We must always and forever assume in every hadith we read or every report we hear that contains such merit.
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The Shaykh : It is one of the authentic hadiths that the Imam al-Bukhari narrated in this book, *al-Adab al-Mufrad*, with a sound chain from Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 14:35.
This hadith explains the merit of good character when a Muslim adopts it, to the extent that it becomes a cause for freeing its owner from the punishment he deserves due to the sins and transgressions he committed and perpetrated. This is a man about whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:, other than that he was a believer. We must always and forever assume in every hadith we read or every report we hear that contains such merit... and it does not state... that the one deserving of this merit was a Muslim. We must assume in every hadith we hear that mentions a certain virtue that the one deserving of this virtue was a Muslim. So we hear in this hadith the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Ibn Hibban 47:131; he did not say he was a Muslim. Therefore, we must interpret this man as having been a Muslim, even if the description "Muslim" was not mentioned in the hadith. This is derived from the principles of the Shari'ah, because Allah the Mighty and Majestic says regarding every polytheist: [Al-Furqan 25:23]. And Allah the Mighty and Majestic says, addressing the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the person of the Prophet: [Az-Zumar 39:65]. So when we hear a hadith like this: Sahih Ibn Hibban 47:131, and then we hear at the end of the hadith that Allah passed over him, we must immediately assume in our minds that this man was a Muslim. In a hadith like this, in particular, it is very necessary to make this assumption that this man was a Muslim, because it says that nothing good was found for him, even though the greatest good is faith. Therefore, in the hadiths of intercession, Allah the Mighty and Majestic orders, in the final stage, when the messengers, prophets, angels, and righteous people intercede, and then the Lord of the Worlds, Blessed and Exalted is He, intercedes, and in some authentic narrations He says to the angels: Sahih Muslim 2940a. The intended meaning of this good is faith. So when we read this hadith: Sahih Muslim 1561, and then the hadith concludes that Allah the Mighty and Majestic, after reckoning this person, passed over him, we must assume in our minds that this man was a Muslim. Otherwise, if he had been a polytheist and had filled the earth with good and merit, that would not benefit him in any way, as we mentioned in the previous verse: [Al-Furqan 25:23]. This is confirmed by this authentic hadith that the Imam Muslim included in his *Sahih*, from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). The meaning of the hadith is that if a believer does a good deed, he is rewarded for it in this world and is also reckoned for it on the Day of Resurrection, meaning he has two rewards: the first in this world immediately, and the second in the Hereafter later. As for the disbeliever, whatever good deeds he does in this world, he is rewarded for them in this world, so when the Day of Resurrection comes, he comes with nothing in his record of good deeds. Allah the Mighty and Majestic, as He said: [Al-Kahf 18:49]. However, every person is reckoned according to the faith in which he stood. The believer is rewarded for his good deeds in this world and the Hereafter with good. As for the disbeliever, he is rewarded for his good deeds in this world, but in the Hereafter he comes with no good deed in his record, because he disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and associated partners with Allah the Mighty and Majestic, so his deeds were rendered void, and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter.
I intended by this statement to draw your attention and for you to understand in religion that when you read a hadith like this, "there was a man from those before you," and then Allah passed over his sins, you must assume in your minds that he was a Muslim. Otherwise, if he had been a polytheist, his righteous deeds would not have benefited him in any way.
After this, I say: He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1561.
This hadith indicates that the reckoning on the Day of Reckoning means discussing with the person the good or evil he has presented, and presenting this balance and this result to the person so that he sees the outcome of it, either that he will be among the people of Paradise or that he will be among the people of the Fire.
After this man was reckoned and nothing good was found in his record except faith, as we mentioned.
Before your time a man was called to account and it was found that the only good thing he had done was that he was easy in his business dealings with people. He used to order his slaves to go easy with people who were in difficulty. Allah Almighty said, 'We are more entitled to do that than he is, so forgive him.'
حوسب رجل ممن كان قبلكم فلم يوجد له من الخير شيء إلا أنه كان رجلا يخالط الناس وكان موسرا فكان يأمر غلمانه أن يتجاوزوا عن المعسر قال الله عز و جل : نحن أحق بذلك منه تجاوزوا عنهThis hadith explains the merit of good character when a Muslim adopts it, to the extent that it becomes a cause for freeing its owner from the punishment he deserves due to the sins and transgressions he committed and perpetrated. This is a man about whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
There was [a man] among those before us—meaning from the Children of Israel—who never did any good at all.
كان فيمن قبلنا- يعني من بني إسرائيل - لم يعمل خيراً قطHe was a man from those before you.
كان رجلا ممن كان قبلكمAnd We will regard what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.
وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَى مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاءً مَنْثُورًاthat if you should associate [anything] with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers."
لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الخَاسِرِينَA man from those before you was reckoned.
حوسب رجلاً ممن كان قبلكمnone would survive upon the earth having a speck of good in him
أخرجوا من في قلبه مثقال ذرة من خيرA person from people who lived before you was called to account
حوسب رجل ممن كان قبلكمAnd We will regard what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.
وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَى مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاءً مَنْثُورًاAnd your Lord does injustice to no one.
وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًاI intended by this statement to draw your attention and for you to understand in religion that when you read a hadith like this, "there was a man from those before you," and then Allah passed over his sins, you must assume in your minds that he was a Muslim. Otherwise, if he had been a polytheist, his righteous deeds would not have benefited him in any way.
After this, I say: He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
A person from people who lived before you was called to account (by Allah at the Day of Judgment) and no good was found in his account
حوسب رجل ممن كان قبلكم فلم يوجد له من الخير شيءThis hadith indicates that the reckoning on the Day of Reckoning means discussing with the person the good or evil he has presented, and presenting this balance and this result to the person so that he sees the outcome of it, either that he will be among the people of Paradise or that he will be among the people of the Fire.
After this man was reckoned and nothing good was found in his record except faith, as we mentioned.