O You Who Worships In The Haramain Vicinity Of The Two Holy Masjids

Imam-ul-Jihaad Abdullah Ibn Al-Mubaarak [This poem was written by the Imaam, Zaahid, and Mujahid ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubaarak (d181H) to another great Imaam and Zaahid Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaadh (d187H). Both from amongst the Imaams of the salaf. It is found in the Tafseer of al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (d774H)]

Al-Hafiz ibn `Asakir mentioned in the biography of `Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak, that Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Abi Sakinah said, “While in the area of Tarsus, `Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak dictated this poem to me when I was greeting him farewell. He sent the poem with me to al-FuDayl bin`Iyadh in the year 170H:

O you who worships in the Haramain! If you but see us, you will realise that you are only jesting in worship
He who brings wetness to his cheek with his tears should know that our necks are being wet by our blood.
He who tires his horses without purpose, know that our horses are getting tired in battle.
Scent of perfume is yours, while ours is the glimmer of spears and the stench of dust [in battle].
We were narrated about in the speech of our Prophet, an authentic statement that never lies.
That the dust that erupts by Allaah’s horses and which fills the nostrils of a man shall never be combined with the smoke of a raging Fire.
This, the Book of Allaah speaks among us that the martyr is not dead, and the truth in Allaah’s book cannot be denied.

“I met al-Fudayl ibn `Iyadh in the Sacred Masjid and gave him the letter. When he read it, his eyes became tearful and he said, ‘Abu `Abdur-Rahman (`Abdullah bin al-Mubarak) has said the truth and offered sincere advice to me.’ He then asked me, ‘Do you write the Hadeeth?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Write this Hadeeth as reward for delivering the letter of Abu `Abdur-Rahman to me.’ He then dictated:


‘Mansur bin al-Mu`tamir narrated to us that Abu Saalih narrated from Abu Hurayrah that a man asked, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Teach me a good deed that will earn me the reward of the Mujahideen in Allaah’s cause.’ The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:


‘Are you able to pray continuously and fast without breaking the fast?’
The man said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! I cannot bear it.’ The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:


‘By He in Whose Hand is my soul! Even if you were able to do it, you would not achieve the grade of the Mujahideen in Allaah’s cause. Did you not know that the horse of the Mujaahid earns rewards for him as long as it lives?’” [Ahmad]