Then he (the Prophet) delivered a sermon and said: {یَا أَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّکُمُ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَکُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَۃٍ إِلَی آخِرِ الْآیَۃِ إِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ عَلَیْکُمْ رَقِیبًا۔} and the verse which is in Surah al-Hashr {اتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ} ‘A man gave charity from his dinar, from his dirham, from his garment, from a sa‘ (measure) of wheat, from a sa‘ of dates, until he said: even if it is only half a date.’ Then a man from the Ansar came with a bundle so heavy that his hand was unable to lift it, in fact, it had become unable. Then the people followed him, until I saw two heaps of food and clothes, and I saw the face of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam shining like gold. Then the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ‘Whoever institutes a good practice in Islam, he will have its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him, without their rewards being diminished in the least. And whoever institutes an evil practice in Islam, upon him will be its sin and the sin of those who act upon it after him, without their sins being diminished in the least.’” … We were with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam at the beginning of the day when a group arrived, barefoot, naked, wearing leather cloaks, with swords hanging, most of them, rather all of them, from the tribe of Mudar. The blessed face of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam changed upon seeing their destitution. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam went into his house, then came out and ordered Sayyiduna Bilal radi Allahu anhu, who gave the adhan and the iqamah. Then he delivered a sermon and said: {یٰا اَیُّھَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّکُمُ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَکُمْ مِّنْ نَّفْسٍ وَّاحِدَۃٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنْھَا زَوْجَہَا وَبَثَّ مِنْہُمَا رِجَالًا کَثِیْرًا وَّنِسَا ئً وَّاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ الَّذِیْ تَسَا ئَ لُوْنَ بِہ وَالْاَرْحَامَ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ عَلَیْکُمْ رَقِیْبًا} … “O people! Fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul and created from it its mate and spread from them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Surely Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.” (Surah al-Nisa: 1) And the verse which is in Surah al-Hashr: {یٰا اَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ خَبِیْرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ} … “O you who have believed! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow—and fear Allah. Surely Allah is fully aware of what you do.” (Surah al-Hashr: 18) Thus, a man gives charity from his dinar, his dirham, his garment, a sa‘ of wheat, or a sa‘ of dates. Until he said: even if it is only a piece of a date. Then a man from the Ansar came with a pouch so heavy that his hand was unable to lift it, then the people followed him, until I saw two heaps of clothes and food, and the blessed face of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam began to shine like gold. Then the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever institutes a good practice in Islam, he will have its reward and the reward of those who act upon it after him, without their rewards being diminished in the least. Likewise, whoever institutes an evil practice in Islam, upon him will be its sin and the sin of those who act upon it after him, without their sins being diminished in the least.” (Sahih Muslim: 1691)

The person who gave charity in greater quantity, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam praised his action, because due to his action, others were encouraged.

The same applies to evil deeds: whoever becomes the cause for others’ evil actions, he will bear the sin of their evil deeds, while the sin of any individual will not be lessened because of another.