Object 2

Hadith 1

‘Religion is sincerity.’ We said: ‘To whom?’ The Prophet said: ‘To Allah,
his Book, his Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and to their common
people.’

(a)

1. Islam demands sincere and genuine faith.

2. This sincerity is needed in the fundamental beliefs as well as towards the
leaders and the members of the community.
3. This means strong belief in Tawhid (oneness of God), the divine message
of the Quran and the messenger of God who conveyed this Message to
us.
4. Also, the leader of the community, who follows the Quran and Sunnah,
should be sincerely followed:
5. “And obey God and obey the Messenger and those charged with
authority among you.” (4:59)
6. Finally, Muslims should believe in respecting and caring for the fellows in
the community.

(b)
1. Belief in Tawhid, Quran and the last Messenger is demonstrated by
following the eternal guidance of the Quran and Sunnah.
2. Muslims should observe the five pillars of Islam:
3. “And establish regular prayer and pay the charity tax”
4. As for cooperating with the leader of the community, Muslims should
remember the speech of Abu Bakr on his election as caliph:
5. “Help me if I am in the right, set me right if I am in the wrong”
6. Similarly, sincerity towards fellows should be expressed by being kind,
polite and respectful to them.
Hadith 2

None of you believes until he wants for his brother what he wants for
himself.

(a)
1. Muslims are bonded together with common faith:
2. “Believers are a single brotherhood” (49:10) this bond of fraternity has
been established by God Himself, and so, all Muslims should make it part
of their faith.
3. A heart without love and care for the fellow Muslims is devoid of true faith,
& so, genuine faith is linked with affection for the other members of the
community.
4. “None of you believes” refers to imperfect faith, and not absence of faith.
This means that any believer might fall prey to a lack of love for fellows.

(b)
1. Muslims should negate selfishness, promote spirit of sacrifice and love for
the fellow Muslims
2. Should develop a sense of collective welfare and make efforts to ensure
comfort and benefits for others as much as for himself:
3. “It is more beneficial for one to give his land free to his brother than
to charge him a fixed rental” and:
4. “That you desire for others that what you desire for yourself”
5. True believers should not look down upon others and should not taunt
them or call them by offensive nick names.
6. They are also not supposed to break ties with fellow brothers and should
take initiative in re-establishing good relations.
Hadith 3

Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day either speak good or keep
silent, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to
his neighbour, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day
be generous to his guest.

(a)
1. Power of speech not only a great bounty by God but also a means of
expressing faith:
2. “He has created man. He has taught him the speech (and
intelligence),” (55:3, 4)
3. With this belief, a believer should learn, “To keep quiet is better than
telling a bad thing”
4. Several evils, transgression and indecencies originate form misuse of the
tongue.
5. Similarly, faith is also linked with good social conduct because Muslims
believe that observance of acts of worship is one aspect and being kind to
others is another aspect of demonstrating faith.

(b)
1. Muslims should avoid all indecencies : “Believers will surely get through
………who avoid vain talk” (23:1-2)
2. They should show hospitality towards those around them e.g., neighbors &
guests: “He is not a true believer who eats to his fill but his neighbor
sleeps hungry” and
3. “Whoever believes in God and the last day should not harm his
neighbor, and whoever believes in God should honour his guest”
4. The Prophet set several examples of hospitality, towards both Muslims
and non-Muslims.
Hadith 4

A man asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him
peace): Do you think that if I perform the obligatory prayers, fast in
Ramadan, treat as lawful that which is lawful and treat as forbidden that
which is forbidden, and do nothing further, I shall enter paradise? He said:
Yes

(a)
1. This Hadith sums up the secret of entry to Paradise.
2. Prayer and fasting are the two of the five pillars on which is erected the
building of faith:
3. “He who gives up prayer has indeed disbelieved.”
4. “What stands between a believer and disbelief is abandonment of
regular prayer”
5. “The fast is a shield (against Satan).”
6. These two pillars train believers to believe in the importance of the lawful
and the unlawful.
7. “…….he (the Prophet) allows them as lawful what is good and
prohibits them from what is bad” (7:157)

