And we believe that the one who is less meritorious among these may possess a characteristic in which he surpasses the one who is more meritorious, but he does not thereby deserve absolute superiority over the one who is preferred, because
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The Shaykh :"And we believe that the one who is less meritorious among these may possess a characteristic in which he surpasses the one who is more meritorious".
Yes. The one who is less meritorious among these may have a characteristic that distinguishes him from others, but restricted merit does not imply absolute merit.
This is a matter, my brothers, that you should pay attention to so that many of your difficulties are resolved.
Absolute merit is one thing, and restricted merit is another; they do not contradict each other. Therefore, the establishment of restricted merit does not necessitate the establishment of absolute merit, and the establishment of absolute merit does not necessitate the negation of restricted merit.
For example: Among the Companions, there are those who have a special distinction. For instance, Satan flees from 'Umar, is that not so? But such a thing is not reported regarding Abu Bakr, even though Abu Bakr is more meritorious than him.
'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when he equipped the Army of Hardship:. And he said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3703Hasan (Darussalam) So 'Uthman bought it, and 'Uthman married two of the daughters of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and that did not happen to anyone else, so he has distinctions. Do we say: Does that necessitate that he is more meritorious than 'Umar? No, because 'Umar's merit is absolute, and this is restricted merit.
'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) also has distinctions. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the day of Khaybar:As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 61:124 So he distinguished him with love and that Allah would open [victory] through his hands. This is a characteristic that Abu Bakr and 'Umar did not have, but does that necessitate that 'Ali is more meritorious than them? No.
Likewise, when he left him behind in the expedition of Tabuk and he (may Allah be pleased with him) was distressed, he said: or words to that effect. He said: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37:470. And this is a characteristic of his, because he left him with his family just as Harun was left with Musa among his people.
The important thing is that the restricted characteristic does not contradict the absolute merit.
Rather, greater than that is Did this characteristic become for any of the Companions? Never, even though the Companions are more meritorious than Uwais. Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn 'Abbas, and others are more meritorious than Uwais without doubt, but this is a characteristic of his, and the Messenger did not order anyone to ask Abu Bakr, nor 'Umar, nor 'Uthman, nor 'Ali, nor anyone else to make du'a for him. Good. So do we say: Does this characteristic necessitate that Uwais is more meritorious? No.
Rather, the Messenger informed Does this necessitate that these people are more meritorious than the Companions? No, it does not necessitate it. This is a restricted characteristic tied to this difficult, straitened time, because if you see that the society does not practice the worship of Allah, it becomes heavy for you to worship Allah alone, and also you may be made a target of mockery, so you are patient and endure. Thus, they attained this characteristic because of the hardship and harassment they suffer, but it does not necessitate that they are more meritorious than the Companions.
And this is a rule that benefits you: that merit is of two types, absolute and restricted. It does not necessitate that the one with restricted merit is more meritorious than the one with absolute merit, and it does not necessitate that the one with absolute merit has no restricted merit.
Therefore, he said: "And we believe that the one who is less meritorious among these may possess a characteristic in which he surpasses the one who is more meritorious, but he does not thereby deserve absolute superiority over the one who is preferred, because the causes of merit are numerous and varied". So a characteristic from among them may be established for one person and not for another.
Yes. The one who is less meritorious among these may have a characteristic that distinguishes him from others, but restricted merit does not imply absolute merit.
This is a matter, my brothers, that you should pay attention to so that many of your difficulties are resolved.
Absolute merit is one thing, and restricted merit is another; they do not contradict each other. Therefore, the establishment of restricted merit does not necessitate the establishment of absolute merit, and the establishment of absolute merit does not necessitate the negation of restricted merit.
For example: Among the Companions, there are those who have a special distinction. For instance, Satan flees from 'Umar, is that not so? But such a thing is not reported regarding Abu Bakr, even though Abu Bakr is more meritorious than him.
'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when he equipped the Army of Hardship:
What harm did 'Uthman suffer from what he did after that day?
ما ضرّ عثمان ما فعل بعد اليومWho will purchase the well of Rumah and place his bucket alongside the buckets of the Muslims, in exchange for better than that in Paradise?
من يشتري بئر رومة وله الجنة'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) also has distinctions. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the day of Khaybar:
I will give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him, and Allah will open [victory] through his hands.
ليعطين الراية رجلا يحب الله ورسوله ويحبه الله ورسوله يفتح الله على يديهAnd when they were asked about him, they said he was complaining of his eyes, so he ordered him to be brought, and he spat in his eyes, and he was cured as if he had never had any pain. Then he gave him the banner and said: Proceed at your leisure, then invite them to Islam, and inform them of what is obligatory upon them of the right of Allah in it. By Allah, if Allah guides one man through you, it is better for you than red camels.
وحين سأل عنه قالوا إنه يشتكي عينيه، فأمر به فأتى فبصق في عينينه فبرأ كأن لم يكن به وجع، ثم أعطاه الراية وقال: انفذ على رسلك، ثم ادعهم إلى الإسلام، وأخبرهم بما يجب عليهم من حق الله فيه، فوالله لأن يهدي الله بك رجلا واحدا خير لك من حمر النعمLikewise, when he left him behind in the expedition of Tabuk and he (may Allah be pleased with him) was distressed, he said:
You left me behind with the women and the children.
تخلفني في النساء والذريةAre you not pleased that you should be to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me?
أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا أنه لا نبي بعديThe important thing is that the restricted characteristic does not contradict the absolute merit.
Rather, greater than that is
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered whoever met Uwais al-Qarani to ask him for du'a.
أمر النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام من أدرك أويس القرني أن يطلب منه الدعاءRather, the Messenger informed
That the workers in the days of patience, one of them has the reward of fifty of the Companions.
بأن العاملين في أيام الصبر للواحد منهم أجر خمسين من الصحابةAnd this is a rule that benefits you: that merit is of two types, absolute and restricted. It does not necessitate that the one with restricted merit is more meritorious than the one with absolute merit, and it does not necessitate that the one with absolute merit has no restricted merit.
Therefore, he said: "And we believe that the one who is less meritorious among these may possess a characteristic in which he surpasses the one who is more meritorious, but he does not thereby deserve absolute superiority over the one who is preferred, because the causes of merit are numerous and varied". So a characteristic from among them may be established for one person and not for another.