Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said, regarding what he quoted from Sahl ibn Sa'd al-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
So these are two men; one is from the nobles of the people, one who has a word among them, one who is answered when he proposes, and one who is listened to when he speaks. The second is the opposite: a man from the weak of the people who has no value. If he proposes, he is not answered; if he intercedes, he is not accepted; and if he speaks, he is not listened to.
So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 6447 For Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not look at nobility, status, lineage, wealth, appearance, clothing, the vehicle one rides, or the house one dwells in, but rather He looks at the heart and the deed. So if the heart is sound in what is between it and Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and it turns to Allah, and it becomes one that remembers Allah the Exalted, fears Him, is humble before Him, and acts in what pleases Allah (Mighty and Majestic), then this is the noble one in the sight of Allah, this is the honored one in His sight, and this is the one whom, if he swore an oath to Allah, He would fulfill.
From this, a great benefit is derived, which is that a man may have a high status in this world, but he has no worth in the sight of Allah. And he may have a low rank in this world and no value in the eyes of people, yet he is better in the sight of Allah than many others. We ask Allah the Exalted to make us and you among the honored ones in His sight, and to grant us and you a high rank with Him, together with the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the righteous.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said, regarding what he quoted from Sahl ibn Sa'd al-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
A man passed by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he said to a man: "What do you say about this man?" He said: "A man from the nobles of the people, likely to be married if he proposes, and his intercession likely to be accepted." Then another man passed by, and he was asked about him, and they said: "This is a man from the weak of the Muslims, likely not to be married if he proposes, his intercession likely not to be accepted, and his words likely not to be listened to."
مرَّ رجل عند رسولِ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال لرجل: ما تقول في هذا ؟ قال: رجل من أشراف الناس، حَريٌ إن خطب أن يُنكح، وإن شفع أن يُشفع، ثم مرَّ رجل آخر، فسأل عنه فقالوا : هذا رجل من ضعفاء المسلمين، حَري إن خطب ألا يُنكح، وإن شفع ألا يشفع، وإن قال ألا يسمع لقولهSo these are two men; one is from the nobles of the people, one who has a word among them, one who is answered when he proposes, and one who is listened to when he speaks. The second is the opposite: a man from the weak of the people who has no value. If he proposes, he is not answered; if he intercedes, he is not accepted; and if he speaks, he is not listened to.
So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
This (poor man) is better than such a large number of the first type (i.e. rich men) as to fill the earth.
هذا خيرٌ من ملء الأرض مثل هذاFrom this, a great benefit is derived, which is that a man may have a high status in this world, but he has no worth in the sight of Allah. And he may have a low rank in this world and no value in the eyes of people, yet he is better in the sight of Allah than many others. We ask Allah the Exalted to make us and you among the honored ones in His sight, and to grant us and you a high rank with Him, together with the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the righteous.