Means of Salvation for the Believer

‘Uqbah ibn Amir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated, “I met the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). I initiated and held his hand.” ‘Uqbah (further) narrated, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what are (the means to) salvation for the Mu’min (believer)?’ He replied, “O ‘Uqbah, control/guard your tongue, keep to your house, and weep over your sins.” ‘Uqbah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “Then (again), the Messenger of Allaah met me, he initiated and took my hand, and said, ‘O ‘Uqbah ibn Amir, shall I not teach you the best three chapters revealed in the Torah, the Injeel (Gospel), the Zaboor (Psalms), and the Great Furqan (i.e., the Qur’an)?’ ‘Uqbah said, ‘Yes why not! May Allaah make me a ransom for you!’ So he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) recited to me:

 

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

“Say [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)]: ‘He is Allaah, (the) One.'” [Surat Al-Ikhlas]

 

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ

“Say: ‘I seek refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of the daybreak.'” [Surat Al-Falaq]

 

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ

“Say: ‘I seek refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of mankind.'” [Surat An-Naas]

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then said, “O ‘Uqbah, do not forget them, and do not spend a night without you reciting them.” ‘Uqbah said, “I never forgot (to recite) them since he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Do not forget them,’ nor did I ever spend a single night unless I recited them.”

‘Uqbah said, “Then I met the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) (again), and I initiated and took his hand and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, inform me about the most virtuous deeds.'”  The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied: “O ‘Uqbah! Maintain ties with those who cut you off, give to those who withhold from you, and forgive those who have wronged you.” [Takhrij Al-Musnad by Shu’ayb page or no. 17334. Shu’ayb Al-Arna’ut graded it Hasan]

Lessons and Benefits:

• The Sahabah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhum) were very keen about salvation in this world and of the Hereafter. They would ask the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) about the means of salvation and success in this world and the Hereafter, and the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would guide them and show them the path of goodness and salvation/success.
• In this Hadeeth, ‘Uqbah ibn Amir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “I met the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) on the road, and I initiated, and took his hand” – for greeting and as a welcoming (gesture), and holding his hand was (a way of showing) respect to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). I said, “O Messenger of Allaah, what are (the means to) salvation for the Mu’min (believer)?” What are the means of salvation and success in this world and the Hereafter, and how can a believer attain it, and save himself? He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied, “O ‘Uqbah, control/guard your tongue,” (meaning) hold your tongue, restrain it, and protect it from speaking any/every evil, and do not speak except good. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Qaaf (50:18):

 

مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ 

“Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).”

This is because of the dangers of the tongue.

• “Keep to your house” meaning, stay in your house as much as you can, stay in your house to worship Allaah in privacy, and engage in acts of obedience to Allaah, the Almighty, and seclude yourself in your house (to avoid/stay safe) from Fitan (trials and tribulations).

It is said that it means: Be content with what Allaah has provided for you in terms of a spouse, children, livelihood, housing, and other worldly blessings. Look to those above you in matters of Deen (religion), and to those below you in worldly matters, lest you despise (or become ungrateful) for Allaah’s blessings upon you – this is safer for you.

“and weep over your sins.” meaning feel regret for what you have committed of sins, cry sincerely confirming your repentance and return (to Allaah), and engage yourself in reforming yourself and refining/disciplining yourself.

• The warning against the tongue, its evils, and its harms emphasizes that a person might utter a word that incurs Allaah’s wrath without paying attention to it or considering its consequences. Yet, Allaah may write His displeasure upon the person because of that word until the Day he meets Him.
• It is better for one to spend his surplus time at home in the remembrance of Allaah, the recitation of the Qur’an and the performance of acts of obedience if he feels unable to benefit others or if he fears that he, as well as his religion will not be safe if he mixes with others. Allaah greatly likes it that one repents of his own sins and weeps over them.
• The statement of ‘Uqbah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), “Then (again), the Messenger of Allaah met me, he initiated and took my hand,” the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) held his hand – this indicates the good companionship of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) with his Sahabah, his kind treatment of them, and his teaching them the principles of interaction.
• The statement of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “O ‘Uqbah ibn Amir, shall I not teach you the best three chapters revealed in the Torah,” the book of Musa (‘Alayhis-Salaam) “and the Injeel (Gospel),” the book of ‘Iesa (‘Alayhis-Salaam) “and the Zaboor (Psalms),” the book of Dawoud (‘Alayhis-Salaam) “and the Great Furqan?” and it is al-Qur’an al-Kareem (the Noble Qur’an). He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) meant that these Surahs are the best of Surahs with regards to Tawheed and seeking refuge in Allaah, and they are a fortification from every harm/evil.
• ‘Uqbah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “Yes why not?” and this is from the excellence of accepting goodness. “May Allaah make me a ransom for you!” This is a Du’aa (a supplication) for the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), for his long life, and that he (‘Uqbah) would ransom/sacrifice himself for the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) if harm were to befall him.
• The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) recited to ‘Uqbah:

“Say [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)]: ‘He is Allaah, (the) One.‘” [Surat Al-Ikhlas]

“Say: ‘I seek refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of the daybreak.‘” [Surat Al-Falaq]

“Say: ‘I seek refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of mankind.‘” [Surat An-Naas]

In these Surahs is Tawheed (Oneness) of Allaah which is singling Allaah out with worship without any partner, parent, or son, and that He is the One Whom people turn to in Du’aa. In the Mu’awwadhatain (Al-Falaq and An-Naas), is a mention of seeking refuge (in Allaah), turning to (Allaah), and asking protection from Allaah, the Lord of the creation, and the Lord of mankind. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to seek refuge with these Surahs and perform Ruqyah[1] upon himself (with these Surahs).

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then said, “O ‘Uqbah, do not forget them, and do not let a night pass without reciting them,” as fortification/protection for yourself from evil, and sorcery, and (evil) eye, and as a reminder to yourself about the Tawheed of Allaah.

• The excellent obedience of the Sahabah to the commandment of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). ‘Uqbah said, “I never forgot them since he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Do not forget them,’ nor did I ever spend a single night unless I recited them.”
• The keenness of the Companions in asking the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) about the best and most virtuous deeds. ‘Uqbah asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, tell me about the most virtuous deeds.” [1] i.e., deeds that are more virtuous than others. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied, “O ‘Uqbah! Maintain ties with those who cut you off,” i.e., do good to those who have abandoned you, be kind to them, and continue to stay in touch with them, “give to those who withhold from you,” i.e., be generous in giving and spending on those who have not given you before “and turn away (stay away) from harming those who have wronged you” meaning, forgive everyone who has inflicted injustice upon you while you have the ability to take retribution/revenge from him. It is from the Prophetic Tarbiyah (upbringing/training) not to respond to evil with the same (evil); rather, whosoever wishes affection (to prevail) amongst people, let him forgive and pardon, and let him respond to evil with its opposite of goodness/kindness.
  [1] Translators Note: Ruqyah is the practice of protecting/treating oneself or others from illnesses, evil eye, magic, etc. through the recitation of Qur’anic verses.

(In Summary,) this Hadeeth comprises and emphasizes the following:

• The virtues of Surat Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Naas.
• The demonstration of the Prophet’s (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) excellent Tarbiyah (upbringing/training) for his Sahabah upon Ihsaan (doing good/kindness), good manners, and not responding to evil with evil.
• The great response of the Sahabah to the commands of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and their steadfastness upon it.

 

Source:
Dorar.net
Commentary on Hadeeth no. 1520 in Riyadhus-Saliheen by Darus-Salaam
Sharh Riyadhus-Saliheen by Shaikh Muhammad ibn Salih Al-‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah)