Imam Nawawi was a great scholar of Hadith and Fiqh of his time. He compiled Riyad-us-Saliheen which acclaimed an important position in the Hadith Collections. It is an extremely popular and useful compilation of authentic hadith. Commentaries on the Ahadith were added by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf of Pakistan.
Keeping in view the problems of our times, we wished to print a concise volume of Riyad-us-Saliheen. For this volume, Sheikh Safi-ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri has made the selection of Ahddith.
This edition of Riyad-us-Saliheen has selected hadith from the full version. It has Arabic text, followed by English translation, with commentary below those.
Publishers Note
We praise Allah that He enabled us to publish many books on religious topics in the Arabic, Urdu and English languages which acclaimed great popularity in Arab countries as well as in America, France and European countries besides Pakistan, India and many African countries.
We try to present publications based on authentic research material in lines with the Qur'an and Sunnah, and that are free from every type of vague conception, weak authority and false ideas.
Now, we have published Riyadh-us-Saliheen with the same spirit and same tradition of good research work, professional editing and excellent printing standard.
The book was compiled by Imam An-Nawawi who was the great scholar of Hadith and Fiqh of his time. Commentaries on the Ahadith have been added by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf of Pakistan who had originally executed them for the Urdu edition of this book. The English translation of the book and the - commentaries was performed by Dr. Muhammad Amin and Abu Usamah Al-Arabi bin Razduq who have performed their task with utmost care and profound interest.
We, hopefully, can proclaim that it is the best representation of Riyaz-us-Salihin ever produced in any language any where. May Allah accept our sincere efforts regarding the propagation of His religion throughout the world, and bestow on us His blessings to fulfill our resolutions in this regard -Amin!
Abdul Malik Mujahid
General Manager Darussalam
Excerpts from Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 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 worshipper 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: 1. 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 Hadith in support of their base contention and thus seek support of one wrong from another although the meaning and interpretation of the Hadith is not at all what the describe. In simple and unambiguous terms, the Hadith 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.
2. 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 fulfils the obligations imposed by Islam, is fond of voluntary prayers and adheres to Divine injunctions in every walk of life.
3. 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.
4. 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 Hadith 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.
-- Riyadh-us-Saliheen, Pages 112-114
