TRADITIONS OF MUHAMMAD

The Hadeeth By Amin Elshorbagy

The number two source of Islamic teachings and knowledge, after the Glorious Quran, is called the Sunnah. The Sunnah is a collection of sayings, actions, or events that have been approved by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).The Hadeeth are the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) to his followers throughout his life as a Messenger of Allah (God); 23 years. Everything the Prophet (PBUH) said has been recorded and reported as a Hadeeth. The science of Hadeeth in Islam is one of the most sound and highly scientific branches of knowledge. The scholars of the Hadeeth have classified the thousands of sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) into categories of sound, good, weak, and fabricated. Fabricated Hadeeth are discarded but also documented so that people know them in case they come across any of these fabricated sayings.

In these classifications, scholars rely mainly on the chain of narrators. First, the chain has to be complete with all narrators known starting from the companion of the Prophet who heard it directly until the narrator who told it to the author of the book of Hadeeth in which this Hadeeth is documented. In the Islamic library, there are six most famous books of Hadeeth. There are also books that document personal characteristics and history of narrators; such as, honest, sound-minded, sometimes lied, got mixed up at old age,…etc. If there is any small doubt about the integrity of any one of the narrators in the chain, or if one of the narrators in the chain is missing, then the Hadeeth cannot be classified as sound. Second, the scholars check the wording and the meaning of the Hadeeth to ensure that it does not contradict with the general teachings and guidelines of the Quran or the widely known characteristics and code of conduct of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) . If it does, then the Hadeeth is marked as fabricated. Today, every documented Hadeeth is known whether it is sound or not, and who the narrators are.

Examples of sound Hadeeth of the Prophet (PBUH):

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Swearing by the One Whom my soul is in His Hand, a slave of God cannot be a believer until he loves for his neighbour what he loves for himself” [Muslim’s book of sound Hadeeth:45].

“Indeed he tasted the sweetness of faith the one who accepted Allah (God) as his/her Lord, Islam as his/her religion, and Muhammad as the Messenger of God” [Muslim’s book of sound Hadeeth:46].

“Protect yourself from Hell fire even by giving (for charity) half of a date, and if you do not have it, give at least a good word” [Muslim’s book of sound Hadeeth:1016].

“Every favour or a good deed is a charity” [Muslim’s book of sound Hadeeth:1005].

“Indeed he attained success, the one who is given a little provision, and Allah made him content with what He gave him” [Muslim’s book of sound Hadeeth: ].

“(The road to) The Heaven (Paradise) is surrounded by hardships, and (the road to) the Hell fire is surrounded by lusts” [Muslim’s book of sound Hadeeth:2822].

The Second Teaching of Islam By Nisreen Abbas

            When Muslims want to learn more about their religion, Islam, they first of all refer to the Holy Book, the Quran. The Quran is the word of Allah revealed to our Prophet, Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him). The second teaching of Islam is the teaching of our Prophet (PBUH) also known as the Hadith. This includes the sayings of the Prophet to his companions during his life. The Hadith also includes stories about how Muslims lived their lives during the Prophet’s life.

            There are many Hadith that they Prophet said during his life, they take about all issues of life.

The Following Hadith talks about Islam and Iman:

Abdullah Ibn Umar swore by Him (the Lord) (and said): If any one of them (who does not believe in the Divine Decree) had with him gold equal to the bulk of (the mountain) Uhud and then, it (in the way of Allah), Allah would not accept it unless he affirmed his faith in Divine Decree. He further said: My father, Umar Ibn al-Khattab, told me: One day we were sitting in the company of Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last he sat with the Apostle (peace be upon him) He knelt before him placed his palms on his thighs and said: Muhammad, inform me about al-Islam.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear the expense of) the journey. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He (Umar Ibn al-Khattab) said: It amazed us that he would put the question and then he would himself verify the truth. He (the inquirer) said: Inform me about Iman (faith). He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He (the inquirer) again said: Inform me about al-Ihsan (performance of good deeds). He (the Holy Prophet) said: That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you. He (the enquirer) again said: Inform me about the hour (of the Doom). He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: One who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring (about it). He (the inquirer) said: Tell me some of its indications. He (the Holy Prophet) said: That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and master, that you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings. He (the narrator, Umar Ibn al-Khattab) said: Then he (the inquirer) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Holy Prophet) for a long while. He then, said to me: Umar, do you know who this inquirer was? I replied: Allah and His Apostle knows best. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: He was Gabriel (the angel). He came to you in order to instruct you in matters of religion.

Another Hadith that is considered as the Centre of Islam is:

Narrated By 'Umar bin Al-Khattab : I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."

There are also a number of Hadith that talk about Prayers, some of these are:

1.Narrated By Az-Zuhn : Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari, told me, "Abu Bakr used to lead the people in prayer during the fatal illness of the Prophet till it was Monday. When the people aligned (in rows) for the prayer the Prophet lifted the curtain of his house and started looking at us and was standing at that time. His face was (glittering) like a page of the Qur'an and he smiled cheerfully. We were about to be put to trial for the pleasure of seeing the Prophet, Abu Bakr retreated to join the row as he thought that the Prophet would lead the prayer. The Prophet beckoned us to complete the prayer and he let the curtain fall. On the same day he died."

