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Learning How To Be Evil Or To Be Muslim At All Times?

An absurd phenomenon among Muslims today is to wear the garb of Islam at some times and places and removing it off at other times and places. No, the garb is not mere physical appearance, but practices and characteristics that make us a Muslim.

For instance, you may meet a Muslim at the masjid who appears to be Masha Allah the best person you’ve met in your life. The warm smile, soft words, and loving character that you experienced in the masjid have no trace at all when you meet him at your workplace.

Another example: A Muslim boy grows up in a good household. He is taught the proper Islamic etiquette and manners. He knows the Halaal and the Haraam. He has lived a life that has helped him to implement Islam in all walks of life; in short, he is treading upon the path of success in this world and the hereafter.

The boy finishes his graduation and travels abroad for masters as a mature adult. The university where he is to study has a peculiar atmosphere, which is where the first test comes.

His classmates are involved in filthy deeds and have no proper etiquette towards the teachers and professors. The boy has two choices: One, he can live up to the ideals he grew up with or he can discard them for the “easier” filth he sees around him. The professors wouldn’t mind, because they aren’t used to dealing with good students; his classmates wouldn’t mind either, because the boy is just like them.

The other choice would be to stick to his principles. Live his faith and continue practicing what he grew up with. It would be going against the norm, but it may have good results. His classmates may realize and feel ashamed of their deeds when they come across the boy’s morals, and they may actually mend their ways. The professors would come across the way of life that teaches students to not only respect but also serve their teachers.

Honor, respect, and victory come by practicing Islam and implementing its teachings, not the other way round. The story of Umar Bin Al-Khattab, the second rightly-guided caliph, always comes to mind. When Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was on his way to take over Al-Quds (Jerusalem), he would take turns with his slave to ride the camel. Al-Quds was near, the city’s gates were almost in sight, and it was the slave’s turn to ride the camel. While Umar walked, he passed through a pool of mud, so his clothes got soiled.

Abu Ubaidah Bin Al-Jarrah, commander of the Muslim army, was worried. He came to Umar and suggested that he rode the camel as they were about to enter the city. He thought the Romans, who are used to pomp and glory, will not respect his leader if he entered with such simplicity.

Umar’s reply (may Allah be pleased with him) is worth engraving in stone. He said, “We were a people who lived in humiliation before. Allah gave us honor through Islam. If we sought honor through anything else (at the cost of Islam) then Allah will humiliate us again.”

It is reported that when he entered Al-Quds, people burst out in tears at seeing the simplicity of Umar. Early Muslims, when they went abroad for trade, told their customers the defects of their products. This “business model” astonished people who were used to cheating traders. The point is Muslims could have done what other traders were doing in foreign lands without having to worry about going to a Shariah court, but they didn’t.

They chose to be truthful and sincere to other people. This was the Iman of the early generations and this is why they were successful. They lived the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Fear Allah wherever you are and follow up a bad deed with a good one and it will wipe it out, and behave well towards people.” (Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi)

In contrast, is the present generation of Muslims. We are eager to discard the garb of Islam – our principles – for filthy alternatives. The expert advice we receive nowadays is how to be treacherous; how to manipulate, cheat, and win. Sadly, some even boast of their cunningness and cleverness. This is a sure recipe for failure in this world and the hereafter.

The intention behind everything we do in our diverse roles – as a son, daughter, husband, wife, father, mother, employer, or employee – should be to please Allah alone. Ask yourself before every action: Is this good? Will Allah be pleased with this? If the answer is no, then leave it and do deeds that will please Him.

If Allah gave us talents like knowledge, maturity, and power, the responsibility that comes with them is to utilize them in the worship of Allah and in ways that are beneficial to women who stood up to Pharaoho people. Do we not realize that we have to return to Allah and give an account of our deeds.

Da’wah Tip: Get Over Fear Of People

Almost all early chapters of the Qur’an that were revealed in Makkah when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had just been appointed as a messenger of Allah had short but profound verses. Despite their size, the verses had deep meanings.

One such chapter or Surah is Al-Muddaththir (74), which gives an interesting set of instructions to the overwhelmed Prophet who was lying wrapped up in his garments trembling with fear after meeting Archangel Gabriel for the first time.

For a caller to Islam, these compact, meaningful instructions carry a deep, important message as to what his or her priorities should be when conveying the message of Islam to the world.

“O you (Muhammad) enveloped in garments! Stand up and warn!”

