Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (8/217)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

For when a person of noble lineage commits himself to mindfulness of Allah, his mindfulness is more complete than that of others. Likewise, when a king acts justly, his justice is greater than that of a man towards his family. Moreover, if a man firmly resolves to do good (1) and does as much of it as he can, he receives a full reward (2). As the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said in an authentic hadith:

“There are men in Medina (3) who were with you whenever you travelled or crossed a valley.”

They asked, “Even though they are in Medina?”

He replied, “Even though they are in Medina. An excuse kept them back.” (4)

For this reason, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said in an authentic hadith:

“Whoever calls others to guidance will receive a reward equal to the rewards of those who follow him, without diminishing their rewards in any way. Whoever calls others to misguidance will bear a burden of sin equal to the burdens of those who follow him, without diminishing their burdens in any way.” (5)

This is discussed at length elsewhere.

(1) n, m: hāziman (prudent). (2) n, m, s: ajru ‘āmilin (the reward of one who acts). (3) n, s: inna bi-l-Madīnati la-rijālan (there are indeed men in Medina); m: inna bi-l-Madīnati la-rijālun (there are indeed men in Medina). (4) The hadith narrated by Anas ibn Mālik—may Allah be pleased with him—is recorded in: al-Bukhārī, 4/26 (Book of Jihad, chapter on those prevented by an excuse from going on a military expedition); Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 3/17–18 (Book of Jihad, chapter on permission to remain behind because of an excuse); Sunan Ibn Mājah, 2/923 (Book of Jihad, chapter on those prevented by an excuse from participating in jihad); and al-Musnad (al-Halabī edition), 3/103, 160, 300, 341. Another hadith with similar wording, narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abd Allāh—may Allah be pleased with him—is recorded in: Muslim, 3/1518 (Book of Leadership, chapter on the reward of those prevented from going on a military expedition by illness or another excuse); and Sunan Ibn Mājah (at the location cited above). (5) The hadith narrated by Abū Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—is recorded in: Muslim, 4/2060 (Book of Knowledge, chapter on those who establish a good or bad practice and those who call to guidance or misguidance); Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 4/281–282 (Book of the Sunnah, chapter on adhering to the Sunnah); Sunan al-Tirmidhī (Medina edition), 5/149 (Book of Knowledge, chapter on those who call to guidance or misguidance and are followed); Sunan Ibn Mājah, 1/75 (Introduction, chapter on those who establish a good or bad practice); and al-Musnad (al-Ma‘ārif edition), 18/3.

فَإِنَّ ذَا الشَّرَفِ إِذَا أَلْزَمَ نَفْسَهُ التَّقْوَى، كَانَ تَقْوَاهُ أَكْمَلَ مِنْ تَقْوَى غَيْرِهِ. كَمَا أَنَّ الْمَلِكَ إِذَا عَدَلَ كَانَ عَدْلُهُ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ عَدْلِ الرَّجُلِ فِي أَهْلِهِ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا قَصَدَ الْخَيْرَ قَصْدًا جَازِمًا (١) ، وَعَمِلَ مِنْهُ مَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ، كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ كَامِلٌ (٢) . كَمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِي الْحَدِيثِ الصَّحِيحِ: " «إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ رِجَالًا (٣) مَا سِرْتُمْ مَسِيرًا وَلَا قَطَعْتُمْ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كَانُوا مَعَكُمْ " . قَالُوا: وَهُمْ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ؟ قَالَ: " وَهُمْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، حَبَسَهُمُ الْعُذْرُ» " (٤) . وَلِهَذَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِي الصَّحِيحِ: " «مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا، وَمَنْ دَعَا إِلَى ضَلَالَةٍ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْوِزْرِ مِثْلُ أَوْزَارِ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ شَيْئًا» " (٥) . وَهَذَا مَبْسُوطٌ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ.

(١) ن، م: حَازِمًا (٢) ن، م، س: أَجْرُ عَامِلٍ. (٣) ن، س: إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ لَرِجَالًا، م: إِنَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ لَرِجَالٌ. (٤) الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ - فِي: الْبُخَارِيِّ ٤/٢٦ (كِتَابُ الْجِهَادِ، بَابُ مَنْ حَبَسَهُ الْعُذْرُ عَنِ الْغَزْوِ) سُنَنِ أَبِي دَاوُدَ ٣/١٧ - ١٨ (كِتَابُ الْجِهَادِ، بَابٌ فِي الرُّخْصَةِ فِي الْقُعُودِ مِنَ الْعُذْرِ) ; سُنَنِ ابْنِ مَاجَهْ ٢/٩٢٣ (كِتَابُ الْجِهَادِ، بَابُ مَنْ حَبَسَهُ الْعُذْرُ عَنِ الْجِهَادِ) ، الْمُسْنَدِ (ط. الْحَلَبِيِّ) ٣/١٠٣، ١٦٠، ٣٠٠، ٣٤١. وَجَاءَ حَدِيثٌ آخَرُ بِأَلْفَاظٍ مُقَارِبَةٍ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ - فِي: مُسْلِمٍ ٣/١٥١٨ (كِتَابُ الْإِمَارَةِ، بَابُ ثَوَابِ مَنْ حَبَسَهُ عَنِ الْغَزْوِ مَرَضٌ أَوْ عُذْرٌ آخَرُ) سُنَنِ ابْنِ مَاجَهْ (فِي الْمَوْضِعِ السَّابِقِ) . (٥) الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ - فِي: مُسْلِمٍ ٤/٢٠٦٠ (كِتَابُ الْعِلْمِ، بَابُ مَنْ سَنَّ سُنَّةً حَسَنَةً أَوْ سَيِّئَةً وَمَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى أَوْ ضَلَالَةٍ، سُنَنِ أَبِي دَاوُدَ ٤/٢٨١ - ٢٨٢ (كِتَابُ السُّنَّةِ، بَابُ لُزُومِ السُّنَّةِ) ، سُنَنِ التِّرْمِذِيِّ (ط. الْمَدِينَةِ) ٥/١٤٩ كِتَابُ الْعِلْمِ، بَابٌ فِيمَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى فَاتُّبِعَ أَوْ إِلَى ضَلَالَةٍ) ; سُنَنِ ابْنِ مَاجَهْ ١/٧٥ (الْمُقَدِّمَةُ، بَابُ مَنْ سَنَّ سُنَّةً حَسَنَةً أَوْ سَيِّئَةً، الْمُسْنَدِ (ط. الْمَعَارِفِ) ١٨/٣.