Chapter 232
Riyadh as-Salihin of Imam Nawawi
Translated from the Arabic by Muhammad Zafrulla Khan
Gardens of Righteous
The salutation to the Holy Prophet in the words ‘upon whom be peace and blessings of Allah’ after his name, and the invocation ‘may Allah be pleased with him’ after the names of his companions are expressly set out in the manuscript but are omitted in print in order to accomodate the text to the modern reader. They should, nevertheless, be understood as repeated in each case.
In this translation the form ibn has been used in both initial and medial positions in the names of persons, in order to conform with current usage, although bin occurs medially in the originally text.
Allah, the Exalted, has said:
- Pilgrimage to the House is a duty laid upon people which they owe to Allah, those of them who can afford the journey thither. Those who repudiate it should remember that Allah is Independent of all creatures (3.98).
Ahadith
- Ibn Umar relates that the Holy Prophet said: Islam is based on five articles: Bearing witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, observing Prayer, paying the Zakat, Pilgrimage to the House of Allah, and observing the Fast of Ramadhan (Bokhari and Muslim).
- Abu Hurairah relates: The Holy Prophet addressed us and said: O ye people, Allah has prescribed the Pilgrimage for you, so mind that you perform it. A man asked: Messenger of Allah, is is prescribed every year? The Holy Prophet kept silent till the man had repeated his question three times. Then the Holy Prophet observed: Had I said yes, it would have become obligatory and you could not have afforded it; then he added: Leave me alone so long as I do not impose anything on you. Some who were before you were ruined by their habit of asking too many questions and differing with their Prophets. Thus when I direct you to do something carry out my direction as far as it is within your power and when I forbid you anything then leave it altogether (Muslim).
- Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet was asked: Which action is best? He answered: Faith in Allah and His Messenger. He was asked: And thereafter? He answered: Faith in Allah and His Messenger. He was asked: And thereafter? He answered: Striving in the cause of Allah. He was asked: And after that? He answered: Pure Pilgrimage (Bokhari and Muslim).
- Abu Hurairah relates that he heard the Holy Prophet say: He who performs the Pilgrimage without indulging in vain talk or committing any default returns from the Pilgrimage as pure as he was on the day his mother bore him (Bokhari and Muslim).
- Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: Umrah followed by another Umrah atones for that which is between the two and the only reward of the Pilgrimage is Paradise (Bokhari and Muslim).
- Ayesha relates: I asked the Holy Prophet: Messenger of Allah, we consider that striving in the cause of Allah is the best deed, then shall we not go forth in the cause of Allah? He answered: The best striving in the cause of Allah for you is the Pilgrimage (Bokhari).
- Ayesha relates that the Holy Prophet said: Allah does not relieve more people from chastisement of the Fire on any day than on the Day of Arafat (Muslim).
- Ibn Abbas relates that the Holy Prophet said: Umrah performed during Ramadhan equals the Pilgrimage (or equals Pilgrimage in my company) (Bokhari and Muslim).
- A woman asked the Holy Prophet: Messenger of Allah, the Pilgrimage has been imposed by Allah on his servants at a time when my father has reached extreme old age and has not the strength to ride an animal. Shall I perform the Pilgrimage on his behalf? He answered: Yes. (Bokhari and Muslim).
- Laqit ibn `Amir relates that he came to the Holy Prophet and said: My father is a very old man who has not the strength to perform the Pilgrimage or Umrah or to undertake the journey. The Holy Prophet said: Perform the Hajj and Umrah on behalf of your father (Abu Daud and Tirmidhi).
- Saib ibn Yazid relates: I was seven years old when I was taken to Pilgrimage at the same time when the Holy Prophet performed the Pilgrimage (Bokhari).
- Ibn Abbas relates that the Holy Prophet encountered a party of mounted men at Rauha and asked them: Who are you? They answered: Muslims; and who are you? He said: Messenger of Allah. A woman from among them lifted a boy up to him and asked: Can this one go to Pilgrimage? He said: Yes, and you will have the reward (Muslim).
- Anas relates that the Holy Prophet performed the Pilgrimage on a camel which also carried his provisions (Bokhari).
- Ibn Abbas relates: Ukaz and Majinnah and Zulmajez were trade markets in pre-Islamic days. In Islam people imagined that it would be sinful to carry on trade and commerce during the Pilgrimage, whereupon the verse was revealed: It is no sin for you to seek any of the bounties of you Lord during the days of Pilgrimage (2.199) (Bokhari).