Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:
➊ In a narration of Sahih al-Bukhari, it is mentioned that on this occasion, Mu'adh ibn Jabal (radi Allahu anhu) was riding on the donkey with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). (Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Jihad wal-Siyar, Chapter: The Name of the Horse and the Donkey, Hadith 2856)

➋ Allah, the Exalted, is the Creator and Bestower of blessings upon the servants. Therefore, it is an obligatory duty upon the servants that they worship Him alone.

➌ There is absolutely no right upon Allah on behalf of anyone. The right of the servants that Allah has taken upon Himself is purely out of Allah’s grace and His mercy; this right, Allah has taken upon Himself by His own mercy.

➍ What is meant by not punishing the one who does not commit shirk is that he will not be given eternal punishment; otherwise, for other sins, punishment may be given in the grave, on the Day of Resurrection, and in Hell.

Hadith Commentary:
Here, the name of the donkey ‘Ufair is mentioned; from this, the purpose of the chapter is established.
From this hadith, the utmost condemnation of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and the utmost excellence of tawhid (monotheism) are also established.
In many verses of the Noble Qur’an, it is mentioned that shirk is such a grave sin that whoever departs from this world in a state of shirk, Paradise is absolutely forbidden for him.
He will remain burning in the Fire of Hell forever.
Alas, how many so-called Muslims are there who, despite reading the Noble Qur’an, are blindly entangled in acts of shirk, and have even surpassed idol-worshippers.
They seek their needs from elders buried in graves, call upon them from afar, and make vows and offerings in their names, and hold such erroneous beliefs about these elders that these beliefs are manifestly beliefs of shirk, which are only befitting for idol-worshippers. Yet, these so-called Muslims have ruined Islam. May Allah guide them to the straight path. For details regarding tawhid and shirk, the study of Taqwiyat al-Iman is extremely important and necessary.

Hadith Commentary:

In acts of worship and servitude, one must acknowledge Allah the Exalted as One without any partner. This alone is the right which Allah has made obligatory upon every servant, male and female. If the servants act accordingly, then their right upon Allah the Exalted is that He forgives them and admits them into Paradise.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
At this point, this hadith has been narrated in a concise manner.
Its detail is as follows: Once, Mu'adh ibn Jabal (radi Allahu anhu) was riding behind the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) on a donkey named Ghafeer.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) called his attention three times, then said:
"Do you know what right Allah has over His servants?" He replied:
"Allah and His Messenger know best."
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Allah's right over His servants is that they worship Him alone and do not associate anything with Him."
A little while later, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) again called his attention and said:
"Do you know what right the servants have over Allah when they fulfill His right?" He replied:
"Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) know best."
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"When they do not associate anything with Him, He will not punish them."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Jihad wal-Siyar, Hadith: 2856)

➋
From this hadith, the clarification of that right of Allah is intended which is incumbent upon His servants, and that is to worship Him while staying away from shirk (associating partners with Allah).
By worship is meant every action by which Allah is pleased.
In other words, fulfilling the commands of Allah and abstaining from what He has prohibited is His worship.
A person should not oppose his true Creator for any personal motive or worldly benefit; thus, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has clarified the rights of Allah upon His servants.
A person should not deviate from them even to the extent of a hair's breadth.

➌
It should be clear that the rights of the servants upon Allah are not in exchange for the servants' fulfillment of their duties, but rather Allah, out of His grace and bounty, has taken them upon Himself, as is stated in the noble verse:
"Your Lord has prescribed mercy upon Himself." (: al-An'am: 54)
And He also said:
"Helping the believers is incumbent upon Us." (: al-Rum: 47)
It is mentioned in the hadith that Allah said:
"O My servants! I have made oppression unlawful for Myself and have made it unlawful among you, so do not oppress one another."
(Sahih Muslim, al-Birr was-Silah, Hadith: 6572 (2577))
Not associating partners with Allah while worshipping Him is tawhid al-uluhiyyah (the oneness of Allah in worship).
The polytheists used to deny this.
Regrettably, in the present era, the majority of Muslims are such that, along with worshipping Allah, they also show servitude to the saints.
They make vows and offerings in their names, and some so-called Muslims even prostrate to graves.
May Allah grant us the understanding of tawhid al-uluhiyyah and keep us steadfast upon it.
This is the very right which Allah has made obligatory upon His servants.
When the servants fulfill it, Allah will free them from Hell and admit them into Paradise.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues:

AL-HAQ (The Truth/Right):
Haq refers to something that exists.
Therefore, truth and veracity are also called "haq" because they exist. And "haq" is used for everything whose performance is obligatory and necessary.
Thus, obligatory acts (fara'id), whose fulfillment is necessary, or a debt whose repayment is obligatory, are also called "haq."

Allah's right (haq) over His servants means:
That it is obligatory and incumbent upon the servant to perform that act.

And the servants' right (haq) over Allah means that the existence or occurrence of that thing is definite and certain.
It does not mean that it is obligatory or incumbent upon Allah to do it.