Al-Bukhari and Muslim confirm that this short Surah was revealed when the Prophet returned to his family after seeing Angel Gabriel in his real form and size. He came home trembling and asked his family to wrap him up in garments.

Allah instructs His Prophet (peace be upon him) to stand up and warn those around him. The first lesson for the Da’ee who embarks on this noble mission is that he or she should stop fearing people. Take a stand and start warning others confidently. Low self-confidence, shyness, and fear are but obstacles in the way of Da’wah.

“And magnify your Lord!”

To proclaim the greatness of Allah is essential for the Da’ee since it reminds him or her of who he or she is doing this work for. Allah is the Greatest and He doesn’t need anyone’s worship or submission; He doesn’t even need anyone to convey His Deen to others. However, by magnifying our Creator, we acknowledge our position as utter slaves before Him and in return, we feel confident enough to deliver His message to others.

“And purify your garments!”

To convey Islam to others, one needs to appear before them at some point or the other – either by engaging in a discussion or by delivering a lecture. Also, a representative of Islam must wear garments that are thoroughly clean, as the essence of this faith lies in spiritual and physical cleanliness. Clean clothes are also a prerequisite for worship such as prayer. Sa’eed Bin Jubayr said concerning this verse, “This means to purify your heart and your intentions.’”

“And keep away from Al-Rujz (idols)!”

The meaning of the word Rujz, when prefixed by “Al”, points towards the impurity of polytheism or shirk. Ibn Abbas said, “Al-Rujz are idols, so keep away from them.” This view was supported by Mujahid, Ikrimah, Qatadah, Al-Zuhri and Ibn Zayd.

A Da’ee of Islam should be free from any kind of affinity, proximity, or sympathy – either spiritual or physical – for Shirk. Therefore, figures, faces, or idols of any form that are venerated or whose attributes are equated with those of Allah should be permanently and irreversibly abolished from the hearts and minds.

“And give not a thing in order to have more.”

The next instruction for the proactive caller towards Islam is to never seek some material benefit in return for the Da’wah. The Da’ee should do his work only for the sake of Allah and should never remind the people of his or her favors in order to amass wealth or beget other favors. The stories of the prophets in the Qur’an underscore sincerity. Even if the preaching of some Prophets won few – or no – followers, they never gave up the mission. Rather, they continued selflessly for the sake of Allah.

“And be patient for the sake of your Lord!”

Last but not least, the Da’ee must bear the inevitable opposition, antagonism, hatred, evil plotting, and downright harmful endeavors of his enemies with patience. Da’wah is a path that is thorny and difficult, dotted with tests of the caller’s sincerity towards Allah and his steadfastness in facing the obstacles that his opponents throw his way. Again, his patience must be solely for Allah’s sake, not for the sake of gaining people’s approval or pleasure.

The Qur’an is a guide and light for every being to come till the Day of Judgment. Its message and meanings are deep and worthy of reflection. Even though this Surah was revealed to our Prophet Muhammad centuries ago, the message lives on for us to ponder on and incorporate into our lives.

– By Sadaf Farooqi
Ref: Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Imam Bukhari: The Founder Of Hadith Science

Imam Bukhari is a name that creates a sense of reverence and respect in every Muslim’s heart. He was one of the greatest scholars of Islam and the founder of Hadith science. His prestigious compilation named Jame Al-Sahih is regarded as the second authentic book of Islam after the Holy Qur’an.

It was in the second century Hijrah when most of the Sahaba who had learned Islam from the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) directly were diminishing one after another. The last of the Prophet’s companions passed away in 110 A.H. Subsequently, a possibility of misquoting the Prophet (peace be upon him) by some people with vested interest was quite apparent. So it was essential to collect and authenticate true Hadiths without the sponsorship of any ruling authority, regional or national. It was a gigantic work to collect all the prevailing statements and to classify them into the relevant categories, as authentic, good, poor, and false.

This was a great task, which Imam Bukhari, a non-Arab from Khorasan, shouldered. He spent 16 years searching, collecting, and refining the material of Hadith. Not only this, he fixed the most rigid rules to evaluate and authenticate any circulating Hadith. Thus he is known as the Founder of Hadith science. The rest of his life was spent teaching and propagating the Hadith literature. One of his students, Imam Muslim, rose to the second position in the world in the Hadith compilation.

Imam Bukhari was born in Bukhara in 196 A.H. (810 A.D.) now in Uzbekistan). His father died when he was still young. He had lost his sight in infancy but his mother’s prayers and invoking blessed him a sharp sight and sharp memory that enabled him to read and write in the moonlight and if he had read or heard something, it would remain in his memory forever.

He memorized the Holy Qur’an at the age of 9. Then began to learn Hadith from scholars of his region. At the age of 18, he traveled to Makkah and stayed there for 16 years collecting Hadiths. He visited Egypt and Syria twice, Basra four times, spent many years in Hijaz, and went to Kufa and Baghdad many times. It is said that he learned about 600,000 Hadith from more than 1,000 scholars.

While returning to Bukhara after 16 years he began to compile Jame Al Sahih. He judged 7,275 Hadith from his large collection and arranged them in 93 chapters. Though Imam Bukhari wrote many books, he shot to prominence because of Tarikh Al-Kabeer, Adab Al-Mufrad, and Sahih Al-Bukhari. The first one he wrote in full moon nights at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Imam Bukhari had a very sharp memory. He memorized 70,000 Hadiths at an early age and later in his life, this figure reached 300,000. Among those 100,000 Hadiths were Sahih and 200,000 were Hasan, Da`îf, etc.

In 250 A.H. he settled at Neshapur where he met Muslim ibn Al Hujjaj as his disciple who compiled Sahih Al-Muslim which is regarded only second to Bukhari in the Muslim world.

Imam Bukhari’s book on Hadith is regarded as the top of Sahah Sitta which are the most authentic six books of Hadith collected during 200-300 AH. These are:

• Sahih Bukhari by Imam Bukhari (D. 256 A.H.),

• Sahih Muslim by Muslim ibn Al Hujjaj (D. 261 A.H.),

• Sunan Al-Sughra by Al-Nasa’i (D. 302 A.H.)

• Sunan Abu Dawood by Abu Dawood (D. 274 A.H.)

• Jami Al-Tirmidhi by Al-Tirmidhi (D. 278 A.H.)

• Sunan ibn Majah by Ibn Majah (D. 273 A.H.)

Hafiz Ahmad bin Adi has described that when Imam Bukhari reached Baghdad, the leading scholars tried to test him and mixed 100 Hadith between the narrators’ chain and the text and gave to 100 persons to ask the authenticity of such Hadiths. Imam Bukhari said he never heard any Hadith like this. Then he repeated the incorrect Hadith as quoted by each questioner and then recited the corrected Hadith for each person separately. The people were astonished at the depth of his knowledge and paid great respect to him.

Imam Bukhari was a rich person but he lived the life of a very simple man giving most of his income to the poor. Mohammed Hatim Warraq, one of his disciples said that when Imam was establishing a Sarai (inn) near the city of Bukhara, he was laying bricks with his own hands. When Warraq said to him, leave this job for me, he replied, “On the Day of Judgment this work will be of benefit to me.” Regarding his worship, it is said that Imam recited the entire Qur’an daily in Ramadan and recited one-third of it in the night prayers.

In 250 A.H., Imam Bukhari moved to Neshapur where he was well received. Imam Muslim Neshapuri said he had never seen such a grand reception given to any scholar or ruler. Imam Bukhari began his lectures, which were attended by thousands. His popularity irritated the local ruler and Imam Bukhari decided to leave Neshapur for Bukhara where again he was received with great enthusiasm. He began his lectures and also established a school for regular teaching. But after some time due to differences with the local ruler, he decided to leave his hometown for Samarqand.

But when he was still a few miles away from the city he was prevented from entering it. When he found he had no place to go, he prayed to Almighty Allah saying, “O Allah, the Earth despite its grandeur is becoming narrow for me and is troubling me greatly. So take me back to You.” His prayers were answered and he died at Khartang, a place between Samarqand and Bukhara. It was on the night of Eid Al-Fitr, the first night of Shawwal 256 A.H. He is buried in Muhammad Al-Bukhari mausoleum at Khartang near Samarkand, in Uzbekistan

“Abd Al-Wahid ibn Adam Awaysi states: ‘I saw the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in a dream standing with a group of Sahaba and asked, ‘For whom are you waiting?’ He replied, ‘For Bukhari.’ After a few days, I heard the news of Imam Bukhari’s death. He had died at the very moment that I saw the Prophet (PBUH) in my dream.”

Sahih Al Bukhari is regarded as the most authentic collection of Hadiths, which covers almost all aspects of human life in providing proper guidance from the Holy Prophet. As for piety, Imam Al-Bukhari never wrote any Hadith in this book without performing two rakah salat of guidance from Allah and when he was sure of its authenticity, only then he wrote it in the book.

