عن أبي موسى الأَشْعَريِّ رضي الله عنه، عن النَّبِيِّ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم قال: «إِذا أَرادَ الله تعالى رحمةَ أُمَّةٍ قَبَضَ نبيَّهَا قَبلَها، فجعَلَهُ لها فَرَطًا وسلَفًا بين يَدَيْهَا، وإذا أرادَ هَلَكَةَ أُمَّةٍ عذَّبها ونبيُّهَا حَيُّ، فَأَهْلَكَهَا وهوَ حَيٌّ ينظُرُ، فَأَقَرَّ عينَهُ بِهلاكِهَا حين كذَّبوهُ وعصَوْا أَمْرَهُ» رواه مسلم.
Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When Allah, the Exalted, intends mercy for a nation, He takes its prophet before it and makes him a forerunner and a predecessor going ahead of it. And when He intends the destruction of a nation, He punishes it while its prophet is still alive, so He destroys it while he is alive and watching, and He delights his eye with their destruction when they belied him and disobeyed his command." Reported by Muslim.
الشرح · explanation
فرطًا: الفرط الذي يتقدم الواردين إلى الماء ليصلح لهم الأحواض والدِّلاء. سلفًا: متقدمًا لهم وماضيًا أمامهم، ليحصل لهم الثواب بالصبر على الدين بعده. بين يديها: أمامها. فتقر عينه: فيحصل له السرور بهلاكها.
"a forerunner (faratan)": the faraṭ is the one who goes ahead of those coming to the water to prepare the troughs and buckets for them. "a predecessor (salafan)": one who has gone before them and passed on ahead of them, so that they may attain reward through patience upon the religion after him. "going ahead of it": before it. "He delights his eye": so he attains joy at their destruction.
الدروس · lessons
أن انتفاع الأمّة بموت نبيّها قبلها إنّما يحصل إذا كانت متأسّية به، صابرةً بعده على دينه. أنّ هلاك الأمّة في حال حياة نبيّها إنّما يكون إذا كفرت به وعصت أمره، وسعت في أذاه، فاستحقّت الهلاك والعذاب، وفي ذلك تطييب لقلب الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم الذي دعا قومه إلى الخير فقابلوه بالكفر. تحذير المسلمين من مخالفة النبيّ صلّى الله عليه وسلّم وترغيبهم في المضيّ على منهجه والثبات على دعوته حتّى يلقَوه في الآخرة عند الحوض.
The nation's benefit from the death of its prophet before it occurs only when it follows his example and remains patient upon his religion after him. The destruction of the nation during the lifetime of its prophet occurs only when it disbelieves in him, disobeys his command, and strives to harm him, so it deserves destruction and punishment. In this is a consolation for the heart of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who called his people to good but they responded to him with disbelief. A warning to the Muslims against opposing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and an encouragement for them to proceed upon his way and remain steadfast upon his call, until they meet him in the Hereafter at the Pool (al-Hawd).