The things a person should never give up

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Among the things a person should never voluntarily give up are:

1) his water for ablution (Wudhu).

2) his place in the first row.

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1) Water for ablution:

If two people are on a journey and only one person has water for ablution; then the one who has water should perform ablution and his companion should do Tayammum.

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

❝Giving precedence to others over yourself in those things which are obligatory is not allowed. Example: in regards to Tayammum, if a person only has enough water for himself with which to perform ablution and there is another person with him who needs water (for ablution as well), he is not to give the water to the other person, the other person should do Tayammum. Because this is giving precedence to others over yourself in those things which are obligatory, and giving such precedence to others over yourself is Haraam.❞

[Sharh al-Mumti` (5/100 and 15/40) and Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (3/416-417)]

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2) The place in the first row:

Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhaan (call for prayer) and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Dhuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of `Ishaa' and Fajr prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.❞

[Saheehain]

۩ But unfortunately, people stand in rows with gaps in between them so much so that they can accommodate a few more people in the rows. Each person wants to have his own personal space, Ajeeb! Whereas the Companions used to stand shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot! And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had instructed his Companions to form rows like the angels – by first completing the first row and filling the gaps in the rows [as mentioned n Saheeh Muslim].

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As for the sister, then for them the last rows are the best, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.❞

[Saheeh Muslim]