(b)
1. Muslims should be regular and punctual in daily prayer as it keeps them
from evils:
2. “Verily, regular prayer refrains from shameful and unjust
deeds” (29:45)
3. They should fast in Ramadan to promote self-restraint
4. Observance of both these trains them to tell right from wrong and earn by
Halal (permitted) means while shunning all Haram (forbidden) actions:
5. “So take what the Messenger gives you and refrain form what he
prohibits you” (59:7)
6. Such self training will ensure individual and collective welfare in this world
and the Hereafter.
Hadith 5

Every person’s every joint must perform a charity every day the sun
comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with
his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a
charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take to prayers is a
charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity.

(a)
1. Muslims should consider all their physical powers as a gift of God
2. This will enable them to express gratitude to God by helping fellow
Muslims in daily matters
3. They should consider such acts as charity e.g., settling disputes of the
people and removing harmful objects from the roads.
4. Such acts should be equated with exerting energy in the worship of God
5. Islam encourages charity and other measures that benefit others: “The
best among the people are those who are a source of benefit to the
people” (Hadith)

(b)
1. True believers should shape their conduct in such a way as can help the
fellows in day to day affairs.
2. They should try to end disputes between fellows because the Quran
says: “Believers are a single brotherhood; therefore make peace
between your two contending brothers” (49:10)
3. They should hurry to offer their prayer, share the burdon of fellows and,
wherever possible, remove anything harmful from thoroughfares.
4. This they should do along with other acts of charity because Islam has
broadened the scope of charity.
Hadith 6

Whosoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand, and
if he is not able to do so then with his tongue, and if he is not able to do so
then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.

(a)
1. Islam teaches its followers to first establish a true Islamic society based on
the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah
2. It further commands them to defend the society against all possible evils
with whatever available resources.
3. This involves use of physical force or verbal rejection or at least
condemning it from heart, though it is the lowest degree of faith of a
believer
4. Believers should remember that struggle against evil is a constant
phenomenon as the ultimate source of evils is Satan:
5. “Verily Satan is an avowed enemy to man” (12:5)

(b)
1. Eradication of evil involves struggle of varying degrees depending on the
available resources with the Muslim community and government.
2. If sufficient resources are available, then the Muslim state may permit
physical Jehad:
3. “Believers……….. strive hard in God’s way with their possessions
and their own selves” (49:15)
4. Otherwise, evil may be suppressed through speech or writings, and in
case an individual believer is unable to utilize either resource, he is
required to shun evil internally.
5. The best way of doing this might be to seek God’s refuge: “Say I seek
refuge with the Lord of day-break. From the evil of the things
created” (al-Falaq)
Hadith 7

It was said: O Messenger of Allah, who is the most excellent of men? The
Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘The
believer who strives hard in the way of Allah with his person and his
property.’

(a)
1. Jehad or struggle in the way of God is an act of worship and shows
genuineness of faith.
2. Jehad is aimed at suppressing evil, stopping aggression and transgression
but within the limits prescribed by the code of conduct of war in Islam.
3. Muslims believe that all their physical and financial resources are granted
by God, and so, they develop the spirit of placing them at God’s disposal.
4. Therefore, according to their belief, those who sacrifice their lives during
Jehad, are not dead:
5. “Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their
Lord.” (3:169)

(b)
1. Jehad is the ultimate expression of one’s faith as it involves sacrificing
everything in God’s way and defending Islam.
2. Those engaged in Jehad are trained to sacrifice their belongings and lives
without hesitation: “Fighting is prescribed to you though you may
dislike it” (2:216)
3. For this reason, the Quran and the Prophet have repeatedly admired those
busy in Jehad and ranked them as the best Muslims.
4. The Holy Prophet fought battles, received wounds and also witnessed
martyrdom of his close associates.
5. He declared his uncle Hamza as “the chief of all the martyrs” as he
had first migrated twice for Islam and later, laid down his life in the battle of
Uhud.
Hadith 8

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
‘Whom do you count to be a martyr among you?’ They said: O Messenger
of Allah, whoever is killed in the way of Allah is a martyr. He said: 'In that
case the martyrs of my community will be very few! He who is killed in the
way of Allah is a martyr, he who dies a natural death in the way of Allah is
a martyr, he who dies in the plague in the way of Allah is a martyr, he who
dies of cholera in the way of Allah is a martyr.’

