This short chapter urges us to deepen our good works as life draws toward its close, especially once age and the signs of an ending appear. It opens with the warning that a person who reaches sixty has been left without excuse, and centres on Surat An-Nasr, the chapter that quietly announced to the Prophet that his mission was complete and his return to Allah was near.
Notice what the approach of the end calls for here: not despair, but more glorification, more seeking of forgiveness, and more turning back to Allah. The Prophet, whose past was already forgiven, increased these very acts as the sign drew near, teaching that the final stretch of life is a time to intensify devotion, not to coast on the past.
Hadith 112
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وأما الأحاديث فالأول: عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " أعذر الله إلى امرئ أخر أجله حتى بلغ ستين سنة" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah excuses and grants forgiveness to a person until he attains the age of sixty years". [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
Allah gives a person ample time and excuse to turn back to Him, here described as up to the age of sixty. It is a reminder not to keep delaying repentance, since the chances given will not last forever.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 112 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 112
Hadith 113
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
الثاني: عن ابن عباس، رضي الله عنهما، قال: كان عمر رضي الله عنه يدخلني مع أشياخ بدر، فكأن بعضهم وجد في نفسه فقال: لم يدخل هذا معنا ولنا أبناء مثله!؟ فقال عمر: إنه من حيث علمتم! فدعاني ذات يوم فأدخلني معهم، فما رأيت أنه دعانى يومئذ إلا ليريهم قال: ما تقولون في قول الله تعالى: {إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح؟) ((النصر:1)) فقال بعضهم: أمرنا نحمد الله ونستغفره إذا نصرنا وفتح علينا. وسكت بعضهم فلم يقل شيئاً. فقال لي: أكذلك تقول يا ابن عباس؟ فقلت: لا. قال فما تقول؟ قلت: هو أجل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، أعلمه له قال: {إذاجاء نصر الله والفتح} وذلك علامة أجلك {فسبح بحمد ربك واستغفره إنه كان تواباً} ((الفتح: 3)) فقال عمر رضي الله عنه: ما أعلم منها إلا ما تقول. ((رواه البخاري)).
'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) used to make me sit with the noble elderly men who had participated in the battle of Badr. Some of them disliked it and said to 'Umar: "Why do you bring in this boy to sit with us when we have sons like him?" 'Umar replied: "Because of the status he has, which you already know about (i.e., belongs to the source of knowledge and the house of the Prophet (ﷺ))." One day, 'Umar called me and seated me in the gathering of those people; and I think that he called me just to show them (of my religious knowledge). 'Umar then questioned them (in my presence). "How do you interpret the ayah of Allah: 'When there comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad (ﷺ) against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah)."' Someone said that when Allah's Help and the Conquest (of Makkah) came to us, we were called upon to celebrate the Praise of Allah and ask for His forgiveness. Some others remained silent and did not utter a word. Thereupon 'Umar asked me: "Ibn 'Abbas! Do you say the same." I replied: "No". He said: "What do you say then?" I replied: "That is the sign of the Prophet's death about which he had been informed. Allah, the Exalted, says: 'When there comes the help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad (ﷺ) against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah)'. So declare the remoteness of your Rubb from every imperfection, and ask for His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives". On that 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "I do not know anything about it other than what you have said". [Al- Bukhari]
In plain words
Young Ibn Abbas read the chapter about Allah's help and victory as a quiet sign that the Prophet's mission was complete and his passing near, while elders missed it. It shows that the approach of an ending calls for praising Allah and seeking His forgiveness.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 113 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 113
Hadith 114
' Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
الثالث: عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: ما صلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صلاة بعد أن نزلت عليه { إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح} إلا يقول فيها: " سبحانك ربنا وبحمدك، اللهم اغفر لي" ((متفق عليه)). وفي رواية في الصحيحين" عنها: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يكثر أن يقول في ركوعه وسجوده: "سبحانك اللهم ربنا وبحمدك، اللهم اغفر لي" يتأول القرآن. وفي رواية لمسلم: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يكثر أن يقول قبل أن يموت: "سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك، أستغفرك وأتوب إليك". قالت عائشة: قلت: يا رسول الله ما هذه الكلمات التي أراك أحدثتها تقولها؟ قال: "جعلت لي علامة في أمتي إذا رأيتها قلتها {إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح} إلى آخر السورة". وفي رواية له: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يكثر من قول: "سبحان الله وبحمده، أستغفر الله وأتوب إليه". قالت: قلت: يا رسول الله! أراك تكثر من قول: سبحان الله وبحمده، أستغفر الله وأتوب إليه؟ فقال: "أخبرني ربي أني سأرى علامة في أمتي فإذا رأيتها أكثرت من قول: سبحان الله وبحمده، أستغفر الله وأتوب إليه، فقد رأيتها: {إذا جاء نصر الله والفتح} فتح مكة، {ورأيت الناس يدخلون في دين الله أفواجاً، فسبح بحمد ربك واستغفره إنه كان تواباً}.
