Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The chapter on being gentle with orphans, the weak, and daughters, and the like of them who are the objects of compassion and mercy". This is because the religion of Islam is a religion of mercy, affection, and kindness. Allah the Mighty and Majestic has urged kindness in several verses of His Book, and He the Exalted and Exalted has made it clear that He loves those who do good. Those who are in need of kindness are the ones for whom kindness is more excellent and more complete, and among them are orphans.
An orphan is: "the young child whose father died before he reached puberty, whether male or female". The death of the mother is not considered, meaning that an orphan is the young child whose father died before he reached puberty, even if he has a mother. As for the one whose mother died and whose father is alive, he is not an orphan, contrary to what the common people understand, as they think that an orphan is the one whose mother died, but that is not the case; rather, an orphan is the one whose father died.
He is called an orphan (yateem) because of his orphanhood (yatim), and orphanhood is being alone, because this young child is left alone from a provider while he is too young to earn a living. Allah the Exalted and Exalted has enjoined kindness to orphans in several verses and has established a special right for them, because the orphan's heart is broken by the death of his father, so he is a place for affection and mercy. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:[An-Nisa 4:9],
Likewise, daughters and women are places for affection, compassion, and mercy, because they are weak. Weak in intellect, in resolve, and in everything. Men are stronger than women in bodies, intellects, thoughts, resolve, and so on. For this reason, Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
[An-Nisa 4:34] .
Also, the brokenhearted, meaning those who have been struck by something that broke them, and it is not the breaking of a bone, but the breaking of the heart. For example, a calamity swept away his wealth, his family died, a friend of his died, his heart was broken. The important thing is that the brokenhearted should be treated with gentleness. For this reason, condolence is prescribed for one who has lost a relative when he is struck by his death. He is consoled and treated gently, and it is made clear to him that this is a decree from Allah, and that when Allah the Exalted and Exalted decrees a matter, He only says to it "Be," and it is, and the like of that. Likewise, one should lower his wing to them, be soft-sided. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Hijr 15:88] And He said: : meaning, even if your self becomes arrogant and rises in the air as a bird rises, lower your wing. Even if you have wealth and status and authority that make you look down on creation, and you fly as a bird flies in the sky, lower your wing, lower your wing until they are above you. [Ash-Shu'ara 26:215]: And this is a command to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is a command to the entire Ummah.
It is obligatory for a person to be soft-sided to his believing brothers, and it is also obligatory for him that whenever he sees a person who follows the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) more, he should lower his wing to him more, because the one who follows the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is worthy of being humble to, of being honored, and of being respected. Not because he is so-and-so the son of so-and-so, but because he followed the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Everyone who follows the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is our beloved, our brother, our friend, and our companion. And everyone who is further from following the Messenger, we distance ourselves from him by the amount of his distance from following the Messenger. Thus, the believer must be one who lowers his wing to everyone who follows the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).[Ash-Shu'ara 26:215].
And Allah the Exalted said to His Messenger:[Al-Kahf 18:28]: Be patient with your self: restrain it with these noble, generous, and honorable people, who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening: meaning in the morning and in the evening, without showing off or seeking reputation, but they seek His Face. They seek the Face of Allah the Mighty and Majestic in their supplication to Him, their worship of Him, their remembrance of Him, and their glorification of Him.
[Al-Kahf 18:28] Meaning, do not turn away from them. Let your eyes always see them among them. Do not let your eyes pass over them: meaning, do not let your eyes go beyond them seeking the adornment of this worldly life.
For example: if there are two men, one of whom is devoted to the obedience of Allah, calling upon his Lord in the morning and the evening, establishing the prayer, giving zakah, fasting, and being kind to people, and the other is a great rich man with wealth, palaces, cars, and servants, which of them is more deserving that we be patient with him?
The student: The first.
The Shaykh : The first one. The first one is more deserving that we be patient with him, that we sit with him, that we mix with him, and that we do not pass over him seeking the adornment of this worldly life.
Life as a whole is nothing, it is all nothing, a fleeting display. And the pleasure or joy in it is surrounded by sorrows and distress. There is no joy in this world but that it is followed by the sorrow of grief. I think Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "No house is filled with joy but that it is filled with sorrow and grief", and he spoke the truth (may Allah be pleased with him). If nothing else, they will die one after another, and whenever one dies, they grieve for him, so these joys and pleasures turn into sorrows and griefs. So the whole of this world is nothing.