Imam Bukhari lived for 62 years only but during his span of life, he did a marvelous work, which has been guiding the Ummah for the last 1,200 years. Tens of commentaries have been written on his treatise and hundreds of scholars are teaching Bukhari to thousand of students daily around the world. May Almighty Allah grant him the best reward.

– by ABU TARIQ HIJAZI

The Food, Drink, And Clothing Of The People of Hell

The food of the people of Hell is ad-Daree and az-Zaqqum, and their drink is al-Hameem, al-Ghasleen, and al-Ghassaaq.

Allah (SWT) says: “No food will there be for them but a bitter Daree obnoxious thorny plant, which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger”. (88:6-7)

ad-Daree is a thorny plant know as ash-Shubruq that grows in the Hijaz. Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “It is a low-growing thorny plant; when it grows tall it is called daree”. Qataadah said, “It is one of the very worst types of food” (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.115). This food of the people of Hell will be of no benefit whatsoever to them, and they will not enjoy it in the least; this is one of the forms of punishment that they will suffer. Allah (SWT) says:

“Verily the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinful, like molten brass, it will boil in their insides, like the boiling of scalding water.” (44:43-46).

The Tree of Zaqqum is described in another ayah:

“Is that [Paradise] the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum [a horrible tree in Hell]? For We have truly made it [as] a trial for the wrongdoers. For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire, The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils; Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on top of that, they will be given to drink a mixture made of boiling water. Then, shall their return by to the blazing Fire of Hell”. (37:62-68)

Elsewhere in the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) says: “Then, will you truly – O you that go wrong, and treat [Truth] as Falsehood]! You will surely taste of the tree of Zaqqum. Then you will fill your insides therewith, and drink boiling water on top of it. Indeed you will drink like diseased camels raging with thirst! Such will be their entertainment on the Day of Requital!” (56:51-66)

What we may understand from these aayaat is that this tree is a repulsive tree, whose roots go deep into the bottom of Hell, and whose branches stretch forth all over. Its fruits are so ugly that they are likened to the heads of devils, so that everyone may easily understand just how ugly they are, even though they have never seen them. Although this tree is so vile and obnoxious, the people of Hell will become so hungry that they will have no choice but to eat from it until they are full. When they have filled their bellies, this food will start to churn like boiling oil, which will cause a great deal of suffering to them. At that point, they will rush to drink al-Hameem, which is extremely hot water, and they will drink it like camels that drink and drink but their thirst is never quenched because of some disease. Then it will tear their innards:

“..[they] will be given to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels [to pieces]” (47:15)

This is the hospitality that will be offered to them on that awesome Day. May Allah (SWT) protect us from this by His Grace and Mercy.

When the people of Hell eat this vile food of ad-Daree and az-Zaqqum, they will choke because of its foulness:

“Verily with Us are fetters [to bind them] and a raging Fire [to burn them], And a food that chokes and a Penalty grievous”. (73:12-13)

The food that makes people choke is the food that sticks in the throat.

The Prophet (saw) portrayed for us the ugly and terrifying nature of az-Zaqqum:
“If one drop from az-Zaqqum were to land on this world, the people of earth and all their means of sustenance would be destroyed. So how must it be for the one who must eat it?” It was reported by at-Tirmidhi, who said, it is a sahih hasan hadith. [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/105, narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas]

Another kind of food that will be eaten by the people of Hell is al-Ghasleen. Allah (SWT) says:
“So no friend has he here this Day, Nor has he any food except corruption [or filth] from the washing of wounds [al-Ghasleen], which none do eat but those in sin”. (69:35-37)

“Yea, such! – Then shall they taste it – a boiling fluid and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold [ghassaaq]! And other penalties of a similar kind – to match them!” (38:57-58)

al-Ghasleen and al-Ghassaaq mean the same thing, which is the festering pus that oozes out of the skin of the people of Hell. It was suggested that it refers to the offensive discharge that flows from the private parts of adulterous women, and the decaying skin and flesh of the kuffaar. al-Qurtubee said, “It is the juice of the people of Hell” [Yaqhadhat uli al-I’tibaar, p. 86]

Allah tells us that al-Ghasleen is just one of many similarly obnoxious punishments.

The drink of the people of Hell will be al-Hameem. Allah (swt) says:
“…and if they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!” (18:29)

“…and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water. He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find great difficulty in swallowing it..” (14:16-17)

These aayaat mentions four kinds of drink that the people of Hell have to endure:

(1) al-Hameem: extremely hot water.
As Allah says: “In its midst and in the midst of the boiling hot water will they wander round!” (55:44)

This was explained as being ultra-hot water. And Allah (SWT) says: “They will be given to drink from a boiling hot spring.” (88:5)

(2) al-Ghassaaq: as discussed above.

