An extremely popular and useful compilation of authentic hadeeth. Covering every aspect of Islamic belief and moral conduct, it selects approximately 2,000 hadeeth from the six major collections: Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, An-Nisai and Ibn Majah. It serves as an excellent hadeeth primer and daily reader. Wide range of topics: sincerity of purpose, spending in the way of Allah, rules of fasting, seeking knowledge, attending funerals and safeguarding the Qur'an. Arabic text as well as English translation is presented here in this handsome hardcover two volume set.
Riyadh-us-Saliheen comprises of about 2,000 hadeeth in 372 Chapters and 19 Sections:
- The Book of Good Manners
- The Book about the Etiquette of Eating
- The Book of Dress
- The Book of the Etiquette of Sleeping, Lying and Sitting, etc.
- The Book of Greetings
- The Book of Visiting the Sick
- The Book of Etiquette of Traveling
- The Book of Virtues
- The Book of I'tikaf
- The Book of Hajj
- The Book of Jihad
- The Book of Knowledge
- The Book of Praise and Gratitude to Allah
- The Book of Supplicating Allah to Exalt the Mention of Allah's Messenger (s)
- The Book of the Remembrance of Allah
- The Book of Du'a (Supplications)
- The Book of the Prohibited Actions
- The Book of Miscellaneous Hadeeth of Significant Values
- The Book of Forgiveness
Excerpts from Riyad-us-SaliheenChapter 11: Struggle in the cause of Allah
Allah the Exalted says:
"As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely, guide them to Our paths (i.e., Allah's religion - Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the muhsinun (good doers)." (29:69)
"And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e., death)." (15:99)
"And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion." (73:8)
"So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it." (99:7) "And whatever good you send before you for yourselves, (i.e., Nawafil - non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and Umrah etc.), you will certainly find it with Allah, better and greater in reward" (73:20)
"And whatever you spend in good, Allah knows it well." (2:273)
Hadith 95: Narrated Abu Hurairah (r) Messenger (s) said, "Allah the Exalted has said: 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshiper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing nawafil (prayer or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him."' [Al-Bukhari]
Commentary:
- Those who make innovations in religion and associate partners with Allah (such as haluli -who believe in the indwelling light in the soul of man, wajudi - who believe in the physical form of Allah, and pagans who worship other than Allah) interpret this hadeeth in support of their base contention and thus seek support of one wrong from another although the meaning and interpretation of the hadeeth is not at all what the describe. In simple and unambiguous terms, the hadeeth means that when a person adds voluntary prayers to the obligatory ones, he becomes a favorite slave of Allah and on account of it, he receives special help from Allah. Then he is protected by Allah to the extent that He supervises every organ of his body. Thus. he is saved from disobedience of Allah. He bears what is Hiked by Allah, sees what is liked by Him, handles what pleases Him. When he attains that lofty position of love and obedience of Allah then Allah in return also grants prayers of His obedient and loyal slaves.
- A saint is not one who has a peculiar get up and appearance, or who occupies the seat of a saint as his successor, or a person who is lost in meditation, or a half-mad, or one who has invented his own style of remembrance and worship of Allah, but it is one who strictly fulfills the obligations imposed by Islam, is fond of voluntary prayers and adheres to Divine injunctions in every walk of life.
- The love of such saints is a means to attain the Pleasure of Allah, and enmity (hatred and repulsion) with them is a cause of His serious displeasure and wrath.
- Voluntary prayer is certainly a means of attaining the Pleasure of Allah, but it must be preceded by the fulfillment of obligatory prayers. The former is of no value if the latter is neglected. The desire to attain nearness of Allah without strict observance of the obligatory prayers is fallacious and meaningless
Hadith 96: Narrated Anas (r): The Prophet (s) said, "Allah says: 'When a slave of Mine draws near to Me a span, I draw near to him a cubit; and if he draws near to Me a cubit, I draw near to him a fathom. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.'" [Al-Bukhari]
Commentary: This hadeeth mentions infinite benevolence, generosity, kindness and regard of Allah for His slaves, which is evident from the reward that He gives to His slaves even on their minor good deeds.