(a)
1. The Hadith has expanded the scope of martyrdom by including those not
involved directly in any physical fight/struggle (Jehad) in God’s way.
2. Muslims are taught to believe that there are a number of non-war martyrs
and they include those who endure any sudden or prolonged pain that
eventually kills them.
3. For example, natural death, death from plague and cholera.
4. The Prophet has repeatedly said “in the way of God” and that means to
die in a state of strong faith in God.

(b)
1. Believers should be ready to lay down their lives in God’s way only.
2. They should develop the spirit of withstanding all serious and fatal
sufferings with a strong belief that everything is by the supreme will of God
Almighty who alone has power to give life and death.
3. They should be ready to sacrifice their lives while fighting on God’s
command as well as while suffering any physical ailment with this Quranic
instruction:
4. “…….but give glad tidings to those who patiently preserve. Who say,
when afflicted with calamity: To God we belong, and to Him is our
return” (2:155-156)
5. This way, serious ailments and sudden trials will not shake their faith.
Hadith 9

No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his
hand

(a)
1. Islam related struggle for lawful earning with the performance of obligatory
rituals:
2. “To earn a clean living is also a duty next to the obligatory duties of
faith” (Hadith)
3. Islam instructs the believers to work hard and earn by legitimate and fair
means without dependence on others: “One who works for himself is a
friend of God”.
4. This means the Muslims should believe that hardwork of any kind is a
means of earning not only material bounties but also God’s pleasure and
favour.

(b)
1. The Muslims should follow the example of the Prophet who set several
guiding examples.
2. He would mend his shoes and clothes, work as ordinary worker in the
construction of the mosque and digging of the ditch.
3. They should reject all such unlawful and undesirable means of earning as
bribery, usury (riba) and beggary because the Prophet strictly warned his
followers of the consequences of these antisocial practices:
4. “The one who offers and the one who accepts the bribe will both go
to the Fire of Hell”.
5. They should obey the Quranic command:
6. “Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good, and do not follow footsteps
of Satan” (2:168)
Hadith 10

One who manages the affairs of the widow and the poor man is like the
one who exerts himself in the way of Allah, or the one who stands for
prayer in the night or fasts in the day.

(a)
1. Islamic teachings train the believers to develop a sense of fulfilling the
rights of God as well as those of the fellow beings.
2. Islam strictly instructs us to take care of the less privileged in the society.
Such people have been equated by the Prophet to a regular worshipper
and the one who strives in the way of God.
3. The Quran links true faith with a supportive attitude towards the poor and
declares those who fail to do so as the rejectors of faith:
4. “Have you seen the one who denies the judgement?....... and who
does not encourage the feeding of the indigent”. ( 107, al-Ma’un)

(b)
1. The Muslims should follow the example of the Prophet who married the
widow and often gave away his share of meal to those in need:
2. “ Nor repulse the petitioner unheard” (al-Duha, 93)
3. They should support those in need by regular charity and almsgiving in a
way that the honour of the needy is not hurt: “There is a man who gives
charity and conceals it so much that his left hand does not know
what his right hand spends” (Hadith)
4. This means there should be no showing off.
5. The best way of supporting a widow is her remarriage with her consent as
it is the Sunnah of the Prophet.
6. The weak in the society should be supported and taken care of, just like
the Prophet himself did in Makka and Madina.
Hadith 11

‘I and the man who brings up an orphan will be in paradise like this.’ And
he pointed with his two fingers, the index finger and the middle finger.

