THE OATH OF THE STRANGER
11 . Abu Hurayrah reports that the Prophet (pbuh ) said, “Tuba for a servant whose feet become covered in dust in the Way of Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, and his hair dishevelled . Be [he needed in ] the rear – guard , you will find him amongst them , or the vanguard, you will find him amongst them . If he tries to intercede , his intercession will not be accepted and if he asks permission for something, he will not be granted it . Tuba for him , again Tuba for him . ‘’ (The qualities mentioned are those of one who has no desire for fame , status or leadership , his only goal being the pleasure of his Lord .)
12 . Anas ibn Malik reports that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said ,“ It is well possible that someone covered in dust , wearing threadbare garments, someone who is not paid any attention ; it is well possible that such a person could take an oath by Allah, Mighty and Magnificent , and He fulfil it . ”
13 . Muadh ibn Jabal reports that the Prophet (pbuh) said , “Should I not inform you of the inhabitants of Paradise?” They replied , ‘ Messenger of Allah , of course!’ He said, “They are every weak, dust covered person wearing threadbare garments and not paid
any attention . Were such a one to take an oath by Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, He would fulfil it . ”
Dhu’l – Nun al – Misri said , We embarked on a ship desiring to travel to Mecca, there was a man with us wearing threadbare and shabby garments . Something went missing and the blame eventually fell on him. I said to him , “The people blame you . ” He said ,
“Are you talking to me?” , ‘Yes ” , I replied . The man looked to the sky and said , “I take an oath by You, I take an oath by You! Let every fish come up carrying a jewel . ” It seemed to me that every fish of the sea came up , carrying in its mouth a jewel or pearl , [ one of which he gave to the aggrieved person saying that it should be adequate in repaying what he had lost], then he jumped into the sea and went away . ” 8
Abu Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Humayd recited to me the following odes ,
Someone wearing threadbare
garments, mocked by all –
It is well possible that the world
be safe from his evil .
Penniless is he and it only
takes note of the affluent .
Yet , if he took an oath by Allah,
the oath would be implemented.
Ibrahim ibn al – Junayd recited to me the following lines from one of the worshippers,
Indeed, it is well possible that one wearing
rags, dishevelled and dusty,
Turned away from every door,
facing difficulty,
Obedient, fearing Allah in all his affairs ,
From sadness he almost collapses :
But if he to take a thousand oaths,
all of them would be implemented.
His answer and assistance he fully
warrants .
Muawiyah ibn Qurrah said, “It has reached me that Kab would say, “ Tuba is for them , tuba is for them! ” It was asked of him, “ Abu Ishaq, who are they?” He replied, “ Tuba is for them ; when they are seen , they are not invited ; if they offer their hand in marriage, it is not accepted ; when they die, they are not missed . ’”
Abu’l – Fadl al-Shikli said , ‘ I saw a youth in the street wearing a shabby garment and I paid him no further attention , then suddenly he turned to me and said ,
Be not aloof by reason of my attire,
The pearl is found inside the oyster .
My clothes are shabby , not my learning.
The end of clothes is that of pomposity.
so I attached myself to him and became close to him . ’
14 . On the authority of Abu Umamah that the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) said, ‘The most enviable person in my estimation is a believer who is light of back [having little property ], prays a great deal , makes good his worship of his Lord, Mighty and Magnificent, and makes do with little . The fingers of people do not point at him and he remains patient with this until he meets Allah , Mighty and Magnificent ; then, when death comes to him, his inheritance is paltry and his mourners are few . ’
Abu Bakr ibn Humayd quoted me the following odes concerning this,
With regards faith , a servant light of back,
Living in the wilderness is the most select .
By night his prayer is abounding ,
The onset of day finds him fasting.
The soul makes do with little,
Patient, this he does not belittle .
His provision is meagre , he is neglected :
At him fingers are not directed .
Few are those who cry in lament
at his passing away . He is not affluent .
From every evil is such a person protected ,
On the Day of Rising he is not tormented .
‘ Abdullah ibn ‘ Amr said, ‘The most beloved thing to Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, is the strangers . When asked who they were, he replied , ‘Those who flee in order to safeguard their religion . On the Day of Judgment, they will meet with ‘ Isa ibn Maryam
( alayhis as – salam ) . ’ (Ahmad, al – Zuhd , p . 77, with a da ‘ lf isnad, he also, p . 149, along with BayhaqI # 204, records it as a hadith of the Prophet(pbuh) but this too has a da if isnad. )
15 . Naff ibn Malik reports that ‘ Umar ibn al – Khattab entered the Mosque to find Mu ‘ adh ibn Jabal sitting down , facing the house of the Prophet (pbuh) and crying . He said, ‘Abu ‘ Abdu’l – Rahman, what makes you cry , has a brother of yours died? `He replied , ‘No, rather a hadith which my beloved(pbuh) narrated to me while I was in this very Mosque . ’ He said , ‘What is it, Abu ‘ Abdu’l – Rahman?’ He replied , ‘ He informed me that , “ Allah ,
Mighty and Magnificent , loves the unknown , pious and righteous people ; those who are not missed when absent and who go unnoticed when present: their hearts are niches of guidance and they emerge [unscathed] from every dark , blinding tribulation . ’’’
By Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali & Imam Al-Ajurri
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.