Love of the Saliheen- Love for the Ansaar

  • Post category:Ahadeeth
  • Reading time:10 mins read

Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Hashr (59:10):

وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ

And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord, You are full of Kindness, Most Merciful.”

It is narrated as a Marfoo’ Hadeeth from Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that Allaah the Exalted says: “Whoever shows enmity to a Wali of Mine, he is declaring war on Me.” [Al-Bukhaari (6502), At-Tabarani (12/146) (12719), and Ibn Hibban (347)]

Meaning:
If two men leave the ranks to fight, whoever shows enmity towards a Wali of Allaah, he is indeed declaring war on Allaah.

Explanation:
Shaikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (Rahimahullaah) said in his book “Al-Kabaa’ir”, (Chapter: Hatred for the Saliheen i.e., the righteous): Hatred for the Saliheen means that a person harbors hatred in his heart or hatred towards the Saliheen. Hatred is the opposite of love, and (it is mentioned) in the Hadeeth:
“Indeed, the strongest bond of faith is to love for the sake of Allaah and hate for the sake of Allaah.” [At-Tabarani (10/212) (10357), and Al-Hakim (3790)]

And in another Hadeeth:
“Whosoever loves for Allaah’s sake, hates for Allaah’s sake, gives for Allaah’s sake and withholds for Allaah’s sake, he has indeed perfected his Eeman (faith).” [Abu Dawoud (4681), At-Tabarani (8/159) (7613), and Ibn ‘Adi in Al-Kamil fi Du’afaa’ (6/314)]

Essentially, a Muslim should love the Saliheen — love them for their righteousness, their Eeman, their Taqwa (piety) towards Allaah, the Almighty and Majestic, and for their obedience to the Commands of Allaah and their avoidance of what Allaah, Glorified and Exalted, has forbidden. This love for the Saliheen is from the signs and proofs of Eeman because the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Indeed, the strongest bond of faith is to love for the sake of Allaah and hate for the sake of Allaah.” [At-Tabarani (10/212) (10357), and Al-Hakim (3790)]

So, loving the Saliheen means that one must love the Saliheen in one’s heart. This is from the signs of goodness.

However, if the matter is reversed, and a person — may Allaah protect us — begins to hate the righteous, then this is from the signs of Nifaq (hypocrisy). It is from the signs of hypocrisy, and from the signs of disease in the heart — may Allaah protect us from that.

For this reason, the author, Shaikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (Rahimahullaah) included this chapter (Hatred towards the Saliheen) in the book Al-Kabaa’ir (i.e., Major Sins), explaining that hating them is one of the signs of a disease in the heart.
Hatred is an action of the heart; it does not require a ruling to outwardly express it. However, if a person manifests (openly shows) what results from hatred — such as enmity, harm, and the like — then this is evil upon evil, and sin upon sin.

So, hatred itself is a sin, and it is one of the actions of the heart; (so,) someone who harbors hatred for the Saliheen but does not (outwardly) act upon it by causing harm or aggression, etc., does the (following) Hadeeth of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) apply to him? i.e., the Hadeeth in which he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “He who intended (Hamm) evil, but did not commit it,” [Reported by Muslim (130)]

There is a difference between Hamm (intention/thought) and action of the heart.

  • ‘Al-Hamm’ (thought/intention) that a slave does not resolve to act upon is not recorded as a sin for him. Rather, if he abandons this ‘Hamm’ for the sake of Allaah, a good deed is written for him
  • Actions of the heart are sinful in and of themselves, such as hatred, envy, malice, etc. These are diseases of the heart, and one will be held accountable for actions of the heart, just as he is held accountable for his outward actions.

And just as a person is required to rectify his outward state, he is also required to rectify his inner self. So, even if a person harbors hatred alone without it leading to (outward) actions that arise from hatred, he is (still) sinful for that, and subject to the punishment of Allaah.

Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Hashr (59:10):

وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ

And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith.”

“Those who came after them” – i.e., after the Sahabah (Companions), because the two previous verses (8 and 9 of Surat Al-Hashr) are about the Sahabah; the first is about the Muhajireen (emigrants), and the second is about the Ansaar (supporters of Al-Madinah). Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Hashr (59:8):

لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا وَيَنْصُرُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ

“For the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their property seeking Bounties from Allaah and to please Him. And helping Allaah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)]. Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say).”

And Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Hashr (59:9):

وَالَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ۚ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

“And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Bani An-Nadir), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.”

In verse (59:10), Allaah says, “Those who came after them” – i.e., after the Muhajireen who are mentioned in the first verse, and (after) the Ansaar, who are mentioned in the second verse.

And what are their characteristics?

وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ

And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of Kindness, Most Merciful.”

The proof from this verse is His (Ta’ala) saying: “and put not in our hearts any hatred” – i.e., resentment, hatred, and dislike toward those who preceded us in faith. At the forefront of those who preceded us in faith are the noble Sahabah [Companions (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhum)] of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the best of the Ummah of Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

For this reason, one of the signs of hypocrisy and disease of the heart is hatred toward the Sahabah. If this hatred is accompanied by further actions such as cursing, insulting, harming, and the like, then this is wrong upon wrong, and evil upon evil. If hatred alone exists in a person’s heart, then this is from the signs of hypocrisy and signs of disease in the heart, because love for the Sahabah is Eeman (an indication of faith), and hatred toward them is Nifaq (hypocrisy).

Allaah (Ta’ala) says: “Those who came after them,” meaning those who came after the Sahabah.

They say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed.”

So, Allaah described them with two great characteristics:

  • The first characteristic is in His saying: They say: “Our Lord! Forgive us.” This is purity of their tongues — their tongues toward the Sahabah are pure, there is no insult, no curse, and no slander. Rather, there is nothing on them except seeking forgiveness and supplication.
  • The second characteristic is in His saying: “and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed.” – this is purity of their hearts from resentment, grudge, hatred, and the like.

So, Allaah described them (i.e., those who come later) with two types of purity: purity of tongues and purity of hearts.

Love for the Ansaar (Supporters of Al-Madinah)
Shaikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (Rahimahullaah) quoted the following Hadeeth from Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) as a Marfoo’ narration:
“No man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day hates the Ansaar.” [Reported by Muslim (76) and At-Tirmidhi (3906)]

Explanation:
This Hadeeth indicates that Eeman (belief) in Allaah and the Last Day necessitates love for the Ansaar and love for the Sahabah of the noble Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). This is the established meaning in the Hadeeth which is supported by the preceding verse in Surat Al-Hashr (59:10):

وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ

And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of Kindness, Most Merciful.”

The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said: “No man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day, hates the Ansaar.”

Subhaan Allaah! How could anyone hate them while they are the Ansaar — those who gave refuge, supported, and aided the noble Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), those who welcomed the Muhajirun (emigrants) with open hearts, expanded chests, and warm greetings. They shared their wealth with them equally, assisted them, stood by them, and supported the religion of Allaah, the Blessed, the Exalted.

No one hates the Ansaar except a hypocrite, except one whose heart is diseased with hypocrisy. A sign of faith is love for the Ansaar, and a sign of hypocrisy is hatred toward them. No one hates them except a hypocrite.

Eeman (belief) in Allaah and the Last Day is mentioned because Eeman (belief) in Allaah means that He Alone is the One intended with worship, and that He Alone is the One intended when loving the Saliheen — so, you love the righteous for the sake of Allaah, seeking nearness to Him through it. Allaah is the One intended by this action, and He is intended in every act of worship.

And the Last Day is mentioned because the Last Day is the time/place for recompense and Hisaab (accountability) — if a person loves the righteous, Allaah will reward him on that Day, and if he hates them, Allaah will punish him on that Day, and it is related in the well-known supplication:

اللَّهمَّ إِنَّا نَسألُكَ حُبَّكَ ، وحُبَّ مَن يُحبُّكَ،
وَالعَمَل الذِي يُقَرِّبُنا إِلَى حُبِّكَ

“O Allaah, we ask You for Your love, and the love of those who love You, and the deeds that bring us closer to Your love.”

 [Reported by At-Tirmidhi (3490), Al-Bazzar (4089), and Abu Nu’aym in Hilyat Al-Awliyaa (1/226)]

Source:
?Sharh Kitab Al-Kabaa’ir (Explanation of the Book of Major Sins), by Shaikh ‘Abdur-Razzaq Al-Badr

 

                                                                                                              ?