THE HADITH

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said: “Iman has over seventy branches, and modesty is a branch of Iman.”

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Umama that the Messenger ﷺ observed: He who appropriated the right of a Muslim by (swearing a false) oath, Allah would make Hell-fire necessary for him and declare Paradise forbidden for him. A person said to him: Messenger of Allah, even if it is something insignificant? He (the Blessed Messenger) replied: (Yes) even if it is the twig of the arak tree.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed: “Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) a man would be a Muslim in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning and would sell his faith for worldly goods.”

Hakim bin Hizam reported to Urwa bin Zubair that he said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “Do you think that there is anything for me (of the reward with the Lord) for the deeds of religious purification that I did in the state of ignorance?” Upon this he (the Messenger of Allah) said to him: “You accepted Islam with all the previous virtues that you practised.”

Jabir reported: A person from the Banu ‘Udhra wanted to set a slave free after his death. This news reached Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. Upon this he said: Have you any property besides it? He said: No. Upon this he said: Who would buy (the slave) from me? Nu’aim bin Abdullah bought it for eight hundred dirhams and (this amount was) brought to the Messenger who returned it to him (the owner), and then said:

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari relates that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The similitude of guidance and knowledge that Allah has sent me with is like heavy rain that fell on a land. Some spots had good soil; they absorbed the water and brought forth much grass and herbs. Other spots were solid; they held the water. Allah thus made them useful to people: they drank, watered, and grew plantation.

Some people say it is difficult to understand the Qur’ān; it requires deep insight into the various branches of knowledge as well as the fair language of the Arabic language. But this contention contradicts the very intent of the revelation of the Holy Book. The Book of Allah itself says that it is hudan lin-nas (Guidance for entire mankind). Then, how is it possible that the Book, which is Guidance for entire mankind, can be difficult to understand. By no means.

Abdullah ibn Umar relates that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There should be no envy except in two (cases): a man whom Allah has given (knowledge of) the Qur’ān, and he recites it during the night and day, and a man whom Allah has given wealth, and he spends it during the night and day (in a rightful way).”

“Recite the Qur’ān (profusely), for it will come as an intercessor for its companions (reciters) on the Day of Resurrection.”

It has been narrated by Abu Musa, who said: Two of my cousins and I entered the apartment of the Holy Messenger ﷺ. One of them said: Messenger of Allah, appoint us rulers of some lands that the Almighty and Glorious God has entrusted to thy care. The other also said something similar. He said: “We do not appoint to this position one who asks for it nor anyone who is covetous for the same.”

Abu Yaala Ma‘qil bin Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that he heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ saying: “A person who is appointed in authority over people and he betrays them will not be allowed to enter Paradise after his death.”

“O people! Be happy and hope for the best. My fear about you is only that you may not covetously struggle for the acquisition of worldly things and get lost in them totally, as nations before you did and perished…. It is not for mere sport that Allah has made you His vicegerent in this world of myriad bounties, ever sweet, verdant and flourishing. He made this world a place of trial for you as to how you act therein to earn His exclusive Will and Pleasure. Therefore, shun this transitory world and shun women, because the prime most trial of Bani Israel was in respect of women only.”