So do not let your eyes pass over them seeking the adornment of this worldly life, but be with them and be a supporter of them. And do not be concerned with what We have given anyone of the worldly life. And this is like His saying, the Mighty and Majestic:[Taha 20:131]: a trial, [Taha 20:131-132]. I ask Allah to make the outcome good for me and for you, and to make the outcome for us and our Muslim brothers good.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The chapter on being gentle with orphans, the weak, and daughters, and the like of them who are the objects of compassion and mercy". This is because the religion of Islam is a religion of mercy, affection, and kindness. Allah the Mighty and Majestic has urged kindness in several verses of His Book, and He the Exalted and Exalted has made it clear that He loves those who do good. Those who are in need of kindness are the ones for whom kindness is more excellent and more complete, and among them are orphans.
An orphan is: "the young child whose father died before he reached puberty, whether male or female". The death of the mother is not considered, meaning that an orphan is the young child whose father died before he reached puberty, even if he has a mother. As for the one whose mother died and whose father is alive, he is not an orphan, contrary to what the common people understand, as they think that an orphan is the one whose mother died, but that is not the case; rather, an orphan is the one whose father died.
He is called an orphan (yateem) because of his orphanhood (yatim), and orphanhood is being alone, because this young child is left alone from a provider while he is too young to earn a living. Allah the Exalted and Exalted has enjoined kindness to orphans in several verses and has established a special right for them, because the orphan's heart is broken by the death of his father, so he is a place for affection and mercy. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.
وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعَافاً خَافُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا قَوْلاً سَدِيداًLikewise, daughters and women are places for affection, compassion, and mercy, because they are weak. Weak in intellect, in resolve, and in everything. Men are stronger than women in bodies, intellects, thoughts, resolve, and so on. For this reason, Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other
الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍAlso, the brokenhearted, meaning those who have been struck by something that broke them, and it is not the breaking of a bone, but the breaking of the heart. For example, a calamity swept away his wealth, his family died, a friend of his died, his heart was broken. The important thing is that the brokenhearted should be treated with gentleness. For this reason, condolence is prescribed for one who has lost a relative when he is struck by his death. He is consoled and treated gently, and it is made clear to him that this is a decree from Allah, and that when Allah the Exalted and Exalted decrees a matter, He only says to it "Be," and it is, and the like of that. Likewise, one should lower his wing to them, be soft-sided. Allah the Exalted said:
And lower your wing to the believers
وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَAnd lower your wing.
وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَto those who follow you of the believers.
لِمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَIt is obligatory for a person to be soft-sided to his believing brothers, and it is also obligatory for him that whenever he sees a person who follows the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) more, he should lower his wing to him more, because the one who follows the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is worthy of being humble to, of being honored, and of being respected. Not because he is so-and-so the son of so-and-so, but because he followed the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Everyone who follows the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is our beloved, our brother, our friend, and our companion. And everyone who is further from following the Messenger, we distance ourselves from him by the amount of his distance from following the Messenger. Thus, the believer must be one who lowers his wing to everyone who follows the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
And lower your wing to those who follow you of the believers.
اخفض جناحك لمن اتبعك من المؤمنينAnd Allah the Exalted said to His Messenger:
And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life
وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَاAnd let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life
وَلا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَاFor example: if there are two men, one of whom is devoted to the obedience of Allah, calling upon his Lord in the morning and the evening, establishing the prayer, giving zakah, fasting, and being kind to people, and the other is a great rich man with wealth, palaces, cars, and servants, which of them is more deserving that we be patient with him?
The student: The first.
The Shaykh : The first one. The first one is more deserving that we be patient with him, that we sit with him, that we mix with him, and that we do not pass over him seeking the adornment of this worldly life.
Life as a whole is nothing, it is all nothing, a fleeting display. And the pleasure or joy in it is surrounded by sorrows and distress. There is no joy in this world but that it is followed by the sorrow of grief. I think Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "No house is filled with joy but that it is filled with sorrow and grief", and he spoke the truth (may Allah be pleased with him). If nothing else, they will die one after another, and whenever one dies, they grieve for him, so these joys and pleasures turn into sorrows and griefs. So the whole of this world is nothing.
So do not let your eyes pass over them seeking the adornment of this worldly life, but be with them and be a supporter of them. And do not be concerned with what We have given anyone of the worldly life. And this is like His saying, the Mighty and Majestic: