Muwatta Malik (Qasim)

Takhrij al-Hadith: [واخراجه البخاري 56، ومسلم 11، من حديث مالك به]
Jurisprudential Points:
➊ From this hadith, it is understood that success depends, after beliefs, on actions and the fulfillment of obligations. However, one should not abandon the Sunnah and voluntary acts either, as is established by other evidences. When there is deficiency in the obligatory acts (fara’id), the Sunnah and voluntary acts (nawafil) will be of benefit.
➋ Who was the man from Najd? The hadith does not specify this. Ibn Battal, Ibn al-‘Ajami, and others are of the opinion that he was Dhamam ibn Tha’labah radi Allahu anhu. [شرح ابن بطال 1/97 والتوضيح لمبهمات الجامع الصحيح لابن العجمي، قلمي ص13،]
And this view appears to be the most correct. See Jurisprudential Points: 6
➌ Islam is the name of obligations and actions; it is thus clear that the belief of the Murji’ah is false, who think that actions are outside of faith (iman).
➍ In this hadith, there is no mention of Hajj, whereas in other ahadith, the obligation of Hajj is established. Therefore, it is understood that if an issue is not mentioned in one evidence but is mentioned in another, then the latter is to be given consideration. In such a case, the absence of mention should not be taken as evidence for the absence of the thing itself.
Some scholars have deduced from this hadith that Witr is not obligatory (wajib) but rather an emphasized Sunnah (sunnah mu’akkadah). This is also supported by the following statement of our master ‘Ali radi Allahu anhu:
«ليس الوتر بحتم كالصلوة ولكنه سنة فلا تدعوه»
Witr is not necessary (wajib) like the obligatory (fard) prayer, but it is Sunnah, so do not abandon it. [مسند أحمد 1/107 ح842 وسنده حسن،]
A man named Abu Muhammad said: Witr is obligatory (wajib). So our master ‘Ubadah ibn Samit radi Allahu anhu (a Badri companion) said: “Abu Muhammad has lied.” Abu Muhammad has spoken falsely (incorrectly). [سنن ابي داؤد : 1420، وسنده حسن، مؤطا امام مالك 123/1، وصحيحه ابن حبان، الموارد 252، 253]
➏ In the Arabic language, a high and hard place is called Najd, and low and depressed land is called Ghawr. See al-Qamus al-Wahid [ص 1611، 1189]
There are many Najds in the region of Arabia, for example: Najd Barq, Najd Khal, Najd ‘Afr, Najd Kabkab, and Najd Muray’ [ديكهئے معجم البلدان 262/5،]
From Tihamah to the land of Iraq is Najd. [لسان العرب 413/3،]
In those ahadith in which Najd of the horn of Satan, earthquakes, and tribulations is mentioned, what is meant is Najd al-‘Iraq. See [اكمل البيان فى شرح حديث نجد قرن الشيطان] (by Hakim Muhammad Ashraf Sandhu) and “The Land of Tribulations: Najd or Iraq” (by Rida Allah Abdul Karim)
The Najdi mentioned in this hadith is the eminent companion (Dhamam ibn Tha’labah) radi Allahu anhu, as has been mentioned above (number 2). Also see [الاصابة ص627 ت4342]
➐ In those ahadith in which it is mentioned that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam pointed towards Najd and said: From there the horn of Satan will emerge, and from there will be tribulations and earthquakes, what is meant is Najd of Iraq. In Musnad Ahmad, it is mentioned that (our master) Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhu said: I saw that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was pointing towards Iraq and saying:
«ها، ان الفنته ها هنا، ان الفتنه ها هنا۔ ثلاث مرات۔ من حيث يطلع قرن الشيطان۔»
Beware, tribulation is from there, beware, tribulation is from there. He said this three times. From where the horn of Satan will emerge. [مسند أحمد 2/143 ح6302 وسنده صحيح،
ایک اور روایت میں آیا ہے کہ نبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے شام اور یمن کے بارے میں کئی دفعہ برکت کی دعا فرمائی۔ کہا گیا : اور عراق کے بارے میں (دعا فرمائیں) ؟ تو آپ نے فرمایا : «[إن] بھا الزلازل والفتن وبھا یطلع قرن الشیطان۔» وہاں زلزلے اور فتنے ہوں گے اور وہاں سے شیطان کا سینگ نکلے گا۔ [المعجم الكبير للطبراني 12/384 ح13422، وسنده حسن]
A similar narration with the word “Iraq” is also found in the book of Abu Nu’aym al-Asbahani «حلية الاولياء». [ج6 ص133، وسنده حسن]
Our master Salim ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar rahimahullah said to the Iraqis: O people of Iraq! We do not ask you about a small matter, so how can we ask you about a great matter? I heard my father ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhu saying: I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saying: Tribulation will come from there. He pointed towards the east. From where the horn of Satan will emerge, and you will kill one another... [صحيح مسلم : 50/2905، دارالسلام : 7297]
It is thus clear that what is meant by the emergence of the horn of Satan from Najd is Najd of Iraq. Therefore, it is incorrect for some people of innovation (ahl al-bid’ah) to interpret Najd as Najd of Hijaz or Najd of Riyadh. ➑ Also see H363
➒ The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not know the unseen; otherwise, he would not have said: «أَفْلَحَ إِنْ صَدَقَ». Reflect deeply.