Sharḥ Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (3/133)

Sharḥ Riyāḍ al-ṢāliḥīnIbn al-'Uthaymin

of tremendous significance; in it the Prophet ﷺ said, “The people whose faith is most complete are those who possess the finest character.”

Faith rises and declines, differing from one person to another, just as Allah, Exalted is He, says: “so that those who believe may increase in faith” (74:31). People are therefore not equal in their faith.

• Among them is one who believes in the unseen as though he were witnessing it with his very eyes: he believes in the Day of Resurrection as if he were living its very moments; he believes in Paradise as though it were spread out before him; he believes in Hellfire as though he could see it. His faith is genuine, assured, and untainted by doubt.

• And among them is one who worships Allah “upon a brink” —we ask Allah for well-being—just as the Almighty says: “And among the people is he who worships Allah upon a brink” (22:11), that is, on the edge. “If good befalls him,” meaning if he meets no one who casts doubts into his religion and encounters only righteous folk who support him, “he is content with it,” that is, he relies upon his faith. “But if a trial befalls him, he turns on his face—he loses this world and the Hereafter” (22:11). Should he be tested in his health, his wealth, or his family, he turns back, objects to the divine decree and predestination, becomes resentful, and perishes—Allah’s refuge is sought—thus “losing this world and the Hereafter.”

Hence, the believers whose faith is most perfect are those whose character is best. This ḥadith is therefore a powerful incentive to cultivate good character with Allah and good character with people.

Good character with Allah is to be pleased with His Law, to submit to it willingly, to find serenity and joy in it, whether it is a command to perform or a prohibition to avoid. It is also to be content with Allah’s decree: whatever He ordains that displeases a person is accepted just as readily as what He ordains that pleases him. He says, “My Lord, everything comes from You. I am content with You as my Lord: if You grant me what delights me, I give thanks; if You afflict me with what displeases me, I remain patient,” and so he stays content

عظيم، قال فيه النبي ﷺ: ((أكمل الناس إيماناً أحسنهم خلقاً)) . الإيمان يتفاوت ويتفاضل كما قال الله تعالى: (وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيمَانا) [المدثر: ٣١] ، وليس الناس في الإيمان سواء؛ من الناس من يؤمن بالغيب وكأنه يشاهد شهود عيان، يؤمن بيوم القيامة وكأنه الآن في تلك الساعات، يؤمن بالجنة وكأنها في تلك الرياض، يؤمن بالنار وكأنه يراها بعينه، يؤمن إيماناً حقيقياً مطمئناً لا يخالطه شك. ومن الناس من يعبد الله على حرف ـ نسأل الله العافية ـ كما قال تعالى (وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ) [الحج: ١١] يعني على طرف (فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ) يعني إن لم يواجه أحداً يشككه في الدين، ولم يواجه إلا صلحاء يعينونه (اطْمَأَنَّ بِه) أي ركن إليه. (وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انْقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَة) [الحج: ١١] ، إن أصابته فتنة في بدنه، أو ماله، أو أهله؛ انقلب على وجهه واعترض على القضاء والقدر، وتسخط وهلك والعياذ بالله (خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ) . فأكمل المؤمنين إيماناً أحسنهم خلقاً، وفي هذا حث عظيم على حسن الخلق مع الله، وحسن الخلق مع الناس. أما حسن الخلق مع الله، فأن يرضى الإنسان بشريعته، وينقاد إليها راضياً، مطمئناً بها، مسروراً بها سواء كانت أمر يؤمر به، أو نهياً ينهى عنه. وأن يرضى الإنسان بقدر الله ﷿، ويكون ما قدر الله عليه مما يسوءه كالذي قدر الله عليه مما يسره، فيقول: يا رب كل شيء من عندك، فأنا راض بك رباً إن أعطيتني ما يسرني شكرت، وإن أصابني ما يسوءني صبرت، فيرضى