(a)
1. Islam instructs its followers to be caring and considerate towards the
unsupported and the needy.
2. It promises greater rewards for such noble attitude, e.g., earning the
pleasure of God and closeness to His Messenger.
3. It also associates such nobility with the love for God:
4. “And they feed for the love of God, the indigent, the orphan and the
captive” (76:8)
5. Care and support of the orphan is greatly admired by the Quran and
Sunnah, as both promise huge rewards for those who are kind towards the
orphan.
6. This Hadith guarantees such people closeness to the Prophet in Paradise
→ for any believer this is no less than a fabulous award in the Hereafter.

(b)
1. The Prophet, himself being an orphan, always took special care of the
orphan and the needy.
2. He was reminded in Surah al-Duha: “Did He not find you an orphan
and give you shelter? ”
3. He therefore, showered special love on the orphan
4. Muslims should imitate his examples in whatever possible ways
5. They should donate generously for the orphanages run and maintained by
various charity organizations.
6. They should adopt orphan children in the light of the admiration expressed
by the Prophet, “ the best Muslim house is that in which an orphan is
well treated”.
7. Such noble tasks strengthen the communal bonds among the members of
the Muslim community.
Hadith 12

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) sent
Abu Musa and Mu‘adh ibn Jabal to Yaman, and he sent each of them to
govern a part. Then he said: ‘Be gentle and do not be hard, and
cause rejoicing and do not alienate.’

(a)
1. This Hadith highlights the importance of the responsibilities of a Muslim
ruler
2. Being the leader of the Muslim community is a huge responsibility and a
great trust of God with the ruler.
3. A Muslim ruler is required to consider himself the custodian of his people,
responsible for their prosperity and welfare:
4. “Leader of the community is indeed its servant” (Hadith)
5. “Your best rulers are those whom you love and they love you”
(Hadith)
6. Such an attitude is based on a strong sense of accountability before the
people as well as the Supreme Lord.
7. True Muslim rulers try their best to win the hearts of their people by
kindness and by being very close to them, avoiding any degree of
harshness.

(b)
1. The Prophet and his four successors set glorious traditions about how to
act as rulers
2. They devoted their energies for the general welfare and collective
prosperity of their people
3. Muslim rulers need to follow these model rulers who ruled not only the
state but also the hearts of their subjects.
4. They should remove all barriers that separate them form their people and
should treat them in a kind and fatherly way so that people do not fear but
respect them with sincerity.
5. Caliph Ali remarked: “The state might survive with paganism but
might not survive with injustice”.
6. They should ensure justice and follow this instruction of the
Prophet: “Make things easy and don’t make them hard, and cheer up
people and don’t repel them”.
Hadith 13

He who studies the Qur’an is like the owner of tethered camels. If he

attends to them he will keep hold of them, but if he lets them loose they
will go away

(a)
1. The conduct of the Muslims depends on the degree of their association
with the Quran because it is the basis of their lives.
2. The Prophet has linked this bond with the ownership of the tethered
camels
3. As long as the camels are supervised and kept tethered, they remain
under control.
4. Similarly, as long as a Muslim remains attached to the Quran by recitation,
learning and comprehending it, the Quran continues to benefit him; but if
this relation is weakened, the effect of the Quran gradually fades away.
5. The Prophet admired those devoted to learning and teaching of the
Quran: “The best among you is the one who has learned the Quran
and teaches it”

(b)
1. The Muslims should encourage regular recitation and learning the Quran
by heart so that their ties with the Quran are strengthened”
2. “Keep refreshing your knowledge of the Quran for I swear by Him in
whose hand is my soul, that is the more liable to escape than camels
which are tethered”
3. The Quran should be recited in the manner prescribed by the Quran
itself: “And recite the Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones” (73:4)
4. Also, its message should be comprehended in order to shape our conduct
according to the Quranic command.
Hadith 14

May God show mercy to a man who is kindly when he sells, when he buys,
and when he demands his money back.

(a)
1. Economic teachings of Islam stress on honesty and justice on one hand,
while mercy and lenience on the other.
2. Buyers and sellers should not have any intention of exploiting or cheating
each other:
3. “One who cheats is not among us” (Hadith)
4. Sellers should believe that honesty and generosity are liked by God.
5. Buyers similarly should not have any ill intention of exploiting any
weakness of the seller.
6. Creditors should believe that God alone enabled him to be a source of
helping those in need and so, he should develop spirit of magnanimity
when some needy person approaches him.

