Introduction:
In the book “Riyadhus-Saliheen” chapter 13, Imaam An-Nawawi (Rahimahullaah) discusses many ways of doing good deeds, and in chapter 14 he highlights the importance of moderation in obedience; thus, he titles the chapter, “Moderation in Obedience.”
Moderation implies maintaining a balanced approach between excessiveness and negligence, as this is the required state for a person in all circumstances i.e., one should be balanced between excessiveness and negligence. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Furqan (25:67):
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا
“Those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes).”
Similarly, in acts of obedience, one should be moderate and not overburden himself beyond his capacity. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) conveyed this when he was informed about three individuals; one of whom said, “I will not marry women”; another said, “I will fast and not break my fast”; and the third said, “I will stay awake and will not sleep.” The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) addressed them and said: “What is the matter with people who say such and such although I pray and I sleep, I fast and I break my fast, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 5063 and Muslim no. 1401]
Thus, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) distanced himself from those who deviated from his way whilst burdening themselves beyond their capacity.
Hadeeth:
Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Deen is very easy and whosoever overburdens himself in his religion, it will overpower him (i.e., whosoever overburdens himself in the religion, he will not be able to continue in that way). So, follow a middle course; and (if you cannot do this), do something closer to it and receive glad tidings, and seek the help (of Allaah) in the mornings, at dusk, and during the last hours of the night.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 39]
In another narration,
“So, follow a middle course; and (if you cannot do this), do something closer to it, and worship Allaah in the morning and the evening and during a part of the night, and always follow a middle course whereby you will reach your goal (Paradise).” [Al-Bukhaari no. 6463]
“Whosoever overburdens himself in his religion, it will overpower him” means the religion will overwhelm him, and he will be unable to continue.
The meaning of the Hadeeth is to seek assistance in obeying Allaah, the Almighty, with acts of worship while you are diligent, and energetic when your heart is not occupied so that you may enjoy worship, and not get weary of it. You can attain your goals just like how a skillful traveler walks during his (active) hours; he and his beast rest during inactive hours, thereby reaching their destination without fatigue. And Allaah knows best!
Explanation:
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said in his explanation for this Hadeeth in “Riyadhus-Saliheen“: The author (i.e. Imaam An-Nawawi) mentioned this Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurairah in the chapter: “Moderation in Worship“.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Verily, the Deen (religion) is easy.”
‘The Deen’ that Allaah revealed upon Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) through which the slaves are guided and through which they worship Him with ease is in line with what Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:185):
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
“Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.”
When mentioning the command for Wudhu’ (ablution), Ghusl (ritual purification) from Janabah (state of sexual impurity), and Tayammum (dry ablution) in the absence of water or due to illness, Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Ma’idah (5:6):
مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَرَجٍ
“Allaah does not want to place you in difficulty”
Furthermore (in the context of striving in the Path of Allaah), He (Ta’ala) states in Surat Al-Hajj (22:78):
وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ ۚ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ
“Strive hard in Allaah’s Cause as you ought to strive (with sincerity and with all your efforts that His Name should be superior). He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islamic Monotheism to mankind by inviting them to His religion, Islam), and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship”
All the texts indicate that this religion is easy, and indeed it is. If a person reflects on his daily acts of worship, he will find that the five daily prayers are easy to perform; they are distributed throughout the day, and they are preceded by purification – purification of the body and purification of the heart. The individual makes ablution (Wudhu’) before each prayer and says:
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، واشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله،
اللهم اجعلني من التوابين واجعلني من المتطهرين
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah,
and I bear witness that Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is His servant and Messenger.
O Allaah, make me among those who repent
and make me among those who purify themselves.” [At-Tirmidhi no. 55 and Authenticated by Al-Albaani who graded it Saheeh]
So, he purifies his body first, and then he purifies his heart with Tawheed, and then he stands up for prayer.
If one reflects on Zakaat, which is the third pillar of Islam, one will find it easy too. Firstly, Zakaat is not obligatory on all forms of wealth, but rather it is on wealth that grows and increases like trading goods, and other assets that have a similar status, such as gold and silver even if these don’t increase.
As for what a person uses in his home and his own transportation, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “No charity is due from a Muslim on his slave or his horse.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 1463 and Muslim nos. 8 and 9]
This includes all household items, furnishings of the house, and the servants in the house, as well as cars and other items used for one’s own needs. These are exempted from Zakaat – and this is easy.
Furthermore, (the amount of) obligatory Zakaat is very little (and manageable); it is only a quarter of a tenth, which means one out of every forty. This is also quite easy. Furthermore, by paying Zakaat, your wealth does not decrease. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Sadaqah (charity) does not decrease wealth.” [Muslim no. 69]Rather, it brings blessings and purifies it. It grows the wealth it cleanses and purifies it.
Consider Sawm (fasting) as well. It is not prescribed for the entire year, not even half of it, nor even a quarter. It is prescribed for just one month out of twelve months. Even in that one month, it is made easy; if you are ill or traveling you can break your fast. If you are unable to fast consistently throughout your lifetime, you can provide a meal for a poor person for each day you cannot fast.