After the revelation of (the Surah) "When the Help of Allah comes (to you, O Muhammad (ﷺ) against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah)" (110:), Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in every prayer: "Subhanaka Rabbana wa bihamdika, Allahum-maghfir li (Far removed You are from every imperfection, our Rubb, and all praise is for You, forgive me, O Allah)". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited frequently in bowing and prostration: "Subhanaka Rabbana wa bihamdika, Allahum-maghfir li. (Far removed You are from every imperfection, our Rubb, and all praise is for You, forgive me, O Allah)". He elucidated that it has been commanded in the Noble Qur'an to recite: "So glorify the Praises of your Rubb, and ask for His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives". (V.110:) And he (the Messenger of Allah) acted upon it. According to the narration in Muslim, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) frequently recited these words just before he passed away: "Subhanaka Rabbana wa bihamdika. Astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaika." I ('Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) asked him: "O Messenger of Allah! What are these new words which I hear from you repeatedly." He replied, "A sign has been appointed for me relating to my people that I should repeat these words at the sight of that sign". Then he recited Surat An-Nasr. Another narration in Muslim related from 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) often recited, "Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him; I seek forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance." I said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, I hear you recite frequently: 'O Allah, You are free from every imperfection our Rubb and all praise is for You; I seek forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance."' He replied, "My Rubb has informed me that I would soon see a sign regarding my people, whenever I see it, I repeat this statement more often (of His Glorification and Praise and beg pardon of Him and turn to Him). Now I have witnessed the sign. The revelation of Surat An-Nasr and the victory is the conquest of Makkah." "When there comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad (ﷺ) against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah). And you see that the people enter Allah's religion (Islam) in crowds. So glorify the Praises of your Rubb, and ask His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives." (110:-)
In plain words
After the verse about Allah's help and the conquest came, the Prophet constantly glorified Allah and begged His forgiveness, recognizing the sign of his coming death. It teaches that as life nears its close, one should increase praise and repentance.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 114 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 114
Hadith 115
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
الرابع؛: عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: إن الله عز وجل تابع الوحي على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قبل وفاته، حتى توفي أكثر ما كان الوحي". ((متفق عليه)).
Allah the Rubb of honour and glory sent Revelation to His Messenger (ﷺ) more frequently before his death than at any other time. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Revelation came to the Prophet most frequently near the end of his life. The nearness of an ending was matched by a deepening of guidance and connection with Allah.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 115 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 115
Hadith 116
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
الخامس: عن جابر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "يبعث كل عبد على ما مات عليه" . ((رواه مسلم)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Every one will be raised in the condition in which he dies". [Muslim].
In plain words
A person will be raised on the Day of Resurrection in the state they died in. This urges us to keep ourselves in good condition, since we may meet death at any moment.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 116 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 116