2. Narrated By Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari : Allah's Apostle rode a horse and fell down and the right side of his body was injured. On that day he prayed one of the prayers sitting and we also prayed behind him sitting. When the Prophet finished the prayer with Taslim, he said, "The Imam is to be followed and if he prays standing then pray standing, and bow when he bows, and raise your heads when he raises his head; prostrate when he prostrates; and if he says 'Sami'a-l-lahu Liman hamida', you should say, 'Rabbana wa-laka-l hamd.'"

3. Narrated By Ibn 'Umar : While Umar bin Al-Khattab was standing and delivering the sermon on a Friday, one of the companions of the Prophet, who was one of the foremost Muhajirs (emigrants) came. 'Umar said to him, "What is the time now?" He replied, "I was busy and could not go back to my house till I heard the Adhan. I did not perform more than the ablution." Thereupon 'Umar said to him, "Did you perform only the ablution although you know that Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) used to order us to take a bath (on Fridays)?"

There are a number of Hadith where the Prophet teaches us good manners and form (Al-Adab), some of these are:

1.Narrated By Abu Huraira : A man came to the Prophet and said, "I have been ruined for I have had sexual relation with my wife in Ramadan (while I was fasting)" The Prophet said (to him), "Manumit a slave." The man said, " I cannot afford that." The Prophet said, "(Then) fast for two successive months continuously". The man said, "I cannot do that." The Prophet said, "(Then) feed sixty poor persons." The man said, "I have nothing (to feed them with)." Then a big basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet. The Prophet said, "Where is the questioner? Go and give this in charity." The man said, "(Shall I give this in charity) to a poorer person than l? By Allah, there is no family in between these two mountains (of Medina) who are poorer than we." The Prophet then smiled till his premolar teeth became visible, and said, "Then (feed) your (family with it).

2. Mu'awiya b. Suwaid b. Muqarrin reported: I visited al-Bara' b. 'Azib and heard him say: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded us to do seven things and forbade us to do seven (things). He commanded us to visit the sick, to follow the funeral procession, to answer the sneezer, to fulfil the vow, to help the poor, to accept the invitation and to greet everybody, and he forbade us to wear rings or gold rings, to drink in silver (vessels), and to use the saddle cloth made of red silk, and to wear garments made of Qassi material, or garments made of silk or brocade and velvet.

Hadith about Belief and Islam:

1. Narrated By Ibn 'Umar : Allah's Apostle said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):

1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Apostle.

2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.

3. To pay Zakat. (i.e. obligatory charity)

4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)

5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.

2. Narrated By Abu Huraira : The Prophet said, "Faith (Belief) consists of more than sixty branches (i.e. parts). And Haya (This term "Haya" covers a large number of concepts which are to be taken together; amongst them are self respect, modesty, bashfulness, and scruple, etc.) is a part of faith."

3. Narrated By 'Abdullah bin 'Amr : The Prophet said, "A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands. And a Muhajir (emigrant) is the one who gives up (abandons) all what Allah has forbidden."

4. Narrated By Abu Musa : Some people asked Allah's Apostle, "Whose Islam is the best? i.e. (Who is a very good Muslim)?" He replied, "One who avoids harming the Muslims with his tongue and hands."

5. Narrated By Anas : The Prophet said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself."

6. Narrated By Anas : The Prophet said, "Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith:

1. The one to whom Allah and His Apostle becomes dearer than anything else.

2. Who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah's sake.

3. Who hates to revert to Atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the fire."

Knowledge. 

1. Narrated By 'Abdullah bin 'Amr : Once the Prophet remained behind us in a journey. He joined us while we were performing ablution for the prayer which was over-due. We were just passing wet hands over our feet (and not washing them properly) so the Prophet addressed us in a loud voice and said twice or thrice: "Save your heels from the fire."

2. Narrated By Ibn Mas'ud : The Prophet used to take care of us in preaching by selecting a suitable time, so that we might not get bored. (He abstained from pestering us with sermons and knowledge all the time).

3. Narrated By Ibn 'Abbas : Once the Prophet embraced me and said, "O Allah! Bestow on him the knowledge of the Book (Qur'an)."

To Make The Heart Tender

1. Narrated By Ibn 'Abbas : The Prophet narrating about his Lord I'm and said, "Allah ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times to many more times: and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allah will write one bad deed (in his account)."

2. Usama b. Zaid reported that Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) said: I stood at the door of Paradise and I found that the overwhelming majority of those who entered therein was that of poor persons and the wealthy persons were detained to get into that. The denizens of Hell were commanded to get into Hell, and I stood upon the door of Fire and the majority amongst them who entered there was that of women.