In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Hadith 1: True meaning of asceticism الزهد الحقيقي

Sahl ibn Sa’d al-Sa’idi reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a deed which will make Allah and people love me.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا يُحِبَّكَ اللَّهُ وَازْهَدْ فِيمَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ يُحِبُّوكَ

Renounce the world and Allah will love you. Renounce what people possess and people will love you.

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Hadith 2: No harming yourself or others لا ضرر ولا ضرار

Ubadah ibn al-Samit reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لاَ ضَرَرَ وَلاَ ضِرَارَ

Do not cause harm or return harm.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 2340, Grade: Hasan

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Hadith 3: Burden of proof is on the claimant البينة على المدعي

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَوْ يُعْطَى النَّاسُ بِدَعْوَاهُمْ لَادَّعَى رِجَالٌ أَمْوَالَ قَوْمٍ وَدِمَاءَهُمْ وَلَكِنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي وَالْيَمِينَ عَلَى مَنْ أَنْكَرَ

If people were given in accordance with their claims, then men would claim the wealth and lives of other people. Rather, the burden of proof is on the claimant and an oath is a duty upon he who denies the claim.

Source: al-Sunan al-Kubrá 20604 Grade: Hasan

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Hadith 4: Enjoining good and forbidding evil الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ

Whoever among you sees evil should change it with his hand. If he is unable to do so, then with his tongue. If he is unable to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest level of faith.

Sufyan al-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

لَا يَأْمُرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ فِيهِ خِصَالٌ ثَلَاثٌ رَفِيقٌ بِمَا يَأْمُرُ رَفِيقٌ بِمَا يَنْهَى عَدْلٌ بِمَا يَأْمُرُ عَدْلٌ بِمَا يَنْهَى عَالِمٌ بِمَا يَأْمُرُ عَالِمٌ بِمَا يَنْهَى

None may enjoin good and forbid evil unless he has three qualities: gentleness in what he enjoins and forbids, justice in what he enjoins and forbids, and knowledge of what he enjoins and forbids.

Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥikam 2/256

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        In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Hadith 5: Brotherhood of Islam أخوة الإسلام

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَلَا تَنَاجَشُوا وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوا وَلَا تَدَابَرُوا وَلَا يَبِعْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَيْعِ بَعْضٍ وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ لَا يَظْلِمُهُ وَلَا يَخْذُلُهُ وَلَا يَحْقِرُهُ التَّقْوَى هَاهُنَا

Do not envy each other, do not outbid each other, do not hate each other, do not turn away from each other, and do not outsell each other. Rather, be servants of Allah as brothers. The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He does not wrong him or humiliate him or look down upon him. Righteousness is here.

Then, the Prophet pointed to his chest three times and he continued:

 بِحَسْبِ امْرِئٍ مِنْ الشَّرِّ أَنْ يَحْقِرَ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ كُلُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ دَمُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعِرْضُهُ

It is enough evil for a man to look down upon his Muslim brother. The entirety of the Muslim is sacred to another Muslim: his life, his wealth, and his honor.

In another narration, the Prophet said:

إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّ فَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيثِ وَلَا تَحَسَّسُوا وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا تَنَافَسُوا وَلَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوا وَلَا تَدَابَرُوا وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا

Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the most false of tales. Do not seek out faults, do not spy on each other, do not contend with each other, do not envy each other, do not hate each other, and do not turn away from each other. Rather, be servants of Allah as brothers.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5719, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

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Hadith 6: Gathering to remember Allah الاجتماع على الذكر

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ وَمَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِلاَّ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّكِينَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَحَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ وَمَنْ بَطَّأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ نَسَبُهُ

Whoever relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever helps ease someone in difficulty, Allah will make it easy for him in this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever covers the faults of a Muslim, Allah will cover his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah helps the servant as long as he helps his brother. Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise, for a people do not gather together in the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying together, except that tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will cover them, angels will surround them, and Allah will mention them to those with Him. Whoever is slow to good deeds will not be hastened by his lineage.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2699, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 7: Favor of Allah Almighty فضل الله تعالى

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ بَيَّنَ ذَلِكَ فَمَنْ هَمَّ بِحَسَنَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كَامِلَةً وَإِنْ هَمَّ بِهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عِنْدَهُ عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ إِلَى سَبْعِ مِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ إِلَى أَضْعَافٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَإِنْ هَمَّ بِسَيِّئَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كَامِلَةً وَإِنْ هَمَّ بِهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ سَيِّئَةً وَاحِدَةً