(b)
1. The Prophet conducted trade with full honesty and dedication
2. He would not hide defects of merchandise while selling any items.
3. Muslim traders should follow this and should not try to unduely maximize
profits.
4. While buying anything, Muslims should observe some limit of bargaining
so that the seller does not feel uncomfortable.
5. A creditor should be generous enough to give any relief to the debtor
because the Prophet greatly admired such degree of kindness:
6. “Whoever has a claim on a brother which is payable and he allows
respite to the debtor in his payment, he will be given the reward of
charity”.
7. Islam forbids any usury and instructs to extend “the beautiful loan”
(Interest-free loan).
Hadith 15

God will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others

(a)
1. Among all attributes of God, mercy is very special because according to
a Hadith-i-Qudsi:“Truly My mercy overcomes My wrath”
2. God, therefore, loves those who show mercy to others, and He commands
the Muslims to seek His mercy and extend mercy on others.
3. The Holy Prophet is called “mercy for all creatures” in the
Quran (21:107)
4. The Prophet encouraged his followers to keep alive the spirit of mercy and
compassion so that they get entitled to God’s mercy in the Hereafter.
5. None can be more ill-fated than the one who gets deprived of God’s
mercy.

(b)
1. The Muslims are required to follow the footsteps of the Prophet who never
cursed his enemies and insultors in Makka, Taif and the battlefield.
2. In the battle of Uhud, when some companion asked him to curse the
Makkans, his reply was:
3. “I have not been sent to curse”
4. He kindly treated captives of Badr and forgave his fatal enemies on the
conquest of Makka.
5. Muslims today may imitate such noble conduct and generosity of heart.
6. They should not overburdon their employees and should have the moral
courage of forgiving the insultors because they will receive huge reward
from their Lord:
7. “Be compassionate to those on earth and He, who is in the heavens,
will be compassionate to you”.
Hadith 16

The believers are like a single man; if his eye is affected he is affected,
and if his head is affected he is all affected.

(a)
1. Islam established the universal Muslim brotherhood when the Prophet
migrated to Madina:
2. “The believers are a single brotherhood” (49:10)
3. All Muslims regardless of social and geographical background were united
as a single community.
4. Since it is a divine arrangement, all Muslims are bound to observe it
5. They should develop a strong sense of belonging to the same community
or family so that if any of the fellows experiences discomfort, he too should
feel it.
6. The Prophet also used another comparison :
7. “One believer to another is like the bricks of a building; each one is
holding and supporting the other”.

(b)
1. The believers may follow this Hadith in a variety of ways.
2. The Ansar of Madina accommodated the Muhajireen of Makka by sharing
all their assets with them.
3. During congregational prayers and the pilgrimage to Makka, Muslims
come closer to each other and this trains them to share joys and sorrows.
4. They should care for fellow Muslims in hour of need and trials
5. The Prophet linked true belief with a sense of brotherhood: “you cannot
be true believers unless there is reciprocal love among you”.
6. They can also promote unity by collectively following the Quranic guidance
:
7. “And hold fast all together the Rope of God and do not be
divided” (3:103)
Hadith 17

Modesty produces nothing but good.

(a)
1. Moral teachings of Islam are intimately linked with modesty
2. Modesty is the barrier, like piety, against all indecencies and evils and is
thus a source of strengthening faith and submission before divine
commands.
3. The Prophet said: “Modesty and faith are companions; when one is
taken away, the other follows it”
4. So, modesty strengthens and accompanies faith, and faith, in turn,
promotes mental piety.
5. Mental piety reflects a believer’s obedience to God and is a means of
earning God’s favor.
6. Modesty is antidote to evil acts and disobedience to God.

