عَنْ اَبِى مَسْعُودٍ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَمْرٍ اْلأَنْصَارِىِّ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : مَنْ دَلَّ عَلَى خَيْرٍ فَلَهُ مِثْلُ اَجْرِ فَاعِلِهِ.

Abu Mas’ud Ukbah b. ‘Amr Al-Ansari (R) reported: Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever guides someone to virtue (good deed), will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action”

* * *

GUIDING PEOPLE TO RIGHT OR WRONG

The statement quoted in this hadith was made by the Prophet (PBUH) when, someone requested from him an animal for riding. The Prophet (S) replied that he did not have any. A man who was present there said that he could show him the man who could be of assistance. This is how the Prophet (S) revealed the reward of directing people to good deeds, which is mentioned in this Hadith.

* * *

In another narration which is coming from Abu Hurairah (R), Messenger of Allah (SAW) detailed the Hadith:

مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ اْلاَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ لاَ يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا وَمَنْ دَعَا إِلَى ضَلاَلَةٍ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اْلاِثْمِ مِثْلُ آثَامِ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ لاَ يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ آثَامِهِمْ شَيْئًا 

“If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in any respect. And if anyone invites others to follow error, the sin, will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect.

So, when one calls someone else to do something, he should pay his attention whether it is approved by the Law of Shariah. In another words, when you call someone to do a good action, then you will get a reward which is equivalent to those who practice that good action even if you do not practice that action. However it is because you guided people to this action while the rewards of those who practice well, their rewards will never decrease. For Allah (SWT) gives you extra rewards from His own treasure. And Allah’s treasures never come to an end!

* * *

The same is the case with guiding people to wrong. Ibn Mas’ud (R) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said:

لَيْسَ مِنْ نَفْسٍ تُقْتَلُ ظُلْمًا اِلاَّ كَانَ عَلَى ابْنِ آدَمَ اْلاَوَّلِ كِفْلٌ مِنْ دِمَائِهَا، لأَِنَّهُ كَانَ اَوَّلَ مَنْ سَنَّ الْقَتْلَ .

“The first son of Adam takes a share of the guilt of every one who murders another wrongfully (till the Day of Resurrection). Because he was the first initiator of committing murder…”

This hadith gives us an idea how serious the crimes for initiating an evil act which is followed by others. One who initiates an evil act would be sinful and responsible for all those who follow him in that crime till the day of Resurrection.

So, we have to stay away from doing any wrong. Because someone else may follow that wrong and the people who take on our wrong examples will continue to earn us sins until the day of Resurrection. Therefore our sins may be as much as the oceans!

May Allah protect us from doing such evil acts.

Muslim, Imarah 133. Tirmidhi, ‘Ilim 14

Muslim, ‘Ilim 16. Abu Dawud, Sunnah 6

Al-Bukhari, Anbiya 1. Muslim, Qasamah 27