Then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned hadiths regarding the virtue of jihad and ribat in the path of Allah.

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The Shaykh : Then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned hadiths regarding the virtue of jihad and ribat in the path of Allah, and that a morning or an evening in the path of Allah, or a morning and an evening in ribat, is better than the world and all that it contains. This is a great virtue, better than the entire world from its beginning to its end and all that is in it. It is not just better than the world you are currently living in, but better than the world and all that is in it, from the time the world began, a time known only to Allah, to the time it ends, a time no one knows. All of this is better than the world and all that is in it. He said:

And the space occupied by the whip of one of you in Paradise is better than the world and what is on it.

وموضع سوط أحدكم في الجنة خير من الدنيا وما فيها

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1664Sahih (Darussalam)

In these hadiths, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked which men are the best? He clarified that it is the man who strives in the path of Allah with his wealth and his self. Then who? He said:

a man who is engaged in worshipping his Rubb in a mountain valley, leaving the people secure from his mischief

ورجل مؤمن في شعب من الشعاب يعبد الله ويدع الناس من شره

Riyad as-Salihin 1289

Meaning: that he is engaged in the worship of Allah, is self-sufficient regarding people, and does not want people to suffer any evil from him. This is one of the evidences indicating that seclusion is better than mixing with people. However, the correct view in this matter is that there is a distinction: for the one who fears for his religion due to mixing with people, seclusion is better for him; and for the one who does not fear, it is better to mix with people, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience will have a greater reward than the believer who does not mix with people and does not put up with their annoyance.

المؤمن الذي يخالط الناس ويصبر على أذاهم خير من المؤمن الذي لا يخالط الناس ولا يصبر على أذاهم

Sunan Ibn Majah 4032Sahih (Darussalam)

So, for example, if times become corrupt and you see that your mixing with people only increases your evil and distance from Allah, then you should be alone and withdraw. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:

There will come a time when the best property of a man will be sheep which he will graze on the tops of mountains and the places where rain falls

يوشك أن يكون خير مال الرجل غنمًا يتبع بها شعف الجبال ومراتع القطر

Sahih al-Bukhari 3300

So the matter varies. Seclusion in times of fitnah, evil, and fear of sins is better than mixing. But if that is not the case, then mix with people, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, be patient with their harm, and associate with them. Perhaps Allah will benefit one man through you, which is better for you than red camels if Allah guides him through your hands. And success is from Allah.

Source alathar.net

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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