الحميد
(الحمد) في اللغة هو الثناء، والفرقُ بينه وبين (الشكر): أن (الحمد)...
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever calls to guidance shall receive a reward similar to these obtained by those who follow him without that diminishing anything from their rewards. And whoever calls to misguidance shall incur a sin similar to these incurred by those who follow him without that diminishing anything from their sins.”
In this Hadīth, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever calls to guidance shall receive a reward similar to these obtained by those who follow him without that diminishing anything from their rewards.” “Whoever calls to guidance”, meaning: he demonstrates it to the people and invites them to it. For example, he informs them that the Duha prayer is from the Sunnah and advises them to offer these two forenoon Rak‘ahs, and they act upon his exhortation and start to pray it. Then he shall receive a reward similar to theirs without their rewards diminishing in any way. Indeed, the bounty of Allah is great. Also, if a person tells the people to make the Witr their last prayer at night and not to sleep without performing it, except if one wishes to wake up at the latter part of the night to offer it, and the people follow his advice, he will have the same reward as they receive. In other words, each time one of those people performs the Witr prayer, he will get a reward similar to his; and this applies to all good deeds. “And whoever calls to misguidance shall incur a sin similar to these incurred by those who follow him, without that diminishing anything from their sins”, meaning: if he calls to a misdeed or sin, like diversion, falsehood, singing, or usury, he will have sins similar to these incurred by anyone who gets influenced by his evil invitation. The call to guidance or sin may be conducted by words, like urging one to do this or that, and it may also be made through deeds, particularly by a person emulated by others. When a role model does something, it is as if he invites people to follow suit, and they use his act as argument and criterion by which they determine what is permissible and what is not.