Prophet’s (salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) Amazing Advice to Abu Dharr (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu)

After delivering the Friday sermon this last week (1/6/2012) and the previous week (25/5/2012) in the discussion of the beautiful and lengthy hadeeth of Abi Dharr Al Ghifaari Radhiyallaahu Anhu who was advised by the Messenger – Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi wa salam – after asking him numerous questions, some of my beloved brothers (May Allaah reward them) requested that I send the hadeeth out for benefit.As I mentioned in the sermon, some parts of the hadeeth are saheeh, some parts hasan and some Da’eef (weak). For benefit I will mention firstly the authentic (whether saheeh or hasan) parts of the hadeeth as one text so that the reader benefits from the flow of the text, then I will follow that up by mentioning which parts are Saheeh and hasan and I will also add the da’eef sections of the hadeeth (inred) as they occur in the original text, that the reader may be aquainted with it, quoting in that regard, the rulings of Shaikh Al Albaani upon it.Thus here is the text of the Hadeeth, and I ask Allaah that He benefits my brothers and sisters with it.

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Upon the authority of Abi Dharr – Radhiyallaahu ‘Anhu – who said: “I entered the masjid (on an occassion) and found the Messenger of Allaah – Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Was Sallam – sitting alone. He said (to me): ‘Oh Abaa Dharr! Indeed the masjid has a greeting and its greeting is to pray two rak’ah, so stand and pray them.’ So I stood and I performed them.

Then I returned and sat with him and said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah!, Indeed you have commanded me with Salaah, so what is Salaah?’

He said: ‘The best (act of worship) sent down! So perform much of it or little!(meaning the choice is yours, but the more of its ‘legislated’ forms you perform the better).’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Which action is best?’

He said: ‘To have belief in Allaah and to make Jihaad in his way.‘

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Which of the believers is most complete in Faith?’

He said: ‘The one that has the best character.’

So I said: ‘Which of the believers has the best Islam?’

He said: ‘The one who the people are safe from his tongue and his hand.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah which Salaah is best?’

He said: ‘The one that has the longest standing (I.e for recitation).‘

So I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Then which migration is best?’

He said: ‘The one that migrates from evil deeds.‘

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah then what is fasting?’

He said: ‘A compulsory action that one is rewarded for, and with Allaah the reward is many times multiplied.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Then which Jihaad is best?’

He said: ‘The one in which one’s riding beast is injured and his (i.e. the warriors) blood is spilt.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Then which charity is best?’

He said: ‘The (Charitable) effort of the one who has little, given secretly to the poor.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Then what is the greatest of that which Allaah has sent down to you?’

He said: ‘Aayatul Kursi.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! How many were the Messengers?’

He said: ‘Three hundred and thirteen, a large amount.’

He said: I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! who was the first of them?’

He said: ‘Aadam – ‘Alaihi-salaam.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! was he a Prophet that was sent?’
He said: ‘Yes! Allah created him with his hand, then blew his spirit into him, and spoke to him directly! 
The intelligent person, as long as his mind has not been overcome (i.e. by mental illness) should have (a number of) periods. A period wherein he calls upon his lord, a period wherein he takes account of himself, a period wherein he reflects upon the creation of Allaah and a period that he spends seeking his needs from food and drink. 
Likewise the intelligent person should avoid travel except for three reasons, (to gain) provisions for the hereafter, seeking his livelihood or taking enjoyment in that which is not prohibited. 
It is likewise upon the intelligent person to have insight into his era, to proceed towards his affair (i.e. to head diligently towards the affairs that benefit him) and to guard his tongue. And whosoever evaluates his speech in comparison to his actions, will speak little except in that which concerns him.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! What were the scrolls of Musaa?’

He said: ‘They were all lessons (and admonitions).
I am amazed at the one who is certain of death, then he is happy. And I am amazed at the one who is certain of the (presence) of the fire then he laughs, and I am amazed at the one who is certain of pre-decree (concerning that which has been allotted to him) then he wears himself out. And I am amazed at the one who sees this world, and how affairs change for its people, then he is tranquil within it. And I am amazed at the one who has certainty that the reckoning is tomorrow yet he doesnt act.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! advise me!’

He said: ‘I advise you with the fear of Allaah, for indeed it is the pinnacle of all affairs.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Cling to reciting the Qur`aan and the remembrance of Allaah, for indeed it is light for you in the life of this world and it is preserved for you in the heavens.‘

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Be aware of laughing excessively, for indeed it kills the heart and removes light from the face.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Make Jihaad, since it is the monasticism of my Ummah’ (meaning that when monasticism revolves around abstention from the world and selflessness there is no greater form of this than that a person participates in battle).

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Love the poor, and sit with them.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Look to those who are lesser than you (i.e. are less well to do) and don’t look to those who are above you (i.e. have more than you) as it is better in preventing one from looking down with disdain at Allaah’ blessings upon you.’

I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah! Increase me!’

He said: ‘Speak the truth even if it is bitter!’

Ruling on wiping over the Ka’bah (to seek blessings) – Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

Question:

Ahsanal-Laahu ilaykum. Another questioner says: “Is the du’aa (supplication) in front of the Ka’bah from the places where du’aa is accepted? And what is the ruling on holding and wiping over the covering of the Ka’bah?”

Answer:

Holding and wiping over the covering or the stones of the Ka’bah has no basis [in the religion]. Nothing from the Ka’bah is touched except ar-Rukn al-Yamaanee (the Yemeni Corner) and al-Hajar al-Aswad (the Black Stone); this is touched and the Yemeni Corner is only touched. And the Black Stone is touched and is kissed if possible, or [only] touched or pointed to from far away if he faces it. As for the rest of the Ka’bah, then he should not wipe over or attach himself to anything of it, nor to its door. This is from the khuraafaat (myths or superstitions). Rather, the Ka’bah serves to make Tawaaf around it, to pray towards it and to supplicate near it, without attaching oneself to it or to its covering. He supplicates near it, especially in al-Multazam; what is between the Corner and the door or between the Black Stone and the door. He stands there and supplicates. This is a place where the du’aa is accepted, if Allaah — subhaanahu wa ta’aala — wills and if the supplicating person has a sincere intention. Na’am.