(b)
1. Islam teaches ways of observing modesty both towards God and the
fellow members of the community.
2. Regular prayer effectively wards off evil thoughts and actions :
3. “for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds” (29:45)
4. This way, a believer’s conduct is shaped according to the divine
commands and guidance.
5. Another way of observing modesty is to put interests of fellows before
one’s own interests:
6. “None of you truly believes unless he desires for his brother that
what he desires for himself.” (Hadith)
7. Such an attitude surely eliminates evils and social problems so that a
balanced society develops.
Hadith 18

He who has in his heart as much faith as a grain of mustard seed will not
enter hell, and he who has in his heart as much pride as a grain of
mustard seed will not enter paradise.

(a)
1. According to Muslim belief, true faith alone guarantees a believer’s
salvation from the fire of Hell and entry to Paradise.
2. Faith promotes the spirit of submission before the will of God and thus
negates pride.
3. Pride symbolises disobedience as is evident from Satan’s refusal to obey
God:
4. “We said to angels: “Bow down to Adam”, and they all bowed down
except for Iblis; he refused and was haughty” (2:34)
5. A believer with the slightest degree of faith will eventually be freed from
Hell and a person with the slightest amount of pride will be denied
Paradise and driven to Hell: “Is there not in Hell an abode for the
Haughty” (39:60)
(b)
1. Muslims should promote humbleness and submission before God so that
they earn His blessing.
2. The Quran mentions the ways of being humble towards God and reward
of such attitude:
3. “The believers must eventually win through. Those who humble
themselves in their prayers” (23:1, 2)
4. By strengthening a sense of humility, pride can be effectively resisted and
controlled.
5. This ensures pleasure of God:
6. “for God does not love the arrogant” (4:36)
7. Following the divine guidance is the best means of promoting humility and
resisting pride.
Hadith 19

The world is the believer’s prison and the unbeliever’s paradise

(a)
1. God is the Creator of this world and the Hereafter.
2. He created charms in this world to test His obedient servants.
3. A believer is trained by Islamic teachings to consider this world a prison
where he is not free to live a life of his choice and so, can’t get attached to
it just as a prisoner can’t develop a lasting association with the prison.
4. A true believer gradually develops an approach to the worldly life that the
Quran mentions as:
5. “What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is
the home in the Hereafter.” (6:32)
6. He strongly believes in the eternal joys of the Hereafter whereas a non-
believer is fully enticed by the temporary glow of this world and thus,
denies the Hereafter.
(b)
1. A staunch belief in the temporariness of this world and eternity of the life
after death is demonstrated by a believer’s submission to God’s will:
2. “Say ‘I believe in God and then act uprightly.” (Hadith)
3. He lives in this world just as a prisoner or a stranger in the light of this
instruction of the Prophet:
4. “Live in this world as if you were a stranger or a wayfarer” Unlike the
non-believers who are totally absorbed in the world, a believer considers
his life as a testing phase or a cultivating ground the fruits of which will be
awarded in the Hereafter:
5. “This world is a seedbed for the Hereafter” (Hadith)
Hadith 20

God does not look at your forms and your possessions, but he looks at
your hearts and your deeds.

(a)
1. This Hadith categorically declares the criterion by which God judges
actions and conduct.
2. God does not consider outward appearance or worldly gains made by a
person.
3. He simply considers a person’s conduct and the intentions behind it
because the Prophet clearly stated in another Hadith: “Actions are
judged by intentions”
4. However good appearance we may carry and whatever success we get,
God is so supreme and high that everything is worthless before Him
because He is “Lord of all the worlds” and “He knows secrets of
hearts.”
5. So, a true believer strives to act according to the Quran and Sunnah and
with sincerity of intention.

(b)
1. Muslims should struggle to live a righteous life instead of focusing on
material gains only.
2. They should follow the Quran and Sunnah since this alone can guarantee
success in the Hereafter. They should reject any form or degree of
hypocrisy or showing off and develop sincerity of faith and intention,
keeping in mind:
3. “Whether you hide whatever is in your hearts or reveal it, God knows
it all.” (3:29)
4. They should do all noble deeds with the pure intention of earning God’s
pleasure, however ordinary these deeds might seem to others.