Allah's right upon His servants is that they should worship Him and associate no partners with Him. And the right of the servants upon Allah is that He should not punish whoever associates no partners with Him
Chapter: To name a horse and a donkey
Authentic
hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari
Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim)Sahih al-Bukhari 2856
I was riding behind the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) on a donkey called ‘Ufayr. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "O Mu‘ādh, do you know what Allah's right upon His servants is, and what the right of His servants upon Him is?" I replied: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "Allah's right upon His servants is that they should worship Him and associate no partners with Him. And the right of the servants upon Allah is that He should not punish whoever associates no partners with Him." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, should I not inform the people of this good news?" He said: "Do not inform them of it, lest they depend on it solely."
Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 2856) and Muslim (No. 30b).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentions the right of Allah upon His servants and the right of His servants upon Him and demonstrates that Allah's right upon His servants is that they should worship Him alone and associate no partners with Him, and that the right of the servants upon Allah is that He should not punish those who believe in His Oneness and associate nothing with Him. Then, Mu‘ādh said: O Messenger of Allah, should I inform the people so that they rejoice at this merit? But the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told him not to inform them, lest they would depend on this matter solely.
Lessons
The Hadīth demonstrates the right of Allah Almighty which He ordained upon His servants: that they should worship Him and associate no partners with Him.
It demonstrates the right of the servants upon Allah Almighty which He ordained upon Himself, out of His grace and bounty: that He should admit them into Paradise and not punish them.
This Hadīth offers great news for those who believe in Allah's Oneness and associate nothing with Him that their destination will be Paradise.
Mu‘ādh related this Hadīth before his death, fearing he might fall into sin for concealing knowledge.
It indicates that some Hadīths should not be related among some people for fear of those of them who cannot understand their meanings, provided that the Hadīths do not pertain to certain Shar‘i acts or legal punishments.
Muslim sinners are subject to Allah's will: if He wills, He may punish them; and if He wills, He may forgive them. Then, they will end up in Paradise.
Explanation in Arabic
يبين النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حق الله على العباد، وحق العباد على الله، وأن حق الله على العباد أن يعبدوه وحده ولا يشركوا به شيئًا،
وأن حق العباد على الله هو أن لا يُعذب الموحدين الذين لا يشركون به شيئًا.
ثم إن معاذا قال: يا رسول الله، ألا أبشر الناس ليفرحوا ويستبشروا بهذا الفضل؟
فنهاه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خشية أن يعتمدوا عليها.
بيان حقّ الله تعالى الذي أوجبه على عباده، وهو أن يعبدوه، ولا يشركوا به شيئًا.
بيان حقّ العباد على الله تعالى الذي أوجبه على نفسه فضلًا منه ونعمةً، وهو أن يدخلهم الجَنَّة، ولا يعذبهم.
فيه بشارة عظيمة للموحّدين الذين لا يشركون بالله تعالى شيئاً بأن مصيرهم دخول الجَنَّة.
حَدَّثَ معاذ بهذا الحديث قبل موته؛ مخافة الوقوع في إثم كتمان العلم.
التنبيه على عدم نشر بعض الأحاديث عند بعض الناس خوفًا على من لم يدرك معناها؛ وذلك فيما ليس تحته عمل ولا فيه حد من حدود الشريعة.
عصاة الموحدين تحت مشيئة الله إن شاء عذّبهم وإن شاء غفر لهم، ثم مصيرهم إلى الجنة.
وعن معاذ بن جبل ، رضي الله عنه ، قال: كنت ردف النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، على حمار فقال: " يا معاذ هل تدري ما حق الله على عباده، وما حق العباد على الله. ؟ قلت: الله ورسوله أعلم. قال:"فإن حق الله على…
AuthenticMuttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim)Mishkat al-Masabih 24
