Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To
believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad). The questioner then
asked, "What is the next (in goodness)? He replied, "To participate in
Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause." The questioner again
asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To perform Hajj
(Pilgrim age to Mecca) 'Mubrur, (which is accepted by Allah and is
performed with the intention of seeking Allah's pleasure only and not
to show off and without committing a sin and in accordance with the
traditions of the Prophet)."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 26
Hadith 27
Chapter 19: If one does not embrace Islam truly but does so by compulsion or for fear of being killed (then that man is not a believer) - كتاب الإيمان
Narrated Sa'd:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَامِرُ بْنُ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ سَعْدٍ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَعْطَى رَهْطًا وَسَعْدٌ جَالِسٌ، فَتَرَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً هُوَ أَعْجَبُهُمْ إِلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا لَكَ عَنْ فُلاَنٍ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرَاهُ مُؤْمِنًا. فَقَالَ " أَوْ مُسْلِمًا ". فَسَكَتُّ قَلِيلاً، ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ فَعُدْتُ لِمَقَالَتِي فَقُلْتُ مَا لَكَ عَنْ فُلاَنٍ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرَاهُ مُؤْمِنًا فَقَالَ " أَوْ مُسْلِمًا ". ثُمَّ غَلَبَنِي مَا أَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ فَعُدْتُ لِمَقَالَتِي وَعَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا سَعْدُ، إِنِّي لأُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ وَغَيْرُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْهُ، خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَكُبَّهُ اللَّهُ فِي النَّارِ ". وَرَوَاهُ يُونُسُ وَصَالِحٌ وَمَعْمَرٌ وَابْنُ أَخِي الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ.
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) distributed (Zakat) amongst (a group of) people while
I was sitting there but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) left a man whom I thought the
best of the lot. I asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Why have you left that
person? By Allah I regard him as a faithful believer." The Prophet (ﷺ)
commented: "Or merely a Muslim." I remained quiet for a while, but
could not help repeating my question because of what I knew about him.
And then asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), "Why have you left so and so? By
Allah! He is a faithful believer." The Prophet (ﷺ) again said, "Or merely
a Muslim." And I could not help repeating my question because of what
I knew about him. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Sa'd! I give to a person
while another is dearer to me, for fear that he might be thrown on his
face in the Fire by Allah."
A person asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . "What (sort of) deeds in or (what
qualities of) Islam are good?" He replied, "To feed (the poor) and
greet those whom you know and those whom you don't know."
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "I was shown the Hell-fire and that the majority of
its dwellers were women who were ungrateful." It was asked, "Do they
disbelieve in Allah?" (or are they ungrateful to Allah?) He replied,
"They are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the
favors and the good (charitable deeds) done to them. If you have
always been good (benevolent) to one of them and then she sees
something in you (not of her liking), she will say, 'I have never
received any good from you."
At Ar-Rabadha I met Abu Dhar who was wearing a cloak, and his slave,
too, was wearing a similar one. I asked about the reason for it. He
replied, "I abused a person by calling his mother with bad names." The
Prophet said to me, 'O Abu Dhar! Did you abuse him by calling his
mother with bad names You still have some characteristics of
ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers and Allah has put them under
your command. So whoever has a brother under his command should feed
him of what he eats and dress him of what he wears. Do not ask them
(slaves) to do things beyond their capacity (power) and if you do so,
then help them.' "
While I was going to help this man ('Ali Ibn Abi Talib), Abu Bakra met
me and asked, "Where are you going?" I replied, "I am going to help
that person." He said, "Go back for I have heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
saying, 'When two Muslims fight (meet) each other with their swords,
both the murderer as well as the murdered will go to the Hell-fire.' I
said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! It is all right for the murderer but what
about the murdered one?' Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "He surely had the
intention to kill his companion."
