Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #110

Removing the harm from the path

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝I saw a man going about in Jannah (and enjoying himself) as a reward for cutting from the middle of the road, a tree which was causing inconvenience to the Muslims.❞ [Saheeh Muslim (6341)]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

❝As for removing the harm from the path, then the path can be:

1) A path in real sense, i.e. the path which the people use for walking (or driving etc.)

2) A path in linguistic sense, i.e. the path to the hearts.

So working on removing the harm from both these paths is a means for attaining nearness to Allaah. Removing the harm from the path to the hearts (by clearing the doubts, showing the correct path, teaching them Tawheed and warning them against Shirk) and righteous deeds (i.e. by enjoining the good and forbidding the evil) is more rewarding and more important than removing the harm from the paths which the people tread. And Allaah is the One who grants success.❞

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (2/177)]