باب تكبير المسافر إذا صعد الثنايا وشبهها وتسبيحه إذا هبط الأودية ونحوها والنهي عن المبالغة برفع الصوت بالتكبير ونحوه
Mountains rise and valleys fall, and this chapter teaches the traveller to let the very shape of the land shape his remembrance. Climbing upward he says Allahu Akbar, descending he says Subhan Allah, so that every change in the road becomes a turn of the heart back to God.
There is a beautiful balance here. Greatness, takbir, on the heights, and declaring God free of imperfection, tasbih, in the lows. Yet the closing hadith adds a gentle correction, do not strain your voices, for the One you call is not deaf or distant. The lesson is that remembrance is sincere and measured, not loud display, because Allah is near and ever-hearing.
Hadith 975
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن جابر رضي الله عنه قال: كنا إذا صعدنا كبرنا، وإذا نزلنا سبحنا. ((رواه البخاري)).
When we ascended (a height) we would proclaim: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)," and when we descended (from the height) we would proclaim: "Subhan Allah (Allah is free from imperfection)."' [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
On a journey the Companions would say Allahu Akbar when climbing to a height and Subhan Allah when going down, letting the rise and fall of the land turn their hearts to Allah.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 975 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 20
Hadith 976
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وجيوشه إذا علو الثنايا كبروا، وإذا هبطوا سبحوا. ((رواه أبو داود بإسناد صحيح.
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) and his army ascended a height, they would proclaim: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)," and when they climbed down, they would proclaim: "Subhan Allah (Allah is free from imperfection)." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
The Prophet and his army would proclaim Allah's greatness going up and declare Him free of imperfection coming down, a shared rhythm of remembrance on the road.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 976 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 21
Hadith 977
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعنه قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قفل من الحج أو العمرة كلما أوفى علي ثنيه أو فدفد كبر ثلاثاً، ثم قال: " لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو علي كل شئ قدير آيبون تائبون عابدون ساجدون لربنا حامدون. صدق الله وعده، ونصر عبده، وهزم الأحزاب وحده" ((متفق عليه)) وفي رواية لمسلم: إذا قفل من الجيوش أو السرايا أو الحج أو العمرة قوله: أوفى أي: ارتفع، وقوله: فدفد هو بفتح الفاءين بينهما دال مهملة ساكنة وآخره دال أخرى وهو : الغليظ المرتفع من الأرض.
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) returned from Hajj or 'Umrah and ascended a height or hill, he would recite thrice: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)." Then he would say, "La ilaha ill-allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul- mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay'in Qadeer. Ayibuna ta'ibuna 'abiduna li-Rabbina hamidun. Sadaq-Allahu wa'dahu, wa nasara 'abdahu, wa hazamal-ahzaba wahdahu [None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, Who has no partner, to Whom the sovereignty belongs, to Whom all praise is due, and Who is Able to do all things. We are those who return (in safety), feel penitence, worship Allah, prostrate before our Rubb and praise Him. Allah has fulfilled His Promise, helped His slave (i.e., Muhammad (ﷺ)) and He Alone vanquished the Clans]." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Returning from Hajj or Umrah and reaching high ground, the Prophet affirmed Allah's oneness and praise, declared himself returning, repenting, and worshipping, and acknowledged that Allah keeps His promise and helps His servant.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 977 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 22
Hadith 978
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رجلاً قال: يا رسول الله ، إني أريد أن أسافر فأوصني، قال: "عليك بتقوى الله، والتكبيرعلي كل شرف" فلما ولى الرجل قال: " اللهم اطو له البعد، وهون عليه السفر” ((رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن)).
A man said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I intend to set out on a journey, so counsel me." He (ﷺ) said, "Fear Allah, and ascending towards the raised ground, you should recite: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)." When the man turned away, he (ﷺ) said, "O Allah! Shorten the distance for him and make the journey easy for him." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
When a man asked for counsel before travelling, the Prophet told him to fear Allah and proclaim His greatness at each rise, then prayed that Allah shorten the distance and ease the journey for him.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 978 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 23
Hadith 979
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي موسي الأشعري رضي الله عنه قال: كنا مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفر، فكنا إذا أشرفنا على واد هللنا وكبرنا وارتفعت أصواتنا، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم :”يا أيها الناس أربعوا عل أنفسكم فإنكم لا تدعون أصم ولا غائباً. إنه معكم ، إنه سميع قريب" ((متفق عليه)) أربعوا” بفتح الباء الموحدة أي : أرفقوا بأنفسكم.
We accompanied the Prophet (ﷺ) in a journey, and when we climbed up a height, we proclaimed aloud: "La ilaha illallah (There is no true god except Allah)" and "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)." The Prophet (ﷺ) admonished us saying, "O people, take it easy. He Whom you are calling is not deaf or absent. He is with you (i.e., by His Knowledge), He is Hearing and He is Near." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
When the Companions raised their voices loudly in remembrance on a height, the Prophet gently corrected them, reminding them that the One they call is not deaf or far but near, hearing, and with them.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 979 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 24