Hadith Authentication (Takhrij al-Hadith):
[صحیح بخاری 2856],
[صحیح مسلم 144،145]

Jurisprudence of the Hadith (Fiqh al-Hadith)
➊ Worshipping Allah alone and completely avoiding every kind of shirk (polytheism) is an extremely important issue and a fundamental belief. The people of tawhid (monotheism) remain steadfast upon this magnificent creed throughout their lives and are always ready to sacrifice their lives for it.
➋ Allah, exalted is He, has promised the people of tawhid that He will not punish them. If, due to their sins, some monotheists are admitted into Hell, then after some time, Allah, by His grace and mercy, will remove them from Hell and admit them into eternal Paradise.
➌ Every person should duly respect someone who is superior to him. Instead of trying to prove himself superior in all matters, he should give preference to the other over himself. Sayyiduna Mu'adh ibn Jabal radi Allahu anhu was sitting on a mount with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. This also makes it clear that it is obligatory upon every Muslim—whether from the general public or among the students—to respect and honor the righteous scholars.
➍ This hadith does not mean at all that people should abandon righteous deeds. For this reason, it was prohibited to narrate it before the general public. It is thus understood that, due to people’s misunderstandings, tribulations, and other harmful effects, it is better not to present some authentic texts before the general public, and if they are presented, their correct explanation and meaning should also be clarified.
➎ The meaning of worshipping Allah is that He should be worshipped according to the Qur’an and Hadith. All the commands of Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) should be acted upon. If righteous deeds are abandoned and worship is performed contrary to the Book and Sunnah, then it has no weight with Allah, as is established by other evidences.
➏ Why did Sayyiduna Mu'adh radi Allahu anhu narrate this hadith despite the prohibition of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?
Sayyiduna Mu'adh ibn Jabal radi Allahu anhu narrated this hadith at the time of his death out of fear of sin. It is mentioned in the hadith:
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
«من كتم علماً تلجم بلجام من نار يوم القيامة»
Whoever conceals knowledge, a bridle of fire will be placed on him on the Day of Resurrection. [صحيح ابن حبان، الاحسان : 95، الموارد : 95]
The scholars, in explaining this hadith, have written that Sayyiduna Mu'adh radi Allahu anhu narrated this hadith before a select group of people, and the prohibition in the hadith is regarding narrating it before the general public, or that the prohibition is not one of prohibition (tahrimi) but rather of dislike (tanzihi). «والله اعلم»

Hadith Authentication (Takhrij al-Hadith):
[صحیح بخاری 2856],
[صحیح مسلم 144،145]

Jurisprudence of the Hadith (Fiqh al-Hadith)
➊ Worshipping Allah alone and completely avoiding every kind of shirk (associating partners with Allah) is an extremely important issue and a fundamental belief. The people of tawhid (monotheism) remain steadfast upon this magnificent creed throughout their lives and are always ready to sacrifice their lives for it.
➋ Allah, exalted is He, has promised the people of tawhid that He will not punish them. If, due to their sins, some monotheists are admitted into Hell, then after some time, Allah, by His grace and mercy, will remove them from Hell and admit them into eternal Paradise.
➌ Every person should duly respect someone who is superior to him. Instead of trying to prove himself superior in all matters, he should give preference to the other over himself. Sayyiduna Mu'adh ibn Jabal radi Allahu anhu was sitting on a mount with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. This also makes it clear that it is obligatory upon every Muslim—whether from the general public or among the students—to show respect and reverence to the righteous scholars.
➍ The meaning of this hadith is by no means that people should abandon righteous deeds. For this reason, it was prohibited to narrate it before the general public. It is thus understood that, due to people’s misunderstandings, tribulations, and other harmful effects, it is better not to present some authentic texts before the general public, and if they are presented, their correct explanation and meaning should also be clarified.
➎ The meaning of worshipping Allah is that He should be worshipped according to the Qur’an and Hadith. All the commands of Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) should be acted upon. If righteous deeds are abandoned and worship is performed contrary to the Book and Sunnah, then it has no weight with Allah, as is established by other evidences.
➏ Why did Sayyiduna Mu'adh radi Allahu anhu narrate this hadith despite the prohibition of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?
Sayyiduna Mu'adh ibn Jabal radi Allahu anhu narrated this hadith at the time of his death out of fear of sin. It is mentioned in the hadith:
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
«من كتم علماً تلجم بلجام من نار يوم القيامة»
Whoever conceals knowledge, a bridle of fire will be placed on him on the Day of Resurrection. [صحيح ابن حبان، الاحسان : 95، الموارد : 95]
The scholars, in their explanation of this hadith, have written that Sayyiduna Mu'adh radi Allahu anhu narrated this hadith before a select group of people, and the prohibition in the hadith is regarding narrating it before the general public, or that the prohibition is not one of prohibition (tahrimi) but rather of dislike (tanzihi). «والله اعلم»