Mu‘ādh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: 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."
Authentic hadith - Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. This Hadīth offers great news for those who believe in Allah's Oneness and associate nothing with Him that their destination will be Paradise.
  4. Mu‘ādh related this Hadīth before his death, fearing he might fall into sin for concealing knowledge.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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