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سنن دارمي
Darimi
من كتاب الطهارةFrom the Book of Purification
باب مَا جَاءَ في الطُّهُورِ:Chapter: What is Reported About Purification
Hadith 678
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، وَالْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ مَوْلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: "اسْتَقِيمُوا وَلَنْ تُحْصُوا، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ خَيْرَ أَعْمَالِكُمْ الصَّلَاةُ"وَقَالَ الْآخَرُ: "إِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ الصَّلَاةَ""وَلَنْ يُحَافِظَ عَلَى الْوُضُوءِ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنٌ".
The freed slave of the Messenger of Allah, Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him), said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Be upright and steadfast, and you will not be able to encompass all good deeds. And know that among your best deeds is prayer, and none maintains ablution except a believer."
Related hadith on this topic
Brief Explanation
(Commentary on Hadith 676 to 678)
Allamah Waheeduz-Zaman writes in the explanation of this hadith: The meaning of «اسْتَقِيْمُوا» is that in beliefs and actions, adhere to the truth and remain steadfast upon the straight path, and by inclining towards monotheism (tawhid) and the Sunnah, do not lean towards polytheism (shirk) and innovation (bid‘ah). And the meaning of «لَنْ تُحْصُوا» is: You will not be able to fulfill all good deeds completely, therefore, be especially careful regarding prayer (salah), which is the most excellent and superior of all acts. And the protection of ablution (wudu) is that you remain in a state of ablution most of the time, and perform its sunnahs, recommended acts (mustahabbat), and obligatory acts (fara’id) properly; to wash the limbs of ablution thoroughly even in hardship and cold. In reality, ablution (wudu) is a great blessing and it renews faith (iman).
Allamah Waheeduz-Zaman writes in the explanation of this hadith: The meaning of «اسْتَقِيْمُوا» is that in beliefs and actions, adhere to the truth and remain steadfast upon the straight path, and by inclining towards monotheism (tawhid) and the Sunnah, do not lean towards polytheism (shirk) and innovation (bid‘ah). And the meaning of «لَنْ تُحْصُوا» is: You will not be able to fulfill all good deeds completely, therefore, be especially careful regarding prayer (salah), which is the most excellent and superior of all acts. And the protection of ablution (wudu) is that you remain in a state of ablution most of the time, and perform its sunnahs, recommended acts (mustahabbat), and obligatory acts (fara’id) properly; to wash the limbs of ablution thoroughly even in hardship and cold. In reality, ablution (wudu) is a great blessing and it renews faith (iman).
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Commentary:
➊
To remain steadfast on the straight path means to remain firm upon the religion of Islam, just as Ibrahim and Ya‘qub (alayhim as-salam) advised their respective children, saying:
﴿فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 132/2)
“When death comes to you, let it come to you while you are Muslims.”
The second meaning is to remain upon the path of moderation, avoiding both excess and negligence.
Do not be heedless of remembrance and worship, nor burden yourself so much that it becomes difficult to remain steadfast upon it.
➋
The meaning of (لَنْ تُحْصُوا) is that no person can remain upon the path of righteousness in such a way that no mistake or shortcoming ever occurs from him, nor is it possible to fulfill the due right of remembrance, gratitude, and worship.
This is an allusion to the statement of Allah Ta‘ala:
(عَلِمَ اَن لَّنْ تُحْصُوْه) (al-Muzzammil: 73/2)
“He knows that you will not be able to keep count of it.”
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to say:
(لَا اُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أثْنَيْتَ عَلٰي نَفْسِكَ) (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, Chapter: What is said in bowing and prostration? Hadith: 486)
“O Allah, I cannot fully praise You; You are as You have praised Yourself.”
➌
The continuity or invalidation of ablution (wudu) is something that is generally not known to others, and this matter can easily be kept hidden.
Its observance can only be maintained on the basis of the certainty that whether others know or not, Allah Ta‘ala knows everything.
Preserving ablution means, firstly, to wash the limbs thoroughly in both winter and summer.
Secondly, to wash the limbs attentively during ablution so that no part remains dry.
And thirdly, to remain in a state of ablution as much as possible; and this cannot be accomplished without the strength of faith.
➍
Faith (iman) is an inner state of the heart, the manifestation of which is through actions.
Among actions, the most important is prayer (salah).
Obligatory prayer is such an important act that it has been made a distinguishing sign between disbelief and faith.
The most important attribute of the God-fearing (muttaqin) and the foremost condition for ultimate success and salvation in the Hereafter is prayer.
(See Surah al-Baqarah: 2/5, 2)
Supererogatory (nafl) prayer has its own significance.
When Rabi‘ah ibn Ka‘b al-Aslami (radi Allahu anhu) expressed to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) his desire for companionship with him in Paradise, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) explained the way to attain this station and said:
(فَأَعِنِّيْ عَلٰي نَفْسِكَ بِكَثْرَةِ السُّجُوْدِ) (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, Chapter: The virtue of prostration and encouragement towards it, Hadith: 489)
“Help me against your own self by making abundant prostration.”
➊
To remain steadfast on the straight path means to remain firm upon the religion of Islam, just as Ibrahim and Ya‘qub (alayhim as-salam) advised their respective children, saying:
﴿فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ﴾ (al-Baqarah: 132/2)
“When death comes to you, let it come to you while you are Muslims.”
The second meaning is to remain upon the path of moderation, avoiding both excess and negligence.
Do not be heedless of remembrance and worship, nor burden yourself so much that it becomes difficult to remain steadfast upon it.
➋
The meaning of (لَنْ تُحْصُوا) is that no person can remain upon the path of righteousness in such a way that no mistake or shortcoming ever occurs from him, nor is it possible to fulfill the due right of remembrance, gratitude, and worship.
This is an allusion to the statement of Allah Ta‘ala:
(عَلِمَ اَن لَّنْ تُحْصُوْه) (al-Muzzammil: 73/2)
“He knows that you will not be able to keep count of it.”
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to say:
(لَا اُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أثْنَيْتَ عَلٰي نَفْسِكَ) (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, Chapter: What is said in bowing and prostration? Hadith: 486)
“O Allah, I cannot fully praise You; You are as You have praised Yourself.”
➌
The continuity or invalidation of ablution (wudu) is something that is generally not known to others, and this matter can easily be kept hidden.
Its observance can only be maintained on the basis of the certainty that whether others know or not, Allah Ta‘ala knows everything.
Preserving ablution means, firstly, to wash the limbs thoroughly in both winter and summer.
Secondly, to wash the limbs attentively during ablution so that no part remains dry.
And thirdly, to remain in a state of ablution as much as possible; and this cannot be accomplished without the strength of faith.
➍
Faith (iman) is an inner state of the heart, the manifestation of which is through actions.
Among actions, the most important is prayer (salah).
Obligatory prayer is such an important act that it has been made a distinguishing sign between disbelief and faith.
The most important attribute of the God-fearing (muttaqin) and the foremost condition for ultimate success and salvation in the Hereafter is prayer.
(See Surah al-Baqarah: 2/5, 2)
Supererogatory (nafl) prayer has its own significance.
When Rabi‘ah ibn Ka‘b al-Aslami (radi Allahu anhu) expressed to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) his desire for companionship with him in Paradise, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) explained the way to attain this station and said:
(فَأَعِنِّيْ عَلٰي نَفْسِكَ بِكَثْرَةِ السُّجُوْدِ) (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, Chapter: The virtue of prostration and encouragement towards it, Hadith: 489)
“Help me against your own self by making abundant prostration.”
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 277
