Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 169

Helping a Companion

باب إعانة الرفيق

If the last chapter was about mercy to animals, this short chapter turns that same mercy toward people. A travelling group is only as strong as its weakest member, and the believer is taught not to sit on surplus while a companion goes without. The road becomes a place where faith is measured in sharing.

Notice how the Prophet keeps no one behind. Spare mounts and extra provisions are redirected to those who have none, the poor and the kinless are deliberately taken along, and he himself rides at the rear to urge on the weak. The quiet teaching is that genuine companionship carries the people who cannot keep up.

Hadith 969

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن أبي سعيد الخدري، رضي الله عنه، قال‏:‏ بينما نحن في سفر إذ جاء رجل علي راحلة له، فجعل يصرف بصره يميناً وشمالاً، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏من كان معه فضل ظهر؛ فليعد به علي من لا ظهر له، ومن كان له فضل زاد فليعد به علي من لا زاد له‏"‏ فذكر من أصناف المال ما ذكره، حتي رأينا‏:‏ أنه لا حق لأحد منا في فضل‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

While we were travelling with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), a rider came and began to stare on the right and on the left. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who has an extra mount should hand it over to one who has none, and he who possesses surplus provision, should give it to him who is without provision." He named various kinds of possessions until we began to think (realize) that none of us had any right to anything surplus. [Muslim].

In plain words

Seeing a traveller in need, the Prophet directed that anyone with a spare mount or extra provisions give to those who have none, until the Companions felt no one had a right to keep a surplus while others went without.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 969 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 14

Hadith 970

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن جابر رضي الله عنه، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، أنه أراد أن يغزو، فقال‏:‏ يا معشر المهاجرين والأنصار‏!‏ إن من إخوانكم قوماً، ليس لهم مال، ولا عشيرة، فليضم أحدكم إليه الرجلين، أو الثلاثة، فما لأحدنا من ظهر يحمله إلا كعقبة، يعني أحدهم‏.‏ قال‏:‏ فضممت إلي اثنين أو ثلاثة مالي إلا عقبة كعقبة أحدهم من جملي‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود‏)‏‏)‏

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made up his mind to go in an expedition, he would say to us, "O Muhajirin and the Ansar! There are among you such people who have no property and no kinsfolk. Let everyone of you take along with him two or three men. None of us had a spare animal we took rides by turn." So I took two or three men with me and I rode my camel by turn equally with them. [Abu Dawud].

In plain words

Before an expedition the Prophet asked those with means to take along companions who had no property or family, and they shared their mounts by taking turns, so no one was left behind.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 970 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 15

Hadith 971

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعنه قال‏:‏ كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتخلف في المسير، فيزجي الضعيف ويردف ويدعو له، ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود بإسناد حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to lag behind while travelling and urge the weak to walk quickly. He used to take up someone behind him and make supplication for him. [Abu Dawud].

In plain words

The Prophet would travel at the back of the group to urge on the weak, give rides to those who needed them, and pray for them, showing how a leader carries those who cannot keep up.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 971 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 16