Al-Lum’ah (Radiance) in Explaining Attributes of the Seven (7)

ضمن جولة في صحيح مسلم: اللمعة في بيان صفات السبعة

A Journey Through Sahih Muslim:

Al-Lum’ah (The Radiance) in Explaining the Attributes of the Seven (Part 7)

Translated by: Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

The article Al-Lum’ah (Radiance) in Explaining the Attributes of the Seven is included in the Hadith Explanation Category

الثاني: وشاب نشأ بعبادة الله:

Second: (A youth who grew up in the worship of Allah):

• نشأ: نبت وابتدأ، والباء في (بعبادة) هي باء المصاحبة، كقولنا: جاء زيد بمتاعه؛ أي: مصاحبًا له، وقد تكون الباء بمعنى (في)، وهي الموافقة لرواية البخاري:

• Nasyaa (grew up): Means to develop and begin. The letter ba in the word (bi ‘ibadatillah) is the ba of accompaniment (mushahabah), like our saying: “Zaid came with his belongings” (meaning the belongings accompanied him). Sometimes the letter ba carries the meaning of fi (in), which is in accordance with the narration of Bukhari:

وشاب نشأ في عبادة الله

A youth who grew up in the worship of Allah

• خص الله – تعالى – الشاب دون الصغير أو الكبير في السن؛ لأن الشباب مظِنةُ غلبة الشهوة، فباعث الهوى والشهوة والانحراف فيه قويٌّ، فإذا لازم العبادة مع ذلك، كان أدلَّ على غلبة التقوى.

• Allah Ta’ala specialized the mention of the “youth” rather than the young child or the elderly; because youth is a time where desires are expected to predominate; for the motivator of whims, desires, and deviation is strong during that period. If he adheres to worship despite that, it is more indicative of the dominance of Taqwa (piety).

• من المقرر عند أهل العلم أنه لا عصمة إلا للأنبياء – عليهم الصلوات والسلام – فلا يمكن أن يوجد مسلم بلا ذنوب، شابًّا كان أو غير ذلك؛ لأن بني آدم خطَّاؤون لا محالة؛ ففي مسند الإمام أحمد وسنن الترمذي وابن ماجه، من حديث أنس – رضي الله عنه – مرفوعًا:

• It is established among the people of knowledge that there is no infallibility (ismah) except for the Prophets—peace and blessings be upon them. Therefore, it is impossible for a Muslim to exist without sins, whether he is a youth or otherwise; because the children of Adam are inevitably sinners. In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, and the Sunan of Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, from the hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) in a marfu’ form:

كل ابن آدم خطاء، وخيرُ الخطائين التوابون

“Every son of Adam is a sinner, and the best of sinners are those who repent.”

وفي صحيح مسلم من حديث أبي هريرة – رضي الله عنه – مرفوعًا:

In Sahih Muslim from the hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) in a marfu’ form:

والذي نفسي بيده، لو لم تذنبوا، لذهب الله بكم، ولجاء بقوم يذنبون، فيستغفرون الله فيغفر لهم

“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if you did not sin, Allah would do away with you and bring a people who sin, then ask Allah for forgiveness, and He would forgive them.”

ولكن الخلاف فيمن يَصدُق عليه فضلُ الشاب الناشئ في عبادة الله.

However, the difference of opinion lies in who truly qualifies for the virtue of being a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah.

فقيل: هو الشاب الذي منذ صغره وهو في عبادة الله – تعالى – لأن (نشأ) معناها: ابتدأ ونما وتربَّى.

It was said: He is the youth who has been in the worship of Allah Ta’ala since his childhood, because the meaning of nashaa is to begin, grow, and be raised.

قال الشيخ ابن عثيمين – رحمه الله -: “والثاني شاب نشأ في عبادة ربه، (نشأ) منذ الصغر وهو في العبادة، فهذا صارت العبادة كأنها غريزة له، فألِفها وأحبَّها،حتى إنه إذا انقطع يومًا من الأيام عن عبادة تأثر”؛ (انظر: شرح البخاري لشيخنا، 3/79).

Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “The second is a youth who grew up in the worship of his Lord. (Nashaa) means since childhood he has been in worship, so worship became as if it were an instinct for him; he became accustomed to it and loved it, to the extent that if he was cut off from an act of worship for even one day, he would be affected/saddened.” (See: Syarh al-Bukhari by our Sheikh, 3/79).

وقيل: هو أفنى شبابه ووقت قوَّتِه في عبادة الله، لا في معصية، فحبس نفسه عن مخالفة ربه.

It was said: He is the one who spent his youth and the time of his strength in the worship of Allah, not in disobedience, thus restraining himself from opposing his Lord.

قال المباركفوري – رحمه الله -: “(نشأ)؛ أي: نما وتربى، (بعبادة الله)؛ أي :لا في معصية، فجُوزِيَ بظل العرش؛ لدوام حراسة نفسه عن مخالفة ربه”؛ (انظر: “تحفة الأحوذي”).

Al-Mubarakfuri—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “(Nashaa) meaning grew and was raised, (bi ‘ibadatillah) meaning not in disobedience; so he was rewarded with the shade of the Throne for his continuous guarding of himself against opposing his Lord.” (See: Tuhfatul Ahwadzi).

قال ابن حجر – رحمه الله -: زاد حماد بن زيد عن عبيدالله بن عمر – رضي الله عنهما -: ((حتى توفي على ذلك))؛ أخرجه الجوزقي، وفي حديث سلمان – رضي الله عنه -: ((أفنى شبابه ونشاطه في عبادة الله))؛ (انظر: “الفتح”، حديث (660)).

Ibn Hajar—may Allah have mercy on him—said: Hammad bin Zaid added from Ubaidullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both): ((Until he passed away in that state)); narrated by Al-Jauzaqi. And in the hadith of Salman (may Allah be pleased with him): ((He exhausted his youth and his vigor in the worship of Allah)). (See: Al-Fath, hadith (660)).

وقيل: من كان في شبابه حسناتُه أكثرُ، وذنوبه أقل ممن عَبَدَ الله – تعالى – في آخر عمره.

It was said: He is the one whose good deeds were more and his sins were fewer during his youth than one who only worshiped Allah Ta’ala at the end of his life.

قال الباجي – رحمه الله -: “((وشاب نشأ في عبادة الله – تعالى)): يحتمل – والله أعلم – أن يريد به أقل ذنوبًا، وأكثر حسنات ممن نشأ في غير عبادة الله – عز وجل – ثم عَبَدَه في آخر عمره وفي شيخوخته”؛ (انظر: “المنتقى”)، وقيل غير ذلك.

Al-Baji—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “((And a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah Ta’ala)): it is possible—and Allah knows best—that he means by this someone with fewer sins and more good deeds than one who grew up in other than the worship of Allah the Mighty and Sublime, then worshiped Him at the end of his life and in his old age.” (See: Al-Muntaqa). There are other opinions as well.

• إيراد هذا الصنف ضمن السبعة الذين يظلهم الله – تعالى – أعظمُ دلالة على أهمية تربية الأبناء على عبادة الله، وحثهم على ما يعينه على ذلك، كحلقات تحفيظ القرآن، والتردد على المساجد، وطلب العلم الشرعي، والدعوة إلى الله، والأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر، والارتباط بالرفقة الصالحة التي تعينه على ذلك؛ فإن من شبَّ على شيء، شاب عليه.

The inclusion of this category among the seven whom Allah Ta’ala shades is a great indication of the importance of raising children upon the worship of Allah, and encouraging them toward what helps them in that, such as Quran memorization circles, frequenting mosques, seeking religious knowledge, calling to Allah, commanding good and forbidding evil, and associating with righteous companions who assist them in that; for indeed, whoever grows up upon something, he will grow old upon it.

Continued in the next part, In Sha Allah

Source: Alukah