Verily, Allah has recorded good and evil deeds and he made them clear. Whoever intends to perform a good deed but does not do it, then Allah will record it as a complete good deed. If he intends to do it and does so, then Allah Almighty will record it as ten good deeds, up to seven hundred times as much or even more. If he intends to do an evil deed and does not do it, then Allah will record for him one complete good deed. If he does it, then Allah will record for him a single evil deed.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6126, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

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Hadith 8: Means of nearness to Allah وسيلة القرب

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ وَلَئِنْ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ

Allah Almighty said: Whoever shows hostility to a friend of mine, then I have declared war upon him. My servant does not grow closer to me with anything more beloved to me than the duties I have imposed upon him. My servant continues to draw near me with extra works until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hands with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask something from me, I would surely give it to him. If he were to ask me for refuge, I would surely grant it to him. I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death and I hate to displease him.

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Hadith 9: Overlooking mistakes التجاوز عن المخطئ 

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأَ وَالنِّسْيَانَ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ

Verily, Allah has pardoned my nation for their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and what they are coerced into doing.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 2043, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 10: Cultivating the Hereafter مزرعة للآخرة

Abdullah ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, took hold of my shoulder and said:

كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ، أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ

Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler along a path.

Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, would say:

إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلاَ تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلاَ تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ وَمِنْ حَيَاتِكَ لِمَوْتِكَ

If you make it to the evening, then do not wait for the morning. If you make it to the morning, then do not wait for the evening. Take from your health for your sickness, and from your life for your death.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6053, Grade

         In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

          In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Hadith 1: Say, ‘I have faith in Allah,’ and then remain steadfast قل آمنت بالله ثم استقم

Sufyan ibn Abdullah reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a saying in Islam after which I will not need to ask anyone after you.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

قُلْ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ فَاسْتَقِمْ ‏‏

Say, ‘I have faith in Allah,’ and then remain steadfast.

 Hadith 2: Adhering only to obligations الاقتصار على الفرائض

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: A man asked the Messenger of Allah, saying, “O Messenger of Allah, do you think if I pray the five prescribed prayers, I fast the month of Ramadan, and I uphold what is lawful and unlawful without adding anything to it, will I enter Paradise?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

نَعَمْ

Yes.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 15, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet said:

مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى هَذَا

He who is pleased to see a man from the people of Paradise should look to him.

 Hadith 3: Haste in good deeds الإسراع في الخير

Abu Malik al-Ash’ari reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

الطُّهُورُ شَطْرُ الْإِيمَانِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلَأُ الْمِيزَانَ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلَآَنِ أَوْ تَمْلَأُ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالصَّلَاةُ نُورٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ بُرْهَانٌ وَالصَّبْرُ ضِيَاءٌ وَالْقُرْآنُ حُجَّةٌ لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ كُلُّ النَّاسِ يَغْدُو فَبَايِعٌ نَفْسَهُ فَمُعْتِقُهَا أَوْ مُوبِقُهَا

Purity is half of faith, and the praise of Allah fills the scale. Glorification and praise fill up what is between the heavens and the earth. Prayer is a light, charity is proof, and patience is illumination. The Quran is a proof for you or against you. All people go out early in the morning and sell themselves, either setting themselves free or destroying themselves.

 Hadith 4: Prohibition of injustice تحريم الظلم

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, relates from his Lord that Allah said:

يَا عِبَادِي إِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا فَلَا تَظَالَمُوا

O my servants, I have forbidden injustice for myself and have forbidden it among you, so do not oppress one another. 

يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ ضَالٌّ إِلَّا مَنْ هَدَيْتُهُ فَاسْتَهْدُونِي أَهْدِكُمْ

O my servants, all of you are astray except for those I have guided, so seek guidance from me and I will guide you.

 يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ جَائِعٌ إِلَّا مَنْ أَطْعَمْتُهُ فَاسْتَطْعِمُونِي أُطْعِمْكُمْ

O my servants, all of you are hungry except for those I have fed, so seek food from me and I will feed you.

 يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ عَارٍ إِلَّا مَنْ كَسَوْتُهُ فَاسْتَكْسُونِي أَكْسُكُمْ

O my servants, all of you are naked except for those I have clothed, so seek clothing from me and I will clothe you.

يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّكُمْ تُخْطِئُونَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَأَنَا أَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا فَاسْتَغْفِرُونِي أَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ

O my servants, you sin by night and day and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from me and I will forgive you. 

 يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَبْلُغُوا ضَرِّي فَتَضُرُّونِي وَلَنْ تَبْلُغُوا نَفْعِي فَتَنْفَعُونِي

O my servants, you will not be able to bring harm to me and you will not be able to bring benefit to me.

 يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَتْقَى قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ مَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ فِي مُلْكِي شَيْئًا

O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you, to be as pious as the most pious heart of anyone of you, that would not increase my dominion at all.

 يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مُلْكِي شَيْئًا

O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you, to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of anyone of you, that would not decrease my dominion at all.

 يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ قَامُوا فِي صَعِيدٍ وَاحِدٍ فَسَأَلُونِي فَأَعْطَيْتُ كُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ مَسْأَلَتَهُ مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا عِنْدِي إِلَّا كَمَا يَنْقُصُ الْمِخْيَطُ إِذَا أُدْخِلَ الْبَحْرَ

O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you, to rise up in one place and make a request of me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not diminish what I have any more than a needle would diminish the sea if put into it. 

يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ أُحْصِيهَا لَكُمْ ثُمَّ أُوَفِّيكُمْ إِيَّاهَا فَمَنْ وَجَدَ خَيْرًا فَلْيَحْمَدْ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلَّا نَفْسَهُ

O my servants, it is only your deeds that I record for you and then recompense for you. Let he who finds good praise Allah, and let he who finds something else blame no one but himself.

          In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

 Hadith 5: Types of good deeds أنواع الأعمال الخيرية

Abu Dharr reported: The companions said, “O Messenger of Allah, the rich have taken the rewards. They perform prayer as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give charity from their extra wealth.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

 أَوَ لَيْسَ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ مَا تَصَّدَّقُونَ إِنَّ بِكُلِّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَكُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَكُلِّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَكُلِّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ وَنَهْيٌ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَفِي بُضْعِ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ

Has not Allah made for you ways to give charity? In every glorification of Allah there is charity, and in every declaration of His greatness there is charity, and in praise of Him is charity, and in every declaration of His oneness there is charity, and enjoining good is charity and forbidding evil is charity, and in a man’s intimate relations with his wife is charity.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, is there a reward for one who satisfies his passions?” The Prophet said:

أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ وَضَعَهَا فِي حَرَامٍ أَكَانَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا وِزْرٌ فَكَذَلِكَ إِذَا وَضَعَهَا فِي الْحَلَالِ كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرًا

You see if he were to devote himself to something forbidden it would be a sin. Likewise, if he were to devote himself to something lawful he will have a reward.

 Hadith 6: Reconciliation between people الإصلاح بين الناس

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

كُلُّ سُلَامَى مِنْ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَطْلُعُ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ تَعْدِلُ بَيْنَ الِاثْنَيْنِ صَدَقَةٌ وَتُعِينُ الرَّجُلَ فِي دَابَّتِهِ فَتَحْمِلُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ تَرْفَعُ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا مَتَاعَهُ صَدَقَةٌ قَالَ وَالْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ خُطْوَةٍ تَمْشِيهَا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ صَدَقَةٌ وَتُمِيطُ الْأَذَى عَنْ الطَّرِيقِ صَدَقَةٌ

Charity is due upon every joint of the people for every day upon which the sun rises. Being just between two people is charity. Helping a man with his animal and lifting his luggage upon it is charity. A kind word is charity. Every step that you take towards the mosque is charity, and removing harmful things from the road is charity.

 Hadith 7: Righteousness is good character البر حسن الخلق

Al-Nawwas ibn Sam’an reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

الْبِرُّ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ وَالإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَكَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَطَّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ

Righteousness is good character and sin is what waivers in your heart and you hate for people to find out about it.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2553, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet said:

اسْتَفْتِ نَفْسَكَ اسْتَفْتِ قَلْبَكَ الْبِرُّ مَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ إِلَيْهِ النَّفْسُ وَاطْمَأَنَّ إِلَيْهِ الْقَلْبُ وَالْإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي النَّفْسِ وَتَرَدَّدَ فِي الصَّدْرِ وَإِنْ أَفْتَاكَ النَّاسُ وَأَفْتَوْكَ

Consult your soul, consult your heart. Righteousness is what reassures your soul and your heart, and sin is what wavers in your soul and puts tension in your chest, even if the people approve it in their judgments again and again.

