Introduction (cont.)

However, there are other hadith of a general nature that make it clear that the point established in this hadith is not simply Hadith #21 : Say, "I believe in Allah and Remain Steadfast" (8) Thinking about the Hereafter with its pleasures and punishment and remembering death often: When one thinks about the Hereafter and remembers death, one puts this world in its prosper perspective. Again, the result of this should be that the person will realize that there is nothing here of importance in comparison to remaining steadfast and adhering to the Straight Path. One should also be aware of the environment he is surrounded by and how its different components affect his ability to stay along the Straight Path. There are many different atmospheres that encourage a person and help him stay along the straight path. However, many times one is surrounded byeven bombarded byinfluences that call him to stray from the Straight Path. Sometimes the person himself does not realize what all of these influences are and then he cannot understand why he is finding it so difficult to abide by the shareeah in his life. In his work on istiqaamah, al-Daryuwaish highlighted the importance of the following different environmental influences in one's life: (1) one's house and family, (2) one's school, (3) the mosque, (4) the society as a whole and, finally, (5) the surrounding media in all its forms.1 One's workplace should also be added to those environments al-Daryuwaish mentioned. Every Muslim should think about these influences in his particular life. He should try to find the positive influences and frequent them most often. He should identify the negative influences and d.o his best to remain away from them. In this way, he will be helping himself, by the will of Allah, fulfill this important condition of istiqaamah. Other Points Related to This Hadith • Those who follow innovations and heresies have failed in the obligation of istiqaamah. /stiqaamah implies being upright along the Straight Path. Those who follow innovations have chosen to swerve from that path to other ways. They may, thereby, be robbing themselves of the rewards and benefits of istiqaamah. • Al-Ghazzaali stated that the importance and need for istiqaamah is so great that Allah has ordered His servants to recite Surah al-Fatiha in every rakah of their prayers. That Surah contains a supplication which is, in essence, a prayer for istiqaamah or continual guidance to the straight path. 2 • Since a person, in general, does not achieve full istiqaamah and since no one's deeds are sufficient to enter one into Paradise, no one should be so full of himself and think himself to be something great. Instead, he should be humble toward Allah, recognize his shortcomings and ask Allah to forgive him.3 in reference to congregational prayer but remaining attached to the Islamic community as a whole. Allah knows best. 1 See al-Daryuwaish, pp. 61-96. 2 Quoted in al-Qaari, vol. 1, p. 85. 3 Al-Qaari, vol. 1, p. 85. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi • One can see from this hadith and many others that the Companions were very fond of attaining beneficial knowledge. Ibn Uthaimin states that if one studies their example one will find that they did not ignore any matter that they needed for their religion or worldly life except that they would seek such information. 1 They also were not ones to go into long, theoretical discussions. They sought teachings that were clear and comprehensive that they could apply and live by in their lives.2 Summary of the Hadith • All of Islam is encompassed in two aspects: ( 1) the correct belief in Allah, and (2) remaining firm and steadfast in that correct belief until death. 1 lbn Uthaimeen, Sharh Riyaadh, vol. 2, p. 535. 2 Al-Baitaar, p. 134. Hadith #22: "Tell Me if I Were to Perform . . . " Hadith #22: "Tell Me If I were to Perform . . . " ? oij) "JSt;jl TJ\;.fu LJ J )!: ; I "'1pf 1 C-Pf-" LJ J On the authority of Abu Abdullah Jaabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) who said: A man asked the Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him), "Tell me if I were to perform the obligatory [prayers], fast Ramadhaan, treat the lawful as permissible and treat the forbidden as prohibited, and I do not add anything to that, would I enter Paradise?" He [the Prophet (peace be upon him)] answered, "Yes." (Recorded by Muslim.) The meaning of "treat the forbidden as prohibited," is to stay away from it. And the meaning of "treat the lawful as permissible" is to perform them believing that they are permissible.1 1 This is one of the few comments that al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) added after quoting a hadith. Some of the Arabic publications and other translations do not make mention of this passage but it does form part of the body of al-Nawawi's Forty Hadith.