(3) al-Sadeed (pus): what flows from the flesh and skin of the Kaafir. Muslim reports from Jaabir that the Prophet (saw) said, “Anyone who drinks intoxicants will be made to drink the mud of khabaal”. They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the mud of khabaal?” He said, “The sweat of the people of Hell”, or “the juice of the people of Hell”.

(4) al-Muhl: according to the hadith of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri narrated by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi the Prophet (saw) said: “It is like boiling oil, and when it is brought near a person’s face, the skin of the face falls off into it”. Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “It is like very thick oil”.

Some of the sinners will be fed the burning coals of Hell as an appropriate punishment:

“Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat us a Fire into their own bellies, and they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire!” (4:10)

“Those who conceal Allah’s revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit – swallow into themselves naught but Fire..” (2:174)

As for the dress of the people of Hell, Allah (SWT) has told us that garments of fire will be tailor-made for them, as it says in the Qur’an:

“..But for those who deny [their Rabb] for them will be cut out a garment of Fire; over their heads will be poured out boiling water” (22:19)

When Ibraaheem at-Taymi recited this Aayah he used to say, “Glory be to Allah, Who has created garments out of the fire” (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.126)

Allah (SWT) says, “And you will see the sinners that Day bound together in fetters. Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with Fire”. (14:49-50)

This pitch or tar is melted copper. According to a hadith narrated by Muslim from Abu Maalik al-Ash’ari, the Prophet (saw) said, “The woman who wails for the dead, if she does not repent before she dies, she will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection, wearing a shirt of tar and a shield of scabs.” Ibn Maajah reported this with the wording, “The woman who wails over the dead, who does not repent before she dies, Allah (swt) will cut out for her a garment of tar and a shield of scabs”.

Hadith Collection

1. “Be in this world as if you were a stranger”
Hadith 8.425 Narrated by Mujahid (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) said, “Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) took hold of my shoulder and said, ‘Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.” The sub-narrator added: Ibn ‘Umar (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) used to say, “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.”

2. Hoping for long life and worldly pleasures
Hadith 8.426 Narrated by Abdullah (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) drew a square and then drew a line in the middle of it and let it extend outside the square and then drew several small lines attached to that centerline, and said, “This is the human being, and this, (the square) in his lease of life, encircles him from all sides (or has encircled him), and this (line), which is outside (the square), is his hope, and these small lines are the calamities and troubles (which may befall him), and if one misses him, another will snap (i.e. overtake) him, and if the other misses him, a third will snap (i.e. overtake) him.”

Hadith 8.427 Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) drew a few lines and said, “This is (man’s) hope, and this is the instant of his death, and while he is in this state (of hope), the nearer line (death) comes to Him.”

3. Asking Allah for new lease of life at sixty
Hadith 8.428 Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah will not accept the excuse of any person whose instant of death is delayed till he is sixty years of age.”

Hadith 8.429 Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
I heard Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying, “The heart of an old man remains young in two respects, i.e., his love for the world (its wealth, amusements and luxuries) and his incessant hope.”

Hadith 8.430 Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The son of Adam (i.e. man) grows old and so also two (desires) grow old with him, i.e., love for wealth and (a wish for) a long life.”

4. Deeds for the sake of Allah
Hadith 8.431 Narrated by Utban bin Malik Al Ansari (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
Who was one of the men of the tribe of Bani Salim: Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) came to me and said, “If anybody comes on the Day of Resurrection who has said: La ilaha illal-lah, sincerely, with the intention to win Allah’s Pleasure, Allah will make the Hell-Fire forbidden for him.”

Hadith 8.432 Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah says, ‘I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my believer slave, who, if I cause his dear friend (or relative) to die, remains patient (and hopes for Allah’s Reward).”

