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Hadith #7: The Religion is Naseehah c સ "Not unto the weak nor unto the sick nor unto those who cannot find anything to spend is any fault (to be imputed though they stay at home and do not participate in the jihad) if they are true to Allah and His Messenger." (Al-Tauba 91) This is Pickthall's translation. The word translated by Pickthall as "true to" Allah is from the same root as naseehah, nasahu. Obviously, the one who benefits from this naseehah is not Allah. Allah is Self-Sufficient and is not in need of any of His creatures. Instead, it is the servant of Allah himself that benefits from this act. When he makes naseehah to Allah, he is purifying himself and bringing himself closer to Allah. Hence, Allah has made this act obligatory upon individuals and it is the person himself who alone benefits from this act. Such is the grace and mercy of Allah. "To His book" Next the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "To His book." The word, "His book," refers to the whole class ofrevelation. Hence, it includes all of the previously revealed scriptures as well as the Quran revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). 1 Naseehah to the book of Allah requires that one believe that the Quran is from Allah, that it is the speech and uncreated word of Allah, and that it is not like the word of man. In addition, the complete naseehah to the book of Allah requires that one, according to one's ability, reads and recites it properly, applies it, studies its admonitions, lessons and parables. Calling others to believe in the book of Allah is also part of this naseehah. An important aspect of making naseehah to the Quran is to defend and protect it from any kind of distortion or misinterpretation. Naseehah to the book of Allah includes defending it against the false claims made against it, such as the claim made by some non-Muslims and some Shiites that it has not been precisely preserved since the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Having the proper respected and treating the Quran in the proper manner is also part of this naseehah. A Muslim should not touch the Quran while he is in a state of sexual defilement. Indeed, it is preferable that he not touch the Quran unless he has made ablution.2 One should also never do any 1 Ibn Uthaimeen, Sharh Riyaadh, vol. 4, p. 468. 2 The majority of scholars state that it is prohibited for a person to touch the Quran while he is in a state of either major or minor defilement. They also state that a woman is not allowed to touch the Quran while she is experiencing her menses or post-partum hemorrhaging. However, those majority opinions may not be the strongest according to the relevant evidence. For a detailed discussion of this point, see the author's, "The Condition of Tahara for Reciting/Touching the Quran," Al-Basheer (Vol. 7, No. 6, March-April 1994), pp. 8-22. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi act which would be considered an act of disrespect toward the Quran, such as throwing it down to the ground or leaving it on a pile of garbage.' Since naseehah is such an essential aspect of the religion, every " Muslim should consider these points and ask himself if he is truly really make . naseehah to Allah and to the Book of Allah? "to His Messenger" The naseehah to the Prophet (peace be upon him) includes following: believing his message, believing in all that he brought as being divinely inspired, obeying him, helping and defending him, defending his honor and respecting his status. An essential and most important aspect of this naseehah is that one accepts the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the true leader and only human final word with respect to the religion. He is the only real human authority and everyone else's opinions and statements come after his. If any Muslim follows another person's opinion in opposition to what the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has said, then he is not making the proper naseehah to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Making naseehah to the Messenger (peace be upon him) also includes being a friend to those who love him and an enemy to those who are against him. Also important are reviving his sunnah and fighting any innovations, spreading, learning and teaching his message, making supplications for him. Making naseehah to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) includes loving his family and his companions. Ibn Uthaimeen notes that it is especially important that one love and respect the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). This is because somebody's companions are, in essence, his closest friends and confidantes. Among the Companions, the Prophet (peace be upon him) chose to be closest to Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan, Ali and others. This was his choice and he expressed his love for his Companions on a number of occasions.