

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, Most Merciful,

An explanation of the hadith "Whoever directs someone to a good, then he will have the
reward equal to the doer of the action" by Ash-Sheikh Abdullah ibn 'Abdur Rahman al-
Bassaam -may Allah have mercy upon him- [Source below]:

On the authority of Abi Mas'ood 'Uqbah bin 'Amr al-Ansaaree al-Badaree -may Allah be
pleased with him- said: The Messenger of Allah -sallahu 'alayhi wasallam- said:
"Whoever directs someone to a good, then he will have the reward equal to the doer of
the action." Muslim (1893)

Ash-Sheikh 'Abdullah bin 'Abdur Rahman Al-Bassaam -may Allah have mercy upon him-
says: That which is extracted from this hadeeth is:

1- That the Believer is one who is a (good) example and a leader in doing righteousness
and performing goodness, the Most High says: [And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow
upon us from our wives and our offspring that which is pleasing to the eyes, and make
us leaders for the Muttaqoon."] (25:74) And the Most High says: [And We made them
leaders guiding (mankind) by Our command....] (21:73)

And it comes in Muslim (1017) from the hadeeth of Jarir bin 'Abdillah -may Allah be
pleased with him- that the Prophet -sallahu 'alayhi wasallam-said: "Whoever introduces
a good practice in Islam which is followed after him (by the people) he will have the
reward like the one who has done it, without their rewards being diminished in the least.
"{1}
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2- This hadeeth indicates that the person who directs someone to a good whether it is
pertaining to the good of the Worldly Life or the Hereafter, he will have a similar reward
like the one who performed it without their being any decrease from the reward of the
doer of that action (i.e. the one who is actually carrying it out). Rather it is a (complete)
reward (for the indicator of the action) because of him being a good role model and
exemplar in performing uprightness.

3- From the most excellent of righteous actions that are considered to be of benefit (to
the people) and the fruits of those actions lasting and remaining: Beneficial Knowledge;
which is (knowledge) of the legislation of Allah the Most High from its fundelmentals
and subdivisions and whatever assists one in attaining understanding of it (i.e. the
legislation of Allah).

So whoever disseminates this knowledge then he has earnestly participated in being a

good example, and a guide towards the straight path and he has removed the people -
by the permission of Allah the Most High- from the darkness of ignorance to the light of
knowledge, right guidance and integrity of conduct.

And he has attained by this a mighty reward from Allah the Most High -provided that his
intention is correct-, for indeed he -sallahu 'alayhi wasallam- has said: Verily, if Allah
guides by way of you one man it is better for you than the red camels. Bukhaari (3009)
and Muslim (2406)

Taken from the book "Towdeeh al-Ahkaam min Bulooghil Maraam" by Ash-Sheikh
'Abdullah bin 'Abdur Rahman Al-Bassaam -Allah's mercy be upon him-.

{1}: Compilers note: Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Al-'Uthaymeen mentions in his explanation

of this hadeeth as it comes in Riyaad as-Saaliheen: "The intent by 'introduces a good
practice in Islaam' refers to the one who begins by acting upon a sunnah that has been
forsaken and not the one who actually invents something into the religion of al-Islaam.
Because the one who invents something into the religion that is not from it then it is
rejected and it is in no way regarded as something good. However the intent by
'introducing something' means: He becomes the first to do it after it has been left off
and abandoned by the people.

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So breifly, whoever introduces into Islaam a good practice -be it the revitalization of an
abandoned sunnah or just good practices in Islaam-, and there is no such thing as a
good practice in Islaam except that which the legislation has come with, then he will
have the reward of it and the reward of the one who does it after him."

Translated and Compiled by: Abu Fouzaan Qaasim

© 2010 Maktabah-alFawaaid publications