Sharh Riyad as-Saliheen by Ibn Uthaymeen — Volume 4 (شرح رياض الصالحين) — Page 92

Line-by-line translation · المعاني

شَرْحُ رِيَاضِ الصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ كَلَامِ سَيِّدِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُخَفِّفَ الْجُلُوسَ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَّا إِذَا عَلِمَ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ أَنَّهُ يُحِبُّ أَنْ تَبْقَى عِنْدَهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ، وَإِلَّا فَالْأَصْلُ أَلَّا تُطِيلَ الْجُلُوسَ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ؛ لِأَنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ يَكُونُ لَهُمْ شُغْلٌ، وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ أَنْ يَقُولُوا: قُمْ، لَكِنْ مَنْ قَالَ: قُمْ، فَلَا حَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ، حَتَّى إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ لِلْجُلَسَاءِ نَبِيِّهِ الَّذِينَ يَجْلِسُونَ عِنْدَهُ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَنْتَهُوا مِنَ الطَّعَامِ قَالَ لَهُمْ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى: ﴿وَإِنَّ ذَلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِي النَّبِيَّ فَيَسْتَحْيِي مِنْكُمْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ﴾

In this commentary on Riyadh as-Salihin, we learn that one should keep visits brief whenever possible. If you know your host genuinely enjoys your company, there is no harm in staying longer. Otherwise, the general rule is not to overstay your welcome, as people often have tasks to attend to and may feel too embarrassed to ask you to leave. There is no shame in a host asking someone to go. Indeed, Allah the Almighty addressed those who lingered with the Prophet after a meal, saying: 'That annoys the Prophet, and he is shy of you, but Allah is not shy of the truth.'

يَعْنِي: مَعْنَاهُ إِذَا انْتَهَيْتُمْ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَاخْرُجُوا، لَا تَجْلِسُوا، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يُؤْذِي النَّبِيَّ، فَيَسْتَحْيِي مِنْكُمْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ، فَإِذَا قِيلَ: انْشُرُوا فَانْظُرُوا.

This means that once you have finished eating, you should depart rather than sit around, as lingering causes the Prophet discomfort. He is too modest to tell you to leave, but Allah is not shy of the truth. When you are told to disperse, you must do so.

وَمِثْلُ ذَلِكَ أَيْضًا: إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْكَ أَحَدٌ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَفَتَحْتَ لَهُ، وَقُلْتَ: ارْجِعْ، لَيْسَ هُنَاكَ جُلُوسٌ الْآنَ، فَلَا حَرَجَ عَلَيْكَ، كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَإِنْ قِيلَ لَكُمُ ارْجِعُوا فَارْجِعُوا هُوَ أَزْكَى لَكُمْ﴾، بَعْضُ النَّاسِ إِذَا أَرْجَعْتَهُ مِنْ عِنْدِ الْبَابِ يَغْضَبُ، وَاللَّهُ يَقُولُ: هُوَ أَزْكَى لَكُمْ، الْأَفْضَلُ أَنْ تَرْجِعُوا، يُزَكِّيكُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، قَالَ: ﴿يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ﴾، وَلَمْ يُعَيِّنْ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الدَّرَجَاتِ؛ لِأَنَّ هَذِهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ بِحَسَبِ مَا مَعَ الْإِنْسَانِ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَالْعِلْمِ، كُلَّمَا قَوِيَ الْإِيمَانُ وَكُلَّمَا كَثُرَ الْعِلْمُ وَانْتَفَعَ الْإِنْسَانُ بِهِ، وَنَفَعَ غَيْرَهُ كَانَ أَكْثَرَ دَرَجَاتٍ، فَهَلُمَّ فَأَكْثِرْ، قَوِّ إِيمَانَكَ، أَكْثِرْ مِنْ طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى: ﴿يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ﴾، رَفَعَنِي اللَّهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ بِذِكْرِهِ وَأَعَانَنَا عَلَى ذِكْرِهِ وَشُكْرِهِ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِهِ.

Similarly, if someone comes to your door and you ask them to leave because you are not available, there is no blame on you. Allah says: 'If you are told to go back, then go back; it is purer for you.' While some people take offense at being turned away, Allah describes it as purer and better for them, for He purifies those who submit to His guidance. He also says: 'Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.' He did not specify the exact nature of these degrees because they correspond to the depth of one's faith and knowledge. The stronger your faith and the more you apply your knowledge to benefit yourself and others, the higher your station. Strive for this. Strengthen your faith and seek knowledge as much as you can, for Allah promises to elevate those who believe and possess knowledge. May Allah elevate me and you through His remembrance, and may He help us to remember Him, thank Him, and worship Him well.

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Vocabulary · المفردات (31 verbs · 36 nouns)

• خَفَّفَ — to lighten
• اسْتَطَاعَ — to be able
• عَلِمَ — to know
• شَرْح — explanation
• رِيَاض — gardens
• صَالِح — righteous person