Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem
Praise be to Allah and may peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In a longer version of this hadeeth, Abu Juhaifa narrated that: “Salman Al Farisi said to Abu Darda; “Your Lord has a right on you; and your soul has a right on you; and your family has a right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who have a right on you.” Later on, Abu Darda visited the Prophet (ﷺ) and mentioned that to him. The Prophet said: “Salman has spoken the truth.” Reported by Al Bukhaari.
We see from this hadeeth that others have rights over us and these should and must be fulfilled. The rights of some *prevail* and are more important than the rights of others.
1- The right of Allah
His rights (azawajal) revolve around Tawheed. Mu’adh bin Jabal narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said: “O Mu’adh, do you know what is the right of Allah upon His servants?” I said: “Allah and His messenger know best.” The Prophet said: “To worship Him alone and to associate none in worship with Him. And do you know what is their right upon Him?” I said: “Allah and His messenger know best.” The Prophet said: “Not to punish them if they do so.” Reported by Al Bukhaari
Allah only wants one thing from His slaves as He said in His speech: “And I (Allah) created not the Jinn and mankind except they should worship Me (alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.” Surah Adh Dhariyaat v.56-58.
This worship also applies to establishing the obligatory prayers. Allah also wants His slaves to pay an amount of their wealth to those who are eligible to receive Zakat. Allah also requires His servants to fast in the lunar month of Ramadhan. He said: “So whoever of you sights the crescent of the month (of Ramadhan), he must fast the month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number of days he misses from other days.” Surah Al Baqara v.185.
Also, they are required to perform Hajj to Makkah once in a lifetime, if they are able to do so. In general, we have the obligation to abide by all of Allah’s orders, and stay away from all He had made forbidden upon us.
Above mentioned are the duties of Allah’s slaves towards Him. They are not difficult to perform and the reward outweighs the requirements by far. Allah said: “And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception.” Surah Aal Imran v.185
2- The rights of the Messenger
Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Utheymin said:
This right is the greatest right of any of the creation. None of the creation have a right greater than the rights of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
It is therefore obligatory to love the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) over and above any of mankind – even above one’s love for himself, his parents and his children. Anas Ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “None of you will truly believe until he loves me more then his parents, his children and the whole of mankind.” Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim
And from the rights that are due to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is that he should be honoured, loved and respected (but without any exaggeration or any falling short in the matter). Honouring the Prophet during his lifetime implied honouring his Sunnah and his noble character and conduct. As for honouring him after his death, then this also implies honouring his Sunnah and the Shari’ah that he was sent with.
Also from the rights that are due to the Prophet is to believe in all that he informed us with regards to the accounts of previous people and nations, to do that which he has commanded us with and leave that which he has prohibited us from, and to have ‘iman (faith) that his guidance and example is the best and most perfect guidance and example, and that the Shari’ah that he was sent with is perfect and complete amd no human laws nor systems are to be given precedence or priority over his Shari’ah.
Allah (The Most High) said: “But no by your Lord! They will not truly be Believers, until they make the Prophet a judge in all their disputes, and then find in their souls no resistance against his decision, but rather accept it with the utmost submission.” Surah An Nisa v.65.
And He also said: “If you do love Allah then follow the Prophet. Allah will then love you and forgive you your sins. Indeed Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.” Surah Aal Imran v.31
And from the rights of the Prophet is to defend his Shari’ah and his guidance with the strength and capacity at one’s disposal, and also in proportion to the attack that it is under. Thus, if the enemies are attacking it with false proofs and doubts, then his guidance and Shari’ah should be defended with sound knowledge which refutes such false arguments and clarifies the doubts. It is not possible for any Believer to hear of some attack upon the Prophet’s Shari’ah or his noble personality, and then to keep silent about it especially when one has the power to counter such an attack.
Among the rights that the Messenger has over us is that we should love him, obey him and send blessings upon him. Loving him is achieved by obeying his commands and believing what he told us, avoiding that which he forbade and not worshipping Allaah except in the ways that he prescribed.
3- The rights of your ownself
The self is made of 3 entities, the soul, the mind and the body and all of them have specific ways of being taken care of.
. The Soul
It’s maintenance and sustenance is through the recitation of the Qur’an and the zikr of Allah. Allah said: “Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” Surah Ar Rad v.28
The soul is also taken care of through avoiding sins and desobediance of Allah. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When the believer commits sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if (the sin) increases, (the black spot) increases. That is the Ran that Allah mentions in His Book: “No! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.” Surah Al Mutaffifeen v.14.
. The Mind
One of the goals of the shari’a is to maintain the mind of the individual. Hence, alcohol is forbidden because it corrupt the mind. Like wise taking drugs and looking at things which corrupt the mind.
. The Body
Our bodies also have rights over us just as the hadeeth of Abu Darda’ and Salman Al Farisi mentionned. From those rights are to feed it correctly (not too less and not too much) and to keep it fit. Also to avoid self harm by smoking, fights, etc as Allah said: “Do not with your own hands throw yourself into ruin” Surah Al Baqara v.195.
4- The rights of the muslims
Allah has prescribed rights which each Muslim has over his fellow Muslim. These include love, sincerity (naseehah), relieving his distress, concealing his mistakes, supporting him when he is on the right, respecting and honouring neighbours.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “The rights of one Muslim over another are five: returning the greeting of salaam, visiting him when he is sick, attending his funeral, accepting his invitations, and saying ‘yarhamuk Allah’ (may Allah have mercy on you) to one who sneezes.” Reported by Al Bukhaari and Muslim.
Other rights could include, offering condolences if calamity befalls him, congratulating him at times of joy, overlooking his mistakes, concealing his faults, bearing his annoyance with patience, giving him gifts, lending him money if he needs it, lowering one’s gaze from looking at his womenfolk, and guiding him to that which will benefit him in his religious and worldly affairs.
Under this category, there is the right of ones family relatives as mentionned in the hadeeth of Abu Darda and Salman Al Faarisi whether they are your parents, your siblings, your spouse or your children.
So, the parents have rights over their children like honouring them. This is achieved by obeying them, respecting them, being humble towards them, treating them kindly, spending on them, praying for them, upholding ties of kinship with those to whom one is related through them, and honouring their friends. Allah said: “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents” Surah Al Israa’ v.23
The wifes have rights over their husbands and vice versa as Allah said: “And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses, etc.) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to what is reasonable” Surah Al Baqara v.228.
Our siblings and children all have rights, that we treat them equally and are just towards them.
5- The rights of the rest of the creation
As for the rest of he creation, from animals to plants and insects, then generally, not harming them or mistreating them, rather feeding them if you are in charge of them, etc. The messenger of Allah ordered us not to cut down trees unnecassarily and not to starve animals.
For the non muslims, the highest right they have over us is the right to receive dawah, to be called and invited to embrace Islam. Also, the rights mentionned about the neighbour applies to them if they are our neighbours. They also have the right not to be transgressed against for no reason. Allah said: “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.” Surah Al Mumtahina v.8
And Allah knows best. And may peace and blessings be upon the messenger of Allah.
Written by slave of his Lord, Abu Adam Nouridine.
Reviewed by Umm Muhammad Rogayatou.
Al Ibaanah TT 