Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : As for the second hadith, the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), it is a great hadith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in it:
Faith varies and differs in degree, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Muddaththir 74:31]. People are not equal in faith. Some people believe in the unseen as if they are seeing it with their own eyes; they believe in the Day of Resurrection as if they are currently in those vast plains; they believe in Paradise as if it is in those gardens; they believe in the Fire as if they are seeing it with their own eyes; they believe with a true, settled faith.
And some people have a wavering faith. We ask Allah for well-being and that He strengthen our faith and your faith.
Some people worship Allah on the edge of a cliff: meaning on the brink of[Al-Hajj 22:11]: meaning, if he does not face anyone who doubts him in the religion, and if he only faces righteous people who support him, he is reassured by it.
[Al-Hajj 22:11]: If he is struck by a trial in his body, his wealth, or his family, he turns on his face, objects to the divine decree and destiny, and becomes dissatisfied, and he perishes, may Allah protect us from that, [Al-Hajj 22:11].
Sunan Abi Dawud 4682Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani): In this is a great encouragement to have good character, good character with Allah, and good character with people. As for good character with Allah: it is that a person be pleased with His legislation and submit to it willingly, with peace of mind and joy, whether it is a command he is ordered to do or a prohibition he is forbidden from.
And that a person be pleased with the decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and that what Allah has decreed for him that he dislikes be like what Allah has decreed for him that he likes. He should say: "O my Lord, everything is from You. So I am pleased with You as my Lord. If You give me what pleases me, I will be grateful, and if I am struck by what displeases me, I will be patient." Thus, he is pleased with Allah in His decree and destiny, and in His command and legislation. This is good character with Allah.
As for with people, it is obvious: restraining harm and bestowing generosity, and being patient with them and their harm. This is good character with people: you treat them with this treatment, you restrain your harm from them, and you bestow your generosity. Generosity means giving, whether it is wealth, status, or otherwise. And you are patient with the affliction from them. If you are like that, you are the most complete of people in faith.
Then he said:: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1977Hasan (Darussalam): This is the best of people, the best of you to your family. Because if there is good in you, you place it with the people closest to you, which is the opposite of what some people do today. You find them bad in character with their families, but good in character with others. This is a mistake. Your family are more deserving of your good character, and you should be best in character with them, because they are the ones with you night and day, in secret and in public. If something befalls you, they are affected with you; if you are pleased, they are pleased with you; if you are sad, they are sad with you. So let your treatment of them be better than your treatment of strangers. The best of people are those who are best to their families.
I ask Allah the Exalted to complete faith for me and for you, and to make us the best of Allah's servants to our families and to those who have a right over us.
The most complete of the believers in faith is the one who is best in character
أكمل الناس إيماناً أحسنهم خلقاًFaith varies and differs in degree, as Allah the Exalted said:
and those who have believed will increase in faith
وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيمَاناًAnd some people have a wavering faith. We ask Allah for well-being and that He strengthen our faith and your faith.
Some people worship Allah on the edge of a cliff: meaning on the brink of
If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it
فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطمأن بهbut if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter
وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انْقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةHe has lost [this] world and the Hereafter
خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَThe most perfect believer in respect of faith is he who is best of them in manners.
فأكمل المؤمنين إيماناً أحسنهم خُلقاًAnd that a person be pleased with the decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and that what Allah has decreed for him that he dislikes be like what Allah has decreed for him that he likes. He should say: "O my Lord, everything is from You. So I am pleased with You as my Lord. If You give me what pleases me, I will be grateful, and if I am struck by what displeases me, I will be patient." Thus, he is pleased with Allah in His decree and destiny, and in His command and legislation. This is good character with Allah.
As for with people, it is obvious: restraining harm and bestowing generosity, and being patient with them and their harm. This is good character with people: you treat them with this treatment, you restrain your harm from them, and you bestow your generosity. Generosity means giving, whether it is wealth, status, or otherwise. And you are patient with the affliction from them. If you are like that, you are the most complete of people in faith.
Then he said:
and the best of you are those who are best to their families
وخيركم خيركم لأهلهThe best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives.
خيركم خيركم لأهله، وأنا خيركم لأهلهI ask Allah the Exalted to complete faith for me and for you, and to make us the best of Allah's servants to our families and to those who have a right over us.