Sharh Riyad as-Saliheen by Ibn Uthaymeen — Volume 4 (شرح رياض الصالحين) — Page 786

Line-by-line translation · المعاني

شَرْحُ رِيَاضِ الصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ كَلَامِ سَيِّدِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

A commentary on Riyadh as-Salihin, drawn from the words of the Master of the Messengers, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

الْحَالُ الْأُولَى: أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي مَدْحِهِ خَيْرٌ وَتَشْجِيعٌ لَهُ عَلَى الْأَوْصَافِ الْحَمِيدَةِ وَالْأَخْلَاقِ الْفَاضِلَةِ، فَهَذَا لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ تَشْجِيعٌ لِصَاحِبِهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ مِنْ رَجُلٍ الْكَرَمَ وَالشَّجَاعَةَ وَبَذْلَ النَّفْسِ وَالْإِحْسَانَ إِلَى الْغَيْرِ، فَذَكَرْتَهُ بِمَا هُوَ فِيهِ أَمَامَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنْ تُشَجِّعَهُ وَتُثَبِّتَهُ؛ حَتَّى يَسْتَمِرَّ عَلَى مَا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ، فَهَذَا حَسَنٌ وَهُوَ دَاخِلٌ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى﴾.

The first case is when praise contains goodness and encourages someone toward praiseworthy traits and virtuous character. There is no harm in this, as it serves to motivate the person. If you observe a man displaying generosity, courage, self-sacrifice, or kindness, and you commend him for these qualities in his presence to encourage and strengthen him so he remains steadfast, this is good. It falls under the Almighty’s command: 'Cooperate in righteousness and piety.'

الْحَالُ الثَّانِيَةُ: أَنْ تَمْدَحَهُ لِتُبَيِّنَ فَضْلَهُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ، وَيَنْتَشِرَ وَيَحْتَرِمَهُ النَّاسُ، كَمَا فَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَعَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، أَمَّا أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَتَحَدَّثُ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ: «مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ صَائِمًا؟» فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنَا، فَقَالَ: «مَنْ تَبِعَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جِنَازَةً؟» قَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنَا، فَقَالَ: «مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ؟» فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنَا، فَقَالَ: «فَمَنْ مِنْكُمْ عَادَ مَرِيضًا؟» قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنَا، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا اجْتَمَعْنَ فِي امْرِئٍ إِلَّا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ».

The second case is praising someone to highlight their virtues so that others may recognize and respect them, just as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did with Abu Bakr and Umar. One day, the Prophet asked, 'Who among you is fasting today?' Abu Bakr replied, 'I am.' He asked, 'Who among you has followed a funeral procession today?' Abu Bakr said, 'I have.' He asked, 'Who among you has given charity?' Abu Bakr said, 'I have.' He asked, 'Who among you has visited a sick person?' Abu Bakr said, 'I have.' The Prophet then declared, 'These qualities do not combine in a person without him entering Paradise.'

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Vocabulary · المفردات (31 verbs · 46 nouns)

• صَلَّى — to pray
• كَانَ — to be
• رَأَى — to see
• حَالٌ — state
• مَدْحٌ — praise
• خَيْرٌ — good