Consider Hajj (pilgrimage) as well, which is also made easy. Allaah, the Exalted, says in Surat Aal-‘Imran (3:97):
وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ
“Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence).”
If someone is physically incapable but he has the financial means, he can appoint someone to perform Hajj on his behalf. If he is neither financially capable nor physically fit, then Hajj is not obligatory for him.
The conclusion is that the religion is easy. It is easy in its fundamental principles, and it is easier when circumstances require facilitation. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to Imran ibn Husain (Radia-Allahu ‘anhu): “Pray standing, and if you are unable, (pray) sitting, and if you are unable, (pray) lying on your side.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari no. 1117] So, the religion is indeed easy.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then said:
“Whosoever overburdens himself in his religion, it will overpower him.”
Meaning if someone seeks to make the religion excessively strict and demanding, he will be overwhelmed, exhausted, and eventually give up. It signifies that if you insist on strictness and seek extremism in the religion, it will indeed overpower you, and you will be doomed, as the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said in the Hadeeth: “The extremists are perished.” [Muslim no. 2670]
Then the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“So, follow a middle course, and (if you can’t), do something closer to it and receive the glad tidings.”
“follow a middle course” means to do things in moderation while aiming for success. If it is not possible, then do it close to moderation. Therefore, he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do something closer to it.”
Here, ‘and’ means ‘or’ – i.e., follow moderation if possible, and if it’s not possible, come as close to moderation as you can.
“Receive the glad tidings” means to be optimistic that if you follow moderation, then you have done right, or you have come close to righteousness, so receive the glad tidings of an abundant reward, good and help from Allaah (Ta’ala).
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) frequently used this approach of giving glad tidings to his Sahabah to cheer them up. Therefore, a person should try and bring joy to his fellow brethren as much as he can by giving glad tidings and spreading cheerfulness.
From this is the following Hadeeth of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) – when he addressed the Sahabah: “Allaah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): ‘O Adam.’ Adam will reply: ‘Labbaik wa Sa`daik and all the good is in Your Hand.’ Allaah will say: ‘Bring out the people of the Fire.’ Adam will say: ‘O Allaah! How many are the people of the Fire?’ Allaah will reply: ‘From every thousand, take out nine-hundred and ninety-nine.'” (This was very hard on the Sahabah), and they asked the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “O Allaah’s Messenger! Who is that one?” He said: “Rejoice with glad tidings; one person will be from you and one thousand will be from Ya’juj and Ma’juj.”
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) further said: “By Him in Whose Hands my life is, hope that you will be one-fourth of the people of Paradise.” We (i.e., the Sahabah) shouted: “Allaahu Akbar!” He added: “I hope that you will be one-third of the people of Paradise.” We shouted: “Allaahu Akbar!” He said: “I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise.” We shouted: “Allaahu Akbar!” He further said: “You (Muslims) (compared with non-Muslims) are like a black hair in the skin of a white ox or like a white hair in the skin of a black ox (i.e. your number is very small as compared with theirs).” [Al-Bukhaari no. 3348]
This is how one should use glad tidings for his brethren as much as he can. However, sometimes a warning is better for his Muslim brother. Your fellow Muslim brother might be neglecting a duty or committing a forbidden act, and in such cases, it might be in your brother’s best interest that you warn and scare him. It is important to use wisdom in these cases, but giving glad tidings should prevail.
For instance, if someone comes to you and confesses that he has committed a sin and asks if there is still hope for him to repent, you should tell him: “Yes, rejoice! If you repent, Allaah will accept your repentance.” This approach can bring happiness and hope to the person, preventing him from despairing of Allaah’s Mercy.
In summary, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) encouraged them and said: “Seek the help (of Allaah) in the mornings, at dusk, and during the last hours of the night and always follow a middle course, whereby you will reach your goal (Paradise)” – meaning, seek help during various parts of the day, including its beginning, end, and some portions of the night.
This phrase, “always follow a middle course whereby you will reach your goal (Paradise)” suggests that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) intended to draw an analogy between the spiritual journey and the physical journey.
Just as a traveler, in the physical sense seeks to cover ground at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day, and during some portion of the night as these are the most convenient/comfortable times for travelers, similarly, a spiritual traveler should aim to engage in acts of worship and reflection during these times.
It is also possible that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) intended to highlight that the early morning and late evening are ideal times for Tasbeeh (glorification of Allaah) as Allaah (Ta’ala) mentions in the Qur’an (interpretation of the meaning) in Surat Al-Ahzaab (33:41-42):
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا، وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
“O you who believe! Remember Allaah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers].“
Similarly, night is a time for Qiyam. In any case, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised us not to make all our time a continuous routine of worship, for doing so may lead to boredom, fatigue, and eventually negligence. May Allaah (Ta’ala) help us and you in remembering Him, being grateful to Him and in correctly performing our acts of worship.
Sharh Riyadhus-Saliheen for Hadeeth no. 145 by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah)
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