5. Competing against each other
Hadith 8.433 Narrated by Amr bin Auf (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
(An ally of the tribe of Bani ‘Amir bin Lu’ai and one of those who had witnessed the battle of Badr with Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)) Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) sent Abu ‘Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) to Bahrain to collect the Jizya tax. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) had concluded a peace treaty with the people of Bahrain and appointed Al ‘Ala bin Al-Hadrami (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) as their chief; Abu Ubaida (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) arrived from Bahrain with the money. The Ansar heard of Abu ‘Ubaida’s (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) arrival which coincided with the Fajr (morning) prayer led by Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). When the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) finished the prayer, they came to him. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) smiled when he saw them and said, “I think you have heard of the arrival of Abu ‘Ubaida and that he has brought something.” They replied, “Yes, O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)!” He said, “Have the good news and hope for what will please you. By Allah, I am not afraid that you will become poor, but I am afraid that worldly wealth will be given to you in abundance as it was given to those (nations) before you, and you will start competing with each other for it as the previous nations competed for it, and then it will divert you (from good) as it diverted them.”

Hadith 8.434 Narrated by Uqba bin Amir (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) went out and offered the funeral prayer for the martyrs of the (battle of) Uhud and then ascended the pulpit and said, “I am your predecessor and I am a witness against you. By Allah, I am now looking at my Tank-lake (Al-Kauthar) and I have been given the keys of the treasures of the earth (or the keys of the earth). By Allah! I am not afraid that after me you will worship others besides Allah, but I am afraid that you will start competing for (the pleasures of) this world.”

Hadith 8.435 Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The thing I am afraid of most for your sake, is the worldly blessings which Allah will bring forth to you.” It was said, “What are the blessings of this world?” The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The pleasures of the world.” A man said, “Can the good bring forth evil?” The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) kept quiet for a while till we thought that he was being inspired divinely. Then he started removing the sweat from his forehead and said, “Where is the questioner?” That man said, “I (am present).” Abu Sa’id (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) added: We thanked the man when the result (of his question) was such. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Good never brings forth but good. This wealth (of the world) is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and all the vegetation which grows on the bank of a stream either kills or nearly kills the animal that eats too much of it, except the animal that eats the Khadira (a kind of vegetation). Such an animal eats till its stomach is full and then it faces the sun and starts ruminating and then it passes out dung and urine and goes to eat again. This worldly wealth is (like) sweet (fruit), and if a person earns it (the wealth) in a legal way and spends it properly, then it is an excellent helper, and whoever earns it in an illegal way, he will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied.”

Hadith 8.436 Narrated by Zahdam bin Mudarrib (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
‘Imran bin Husain (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) said: The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best people are my contemporaries (i.e., the present (my) generation) and then those who come after them (i.e., the next generation).” Imran (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) added: I am not sure whether the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) repeated the statement twice after his first saying. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) added, “And after them there will come people who will bear witness, though they will not be asked to give their witness; and they will be treacherous and nobody will trust them, and they will make vows, but will not fulfill them, and fatness will appear among them.”

Hadith 8.437 Narrated by Abdullah (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best people are those of my generation, and then those who will come after them (the next generation), and then those who will come after them (i.e. the next generation), and then after them, there will come people whose witness will precede their oaths, and whose oaths will precede their witness.”

Hadith 8.438 Narrated by Qais (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
I heard Khabbab (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu), who had branded his abdomen with seven brands, saying, “Had Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) not forbidden us to invoke Allah for death, I would have invoked Allah for death. The companions of Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) have left this world without taking anything of their reward in it (i.e., they will have perfect reward in the Hereafter), but we have collected of the worldly wealth what we cannot spend but on earth (i.e. on building houses).”

Hadith 8.439 Narrated by Qais (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
I came to Khabbab (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) while he was building a wall, and he (Khabbab (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)) said, “Our companions who have left this world, did not enjoy anything of their reward therein, while we have collected after them, much wealth that we cannot spend but on earth (i.e., on building).”

Hadith 8.440 Narrated by Khabbab (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
We migrated with the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). (This narration is related to the chapter on migration).

6. ‘O men! Certainly, the Promise of Allah is true”
Hadith 8.441 Narrated by Ibn Abbas (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
I brought water to Uthman bin ‘Affan (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu) to perform the ablution while he was sitting on his seat. He performed the ablution in a perfect way and said, “I saw the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) performing the ablution in this place and he performed it in a perfect way and said, “Whoever performs the ablution as I have done this time and then proceeds to the mosque and offers a two-Rak’at prayer and then sits there (waiting for the compulsory congregational prayers), then all his past sins will be forgiven.” The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) further added, “Do not be conceited (thinking that your sins will be forgiven because of your prayer).”

7. The righteous people will die
Hadith 8.442 Narrated by Mirdas Al Aslami (Radhiallah hu Taala anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The righteous (pious people will depart (die) in succession one after the other, and there will remain (on the earth) useless people like the useless husk of barley seeds or bad dates.”