Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Shahna’:
Hatred, enmity, and malice.
Unzuru:
Grant them respite and delay, and postpone dealing with their matter.

Benefits and Issues:
The presentation of deeds before Allah on Mondays and Thursdays is a routine work or a procedural regulation. Otherwise, Allah Ta’ala is personally aware of all deeds, and the opening of the gates of Paradise is a sign that today people will be granted forgiveness. And whoever, having avoided disbelief and polytheism, maintains faith, is granted forgiveness. However, mutual enmity and malice is such a heinous crime that there is no forgiveness for its perpetrator until he refrains from this crime.

Explanation:
1:
Monday and Thursday are two such days regarding which it is established from some narrations that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
On these two days, the deeds of the servants are presented (to Allah),
and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to observe fasting on these two days with special care.
And in the narration of Muslim, it is mentioned that on Monday the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was born and on the same day he was commissioned (with Prophethood).

Commentary:
Note:
(In the chain of narration, Muhammad bin Rifaa is a weak narrator (layyin al-hadith), but on the basis of corroborating narrations and supporting evidences (mutaba‘at wa shawahid), this hadith is sahih li-ghayrihi [authentic due to external supporting evidence]).

Benefits and Issues:
➊ One should make a habit of keeping voluntary fasts (nafl) on Mondays and Thursdays.

➋ Fasting is a great virtuous deed, through the blessing of which there is greater hope for forgiveness.

➌ For Muslims to remain angry with one another without valid reason is a major sin.

➍ Harboring anger for a religious reason, or becoming displeased in order to admonish one’s family and dependents, is not included in this warning.

➎ Some people have tried to establish the permissibility of celebrating Mawlid (the Prophet’s birthday) from the fast of Monday, because the scholars are unanimously agreed that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was born on a Monday. However, this inference is questionable, because fasting on that day is a Sunnah, not celebrating it as an Eid, and Eid is contrary to fasting. Furthermore, it is not correct to analogize an annual Eid with a weekly Eid. This is because Rabi‘ al-Awwal came every year during the life of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), but he never celebrated an Eid in this month. For further details, see: “The Historical and Shar‘i Status of Mawlid and a Review of the Arguments of Its Proponents” by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf rahimahullah.

Benefit:
It is established from this hadith that the recording of deeds and their presentation before Allah Ta'ala every Monday and Thursday is true. If a person keeps this in mind, it is sufficient for his reformation. The deeds of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are presented before Allah Ta'ala on Monday, and the deeds of Tuesday and Wednesday are presented on Thursday. When a person has this firm belief, he will spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with thoughtfulness, and will strive to perform such deeds by which Allah Ta'ala becomes pleased, and so that He may bestow His special grace and favor in the coming days. Alas, man forgets everything, even his own death. Furthermore, this hadith also establishes the virtue of Monday and Thursday; for this reason, the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to observe voluntary fasting on these two days. This hadith also establishes the severe condemnation of malice and shirk (associating partners with Allah).