Allah Almighty says: {And Abraham instructed his sons and [so did] Jacob, [saying]: “O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims.” Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons: “What will you worship after me?” They said: “We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac – one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.”} [Al-Baqarah: 132-133]
1) The greatest advice is to urge submission to Allah Almighty inwardly and outwardly, and following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
2) Submission to Allah Almighty with Tawhīd is the advice given by all Prophets to their peoples.
3) Travel is a period during which people will be mostly busy and prone to neglect their duties; so they need advice, encouragement, and support.
712/1 - The Hadīth reported by Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) which we cited in the Chapter on honoring the Prophet’s household. He said: The Messenger of Allah stood to deliver a sermon to us. He praised Allah and gave a reminder and admonition and then said: “Now then! O people, certainly I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Lord and I will respond (to Allah’s call); but I am leaving among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light; so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it.” He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said: “The second are the members of my household; I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my household.” [Narrated by Muslim; and it was cited above in full]
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1) It urges us to hold onto the Book of Allah, for it is the firm rope and the straight path.
2) We are instructed to treat the Prophet’s household well and give due care to everything related to them.
The moderate Ummah, i.e. Ahl al-Sunnah Wa al-Jamā‘ah, observed this Prophetic instruction – praise be to Allah – with regard to his family, revering them and recognizing their merit and ranks. A fair look into history reveals this fact. But if a person looks at this matter with prejudice, the multitude of books will only increase him in confusion and loss.
713/2 - Abu Sulaymān Mālik ibn al-Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We came to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) when we were young men of similar age. We spent twenty nights with him. He was merciful and kind. He thought that we must be missing our families, so he asked us about those of our family we had left behind, and we told him. Thereupon, he said: “Go back to your families and stay with them. Teach them (religion) and command them (to adhere to it); perform so-and-so prayer at so-and-so time, and when prayer becomes due, let one of you call the Adhān and let the oldest among you lead you in prayer.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
A version by Al-Bukhāri has this addition: “and pray as you have seen me pray.”
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1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was the epitome of mercy and kindness. He was the kindest and most merciful among people.
2) A man is required to teach his family what they need, along with disciplining and directing them.
3) Conveyance of the Shariah occupies high status, as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) instructed the youths to teach their families when they return to them.
714/3 - ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) for permission to perform ‘Umrah, and he gave it and said: “Do not forget us, brother, in your supplication.” He said words which I would not exchange for the whole world.
In another version, he said: “Include us, my brother, in your supplication.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as sound and authentic [1]]
1) It is permissible to ask a traveler for supplication, given that this benefits both the supplicant and the one for whom supplication is made.
2) It shows the merit of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in terms of supplication.
715/4 - Sālim ibn ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar reported that ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) used to say to a man setting out to travel: “Come close to me so that I bid you farewell as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to bid us farewell,” and he would say: “Astawdi‘ullah dīnak wa amānatak wa khawātīm ‘amalak (I entrust to Allah your religion, your trust, and your final deeds).” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
716/5 - ‘Abdullāh ibn Yazīd al-Khatmi, a Companion, (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to bid farewell to the army, he would say: “Astawdi‘ullah dīnakum wa amānatakum wa khawātīma ‘amalikum (I entrust to Allah your religion, your trust, and your final deeds).”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and others with an authentic Isnād]
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1) The Companions were keen to follow the Prophet’s example in all their affairs. A person should be careful to adhere to the Prophet’s guidance in terms of knowledge and application, for it is indeed the best guidance.
2) The most precious thing a person possesses in his life and fears it may be lost is the religion. A blissful person would strive to keep and maintain his religion. Indeed, any shortcoming in other areas can be redressed by religion; but a shortcoming in religion cannot be redressed by anything.
3) It is recommended that the Muslim supplicates for his fellow Muslim in all his affairs, including wishing for him a good ending of life.
4) It is recommended to say farewell to travelers and supplicate for them, as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to do.
717/6 - Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I intend to go on a journey; so give me provision.” He said: “May Allah grant you piety as your provision.” He said: “Give me more.” He said: “And may He forgive your sin.” He said: “Give me more.” He said: “And may He make goodness easy for you wherever you are.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as sound]
1) The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were keen to make the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) supplicate for them in both their travel and their stay.
2) The best advice a person can give to others is fear of Allah, for it is the provision of the soul and the ultimate attainment in the worldly life and the Hereafter.
3) It is recommended to seek more goodness by asking righteous people for supplication.
Asking others for supplication falls under different categories:
First: When a person asks for supplication for the welfare of Muslims in general. This is recommended, for it aims at the public interest.
Second: When a person asks someone righteous to supplicate for him, seeking to benefit the supplicant himself, because when a Muslim supplicates for a fellow Muslim in absentia, the angel in charge of this responds to him saying: “And you shall have the same”, as authentically reported from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). This type is also commendable.
Third: When a person asks for supplication only to personally benefit therefrom without considering the benefit for the supplicant. Some scholars regarded this type as permissible, while others said it is not recommended, as it falls under the detestable asking. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) took the pledge of allegiance from his Companions that “they should not ask anything of people”, a general rule applying to any request. So, it is more appropriate to give up this type of supplication request. And Allah knows best.