This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mawsili's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi, which has been translated into Urdu by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnoaat.
The Virtue of Asceticism
① Sayyiduna Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه narrates from the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, who said:
الزهادة فى الدنيا ليست بتحريم الحلال ، ولا إضاعة المال ، ولكن الزهادة فى الدنيا أن لا تكون بما فى يديك أوثق مما فى يد الله تعالى، و أن تكون فى ثواب المصيبة إذا أنت أصبت بها أرغب فيها لو أنها أبقيت لك
"Renouncing the world does not mean declaring what is lawful as unlawful and wasting wealth. Rather, renouncing the world and detachment means that what is in your hand is not more trustworthy than what is in the hand of Allah. And if you suffer any hardship, you should desire to remain in that affliction because of the reward and recompense you will receive in return."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Zuhd 2340, Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Zuhd 4100. This narration is weak. Amr ibn Waqid is a rejected narrator.
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه states, we said:
O Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم! What is the matter with us that when we are with you, our hearts become soft and we become disinterested in the world, and the Hereafter seems as if it is right before our eyes. But when we leave you, we become attached and busy with our family and forget ourselves?
The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
لو أنكم إذا خرجتم تكونون على حالكم عندي لزارتكم الملائكة فى بيوتكم ولصافحتكم فى طرقكم
"When you leave, if at that time your condition remains as it is when you are with me, then the angels will come to your homes to visit you and will greet you on your paths."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Zuhd 2526. The narration is Hasan.
③ Sayyiduna Sahl ibn Sa’d al-Sa’idi رضي الله عنه narrates, a man came to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and said: O Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم! Tell me of an action, that if I do it, I will become beloved and favored by Allah and by people.
The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إزهد فى الدنيا يحبك الله ، وازهد فيما عند الناس يحبك الناس
"Become indifferent to the world and Allah will love you, and become indifferent to what people have and you will become beloved by people."
Reference: Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Zuhd 4102. The narration is Hasan.
Instructions Regarding Piety
① Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه narrates, I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
إن الله يحب العبد التقي الغني الخفي
"Indeed, Allah loves the pious, the rich, and the unknown servant."
Reference: Muslim, Kitab al-Zuhd 2965, Musnad Saad bin Abi Waqqas 168/1.
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates, it was asked: "O Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم! Who are the most honored people among the people?"
You صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
أتقاهم
"Those among them who are pious."
They said: "We are not asking you about that."
Then you صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
فعن معادن العرب تسألون خيارهم فى الجاهلية خيارهم فى الإسلام إذا فقهوا
"Then you ask about the origin and nature of the Arabs? Among them, those who were better in ignorance are also better in Islam, provided they reflect."
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab Ahadith al-Anbiya 3353, 3490, Muslim, Kitab al-Fada'il 2378.
③ Sayyiduna Yazid bin Muslimah رضي الله عنه narrates, I said:
"O Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم! I have heard many hadiths from you, I fear forgetting them. Please teach me a comprehensive word."
You صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
اتق الله فيما تعلم
"Fear Allah concerning what you know."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Ilm 2683, 2607 with Ahmad Shakir's grading. This narration is weak. Imam Tirmidhi رحمه الله said: In my view, its chain is not continuous but rather mursal.
④ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates, it was asked from the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم what is the thing by which most people will enter Paradise?
You صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
تقوى الله وحسن الخلق
"Fear of Allah and good character."
Then it was asked about the thing by which many people will enter Hellfire, and you صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
الفم والفرج
"The mouth and the private parts."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Birr wa al-Silah, Bab Ma Ja'a fi Husn al-Khuluq 2004. The narration is authentic. Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Zuhd 4246, 1927, Musnad Ahmad, Baqi Musnad al-Mukathirin 7566 442/2.
⑤ Sayyiduna Samurah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
الحسب المال والكرم التقوى
"Lineage is by wealth, and nobility and greatness is by piety."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Tafsir 'an Rasul Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, Bab min Surat al-Hujurat 3271, 3194. Authentic due to its evidences. Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Zuhd 4219.
⑥ Abu Tarif Uday bin Hatim al-Tai رضي الله عنه narrates, I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
من حلف على يمين ثم رأى أتقى لله خيرا منها فليأت التقوى
"Whoever swears an oath and then sees something more pious for Allah, let him choose that pious thing."
Reference: Muslim, Kitab al-Iman 3116 with Ahmad Shakir's numbering 1651/15.
⑦ Sayyiduna Muadh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه narrates, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
اتق الله حيث كنت وأتبع السيئة الحسنة تمحها وخالق الناس بخلق حسن
"Fear Allah wherever you are, and when evil occurs, do good to erase it, and treat people with good manners."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Birr wa al-Silah 'an Rasul Allah 1910, 1987. This narration is authentic. Musnad Ahmad, Musnad al-Ansar, No. 20392, 153/5, 228.
⑧ Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri رضي الله عنه narrates from the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, you said:
إن الدنيا حلوة خضرة وإن الله تعالى مستخلفكم فيها فلينظر كيف تعملون فاتقوا الدنيا واتقوا النساء فإن أول فتنة بني إسرائيل كانت فى النساء
"The world is sweet, green, and lush. Allah will make you successors in it and will see how you act. So beware of the world and beware of women, for the first trial of the Children of Israel was concerning women."
Reference: Muslim, Kitab al-Dhikr wa al-Du'a wa al-Tawbah wa al-Istighfar, No. 2742, 4920.
⑨ Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to supplicate:
أللهم إني أسألك الهدى والتقى والعفاف والغنى
"O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and sufficiency in wealth."
Reference: Bukhari Fi al-Adab al-Mufrad 674, Muslim, Kitab al-Dhikr wa al-Du'a wa al-Tawbah wa al-Istighfar, No. 4920, 2721, Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Da'awat 'an Rasul Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم 4389, Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Du'a 3832.
Devoting Oneself to Worship
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
يقول الله تبارك وتعالى إبن آدم تفرغ لعبادتي أملأ صدرك غنى ، و أسد فقرك وإلا تفعل ملأت يديك شغلا ولم أسد فقرك
"Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: O son of Adam! Devote yourself to My worship, and I will fill your chest with wealth and stop your neediness. And if you do not do so, I will keep your hands busy but will not stop your neediness."
Reference: At-Tirmidhi, Book of the Description of the Resurrection, Softening of Hearts, and Piety from the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم 2466. This narration is Hasan. Ibn Majah, Book of Zuhd 4107, Musnad Ahmad 2/358.
Reliance on Allah
① Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
لو أنكم تتوكلون على الله حق توكله لرزقكم كما يرزق الطير تغدو خماصا وتروح بطانا - أى ممتلئة البطون .
"If you rely upon Allah as He should be relied upon, He will provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning hungry and return in the evening full."
Reference: The narration is authentic. Tirmidhi, Book of Zuhd from the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم 2344.