When the following Verse was revealed: "It is those who believe and
confuse not their belief with wrong (worshipping others besides
Allah.)" (6:83), the companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "Who is
amongst us who had not done injustice (wrong)?" Allah revealed: "No
doubt, joining others in worship with Allah is a great injustice
(wrong) indeed." (31.13)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three:
1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise ).
3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something
as a trust with him, he will not return it.)"
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics)
will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four
characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and
until he gives it up.
1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.
2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.
4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and
insulting manner."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 34
Hadith 35
Chapter 25: To establish the (Nawafil - voluntary) prayers on the night of Qadr is a part of faith - كتاب الإيمان
Narrated Abu Huraira:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" مَنْ يَقُمْ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of
Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not to
show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven."
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The person who participates in (Holy battles) in
Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah
and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward,
or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is
killed in the battle as a martyr). Had I not found it difficult for my
followers, then I would not remain behind any sariya going for Jihad
and I would have loved to be martyred in Allah's cause and then made
alive, and then martyred and then made alive, and then again martyred
in His cause."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 36
Hadith 37
Chapter 27: It is a part of faith to establish the (Nawafil — voluntary) prayers during the nights of Ramadan - كتاب الإيمان
Narrated Abu Huraira:
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
" مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Whoever establishes prayers during the nights
of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain
Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be
forgiven."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 37
Hadith 38
Chapter 28: To observe fasting (according to Islamic teachings)] during the month of Ramadan (sincerely and faithfully) hoping for Allah's Reward only, is a part of faith - كتاب الإيمان
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever observes fasts during the month of
Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards,
then all his past sins will be forgiven."
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens
himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So
you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and
receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength
by worshipping in the mornings, the afternoons, and during the last hours of the nights." (See Fath-ul-Bari, Page
102, Vol 1).
When the Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina, he stayed first with his grandfathers
or maternal uncles from Ansar. He offered his prayers facing
Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months, but he
wished that he could pray facing the Ka'ba (at Mecca). The first
prayer which he offered facing the Ka'ba was the 'Asr prayer in the
company of some people. Then one of those who had offered that prayer
with him came out and passed by some people in a mosque who were
bowing during their prayers (facing Jerusalem). He said addressing
them, "By Allah, I testify that I have prayed with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
facing Mecca (Ka'ba).' Hearing that, those people changed their
direction towards the Ka'ba immediately. Jews and the people of the
scriptures used to be pleased to see the Prophet (ﷺ) facing Jerusalem in
prayers but when he changed his direction towards the Ka'ba, during
the prayers, they disapproved of it.
Al-Bara' added, "Before we changed our direction towards the Ka'ba
(Mecca) in prayers, some Muslims had died or had been killed and we
did not know what to say about them (regarding their prayers.) Allah
then revealed: And Allah would never make your faith (prayers) to be
lost (i.e. the prayers of those Muslims were valid).' " (2:143).
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then Allah shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts, the reward of his good deeds will be ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and one evil deed will be recorded as it is unless Allah forgives it."
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If any one of you improve (follows strictly)
his Islamic religion then his good deeds will be rewarded ten times to
seven hundred times for each good deed and a bad deed will be recorded
as it is."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 41
Hadith 43
Chapter 32: Ad-Din (good, righteous deed - act of worship) loved most by Allah Jalla Jalalahu is that which is done regularly. (And in fact the best religion with Allah is Islam) - كتاب الإيمان
Once the Prophet (ﷺ) came while a woman was sitting with me. He said, "Who
is she?" I replied, "She is so and so," and told him about her
(excessive) praying. He said disapprovingly, "Do (good) deeds which is
within your capacity (without being overtaxed) as Allah does not get
tired (of giving rewards) but (surely) you will get tired and the best
deed (act of Worship) in the sight of Allah is that which is done
regularly."
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever said "None has the right to be worshipped
but Allah and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a
barley grain will be taken out of Hell. And whoever said: "None has
the right to be worshipped but Allah and has in his heart good (faith)
equal to the weight of a wheat grain will be taken out of Hell. And
whoever said, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and has
in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of an atom will be taken
out of Hell."