 Hadith 8: Duty to uphold the Sunnah وجوب لزوم السنة

Al-Irbad ibn Sariya reported: One day the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, stood up among us and he admonished us so eloquently that it moved our hearts and made tears come to our eyes. It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, you have given us a farewell sermon, so what do you commit us to?” The Prophet said:

أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَإِنْ عَبْدٌ حَبَشِيٌّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ يَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ فَإِنَّهَا ضَلَالَةٌ فَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ ذَلِكَ مِنْكُمْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ

You must fear Allah, listen to and obey your leaders even if an Abyssinian slave is put in charge over you. Whoever lives among you will see many differences, so beware of newly invented matters for they are misguidance. Whoever sees them must adhere to my tradition  (sunnah) and the tradition of the upright, guided successors. Bite onto it with your back teeth.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2676, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet said:

وَشَرُّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلُّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ وَكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ

The most evil matters are those that are newly invented (in the religion), for every newly invented matter is an innovation. Every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.

 Hadith 9: What admits one into Paradise ما يدخل الجنة

Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a deed that will admit me into Paradise and keep me away from the Hellfire.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْ عَظِيمٍ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسِيرٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَسَّرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ تَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَتُؤْتِي الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجُّ الْبَيْتَ

You have asked about an enormous matter, yet it is easy upon those for whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah and do not associate anything with him, establish the prayer, give the charity, fast the month of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the House. 

Then, the Prophet said:

أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ وَصَلَاةُ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ

Shall I not tell you about the gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield, charity extinguishes sins as water extinguishes fire, and the prayer of a man in the late night.

Then, the Prophet recited the verse:

تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنْ الْمَضَاجِعِ حَتَّى بَلَغَ يَعْمَلُونَ

They arise from their beds and supplicate to their Lord in fear and hope. They spend from what We have provided them, for no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort as reward for what they used to do. (32:16)

Then, the Prophet said:

أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الْأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذِرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ

Shall I not tell you about the head of the matter and its peak?

I said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said:

رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ

The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and jihād is its peak.

Then the Prophet said:

أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِمَلَاكِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ

Shall I not tell you how to achieve all of this?

I said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet pointed to his tongue and he said:

كُفَّ عَلَيْكَ هَذَا

Restrain this.

I said, “O Prophet of Allah, will what we say be held against us?” The Prophet said:

ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ يَا مُعَاذُ وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ أَوْ عَلَى مَنَاخِرِهِمْ إِلَّا حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ

May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu’adh! Is there anything that topples people onto their faces in the Hellfire but the harvest of their tongues?

 Hadith 10: Rights of Allah Almighty حقوق الله تعالى

Abu Tha’laba al-Khushani reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

    إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَضَ فَرَائِضَ فَلَا تُضَيِّعُوهَا وَحَدَّ حُدُودًا فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا وَسَكَتَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ رَحْمَةً لَكُمْ غَيْرَ نِسْيَانٍ فَلَا تَبْحَثُوا عَنْهَا

Verily, Allah has made duties obligatory, so do not neglect them. He has set limits, so do not transgress them. He has made some things sacred, so do no violate them. He has remained silent concerning things as mercy for you, not out of forgetfulness, so do not search them out.

          In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

              In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Hadith 1:Deeds are by intentions
Omar ibn Al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Verily, deeds are only with intentions. Verily, every person will have only what they intended. Whoever emigrated to Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger. Whoever emigrated to get something in the world or to marry a woman, then his emigration is for whatever he emigrated for.

                
               Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 54, Grade:

Hadith 2:Islam, faith, and excellence
Umar ibn Al-Khattab reported: We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, one day when a man appeared with very white clothes and very black hair. There were no signs of travel on him and we did not recognize him. He sat down in front of the Prophet and rested his knees by his knees and placed his hands on his thighs. The man said, “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.” The Prophet said:

Islam is to witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give the alms, the fast the month of Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage to the House if he is capable of travel.


The man said, “You have spoken truthfully.” We were surprised that he asked him and then said he was truthful. He said, “Tell me about faith.” The Prophet said:


Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in providence, both its good and its evil.


The man said, “You have spoken truthfully. Tell me about excellence.” The Prophet said:

Excellence is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for you do not see Him but He certainly sees you.