Once a Jew said to me, "O the chief of believers! There is a verse in
your Holy Book Which is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been
revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed
as a day of celebration." 'Umar bin Al-Khattab asked, "Which is that
verse?" The Jew replied, "This day I have perfected your religion For
you, completed My favor upon you, And have chosen for you Islam as
your religion." (5:3) 'Umar replied,"No doubt, we know when and where
this verse was revealed to the Prophet. It was Friday and the Prophet (ﷺ)
was standing at 'Arafat (i.e. the Day of Hajj)"
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 44
Hadith 46
Chapter 34: To pay Zakat is a part of Islam - كتاب الإيمان
Narrated Talha bin 'Ubaidullah:
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ أَبِي سُهَيْلِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ طَلْحَةَ بْنَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ، ثَائِرُ الرَّأْسِ، يُسْمَعُ دَوِيُّ صَوْتِهِ، وَلاَ يُفْقَهُ مَا يَقُولُ حَتَّى دَنَا، فَإِذَا هُوَ يَسْأَلُ عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ وَاللَّيْلَةِ ". فَقَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهَا قَالَ " لاَ، إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ ". قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَصِيَامُ رَمَضَانَ ". قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهُ قَالَ " لاَ، إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ ". قَالَ وَذَكَرَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الزَّكَاةَ. قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهَا قَالَ " لاَ، إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ ". قَالَ فَأَدْبَرَ الرَّجُلُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَزِيدُ عَلَى هَذَا وَلاَ أَنْقُصُ. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَفْلَحَ إِنْ صَدَقَ ".
A man from Najd with unkempt hair came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and we heard
his loud voice but could not understand what he was saying, till he
came near and then we came to know that he was asking about Islam.
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "You have to offer prayers perfectly five times
in a day and night (24 hours)." The man asked, "Is there any more
(praying)?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "No, but if you want to offer the
Nawafil prayers (you can)." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) further said to him: "You
have to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." The man asked,
"Is there any more fasting?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "No, but if you
want to observe the Nawafil fasts (you can.)" Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
further said to him, "You have to pay the Zakat (obligatory charity)."
The man asked, "Is there any thing other than the Zakat for me to
pay?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "No, unless you want to give alms of
your own." And then that man retreated saying, "By Allah! I will
neither do less nor more than this." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If what he
said is true, then he will be successful (i.e. he will be granted
Paradise)."
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "(A believer) who accompanies the funeral
procession of a Muslim out of sincere faith and hoping to attain
Allah's reward and remains with it till the funeral prayer is offered
and the burial ceremonies are over, he will return with a reward of
two Qirats. Each Qirat is like the size of the (Mount) Uhud. He who
offers the funeral prayer only and returns before the burial, will
return with the reward of one Qirat only."
"Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out to inform the people about the (date of the)
night of decree (Al-Qadr) but there happened a quarrel between two
Muslim men. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I came out to inform you about (the
date of) the night of Al-Qadr, but as so and so and so and so
quarrelled, its knowledge was taken away (I forgot it) and maybe it
was better for you. Now look for it in the 7th, the 9th and the 5th
(of the last 10 nights of the month of Ramadan)."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 47
Hadith 50
Chapter 37: The asking of (angel) Jibrll (Gabriel) from the Prophet (saws) about Iman, Islam, Ihsan and the knowledge of the Hour (Doomsday) - كتاب الإيمان
One day while the Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting in the company of some people,
(The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "What is faith?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with
Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further
asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To worship Allah
Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory
charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan."
Then he further asked, "What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
replied, "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot
achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is
looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be
established?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "The answerer has no better
knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its
portents.
1. When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.
2. When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing
with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is
one of five things which nobody knows except Allah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited: "Verily, with Allah (Alone) is the knowledge
of the Hour--." (31. 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet (ﷺ)
asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him.
Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people
their religion." Abu 'Abdullah said: He (the Prophet) considered all
that as a part of faith.