 The man said, “Tell me about the final hour.” The Prophet said:

The one asked does not know more than the one asking.

 The man said, “Tell me about its signs.” The Prophet said:

The servant girl will give birth to her mistress and you will see barefoot, naked, and destitute shepherds compete in constructing tall buildings.

 Then the man left and I remained. The Prophet said to me:

O Umar, do you know who he was?

 I said, “Allah and His messenger know best.” The Prophet said:

   Verily, he was Gabriel who came to teach you your religion.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 8, Grade:

Hadith 3:Pillars of Islam

 Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Islam is built upon five: to worship Allah and to disbelieve in what is worshiped besides him, to establish prayer, to give charity, to perform Hajj pilgrimage to the House, and to fast the month of Ramadan.

   Hadith 4:Providence



 Abdullah ibn Masud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Verily, the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days as a drop, then he is a clot for a similar period, then a morsel for a similar period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows the spirit into him and he is commanded regarding four matters: to write down his provision, his life span, his deeds, and whether he is blessed or damned. By Allah other than whom there is no God, one of you acts like the people of Paradise until he is but an arm’s length from it, and what is written overtakes him so he acts like the people of Hellfire and he enters it. Verily, one of you acts like the people of Hellfire until he is but an arm’s length from it, and what is written overtakes him so he acts like the people of Paradise and he enters it.

 Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7016, Grade:

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

   Hadith 5:Religious innovation

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:

Whoever innovates something into this matter of ours which does not belong to it will have it rejected.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2550, Grade:

In another narration, the Prophet said:

Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1718, Grade:

 Hadith 6:Lawful and unlawful are clear

Al-Nu’man ibn Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Verily, the lawful is clear and the unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus, he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, and he who falls into doubtful matters will fall into the unlawful as the shepherd who pastures near a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Verily, every king has a sanctum and the sanctum of Allah is his prohibitions. Verily, in the body there is a piece of flesh which if upright then the entire body is upright, and if corrupt then the entire body is corrupt. No doubt it is the heart.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 52, Grade:

 In another narration, the Prophet said:

Make between yourself and the unlawful a barrier of what is lawful. Whoever does so will clear himself in regard to his honor and his religion. A shepherd who grazes near the side of a sanctum will nearly fall into it. Verily, every king has a sanctum and the sanctum of Allah is his prohibitions.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 5685, Grade:

   Hadith 7:Religion is Good Will

Tamim al-Dari reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Verily, the religion is sincerity.

 We said, “To whom?” The Prophet said:

To Allah, His book, His messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and their common people.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 55, Grade

 Hadith 8:Jihād in the way of Allah

Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

I have been commanded to fight the people until they say there is no God but Allah. If they say there is no God but Allah, then they will be granted protection from me for their lives and property, except by right of justice, and their reckoning is with Allah.

Then, the Prophet recited the verse:

Verily, you are only a reminder. You are not over them as a dictator.

 Ibn Taymiyah comments on this tradition, writing:

The meaning of this tradition is to fight those who are waging war, whom Allah has called us to fight. It does not mean to fight those who have made peace, with whom Allah has commanded us to fulfill their peace.

Source: Majmū’ al-Fatāwá 19/20

And Ibn Rajab writes:

The meaning is that your duty is only to remind them about Allah and to preach to them. You do not have authority to insert faith into their hearts by force; you are not responsible for that.

Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥikam 1/236

 Hadith 9: Responsibility within one’s capacity

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Avoid what I have forbidden for you and do what I have commanded you as much as you are able. Verily, the people before you were destroyed only because of their excessive questioning and differing with their prophets.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6858, Grade:

 In another narration, the Prophet said:

Leave me with what I have left you. When I narrate a saying to you, then take it from me. Verily, the people before you were destroyed only because of their excessive questioning and differing with their prophets.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2679, Grade:

Hadith 10:Restriction to what is lawful and wholesome

 Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

O people, Allah is pure and He accepts only what is pure. Verily, Allah has commanded the believers as He commanded His messengers. Allah said: O messengers, eat from good things and act righteously, for I know what you do. And Allah said: O you who believe, eat from good things We have provided for you. 

Abu Huraira added:

 Then, the Prophet mentioned a man who traveled far, becoming disheveled and dusty and he raises his hands to the sky, saying, “O Lord! O Lord!” while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished by the unlawful, so how can he be answered?

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1015, Grade:

       In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful