Hadtih

Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “None of you is truly a believer until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” [Muslim] Commentary: If you get two similar things, one for yourself and one to give as a gift, which one do you keep? You have passed the test of eman (faith) if you give the better one away. If you give the inferior one away then you need to cultivate your eman. Strangely, if you behave as though you had eman, i.e. give the better one away for the pleasure of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala), even though you don’t feel like it, then eman will automatically develop in you. Eman and behavior are mutually reinforcing. Once Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) had two miswaks (natural toothbrush). One was crooked and the other was straight. Since Allah’s Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was of the finest character, he truly wanted everyone else to have the best. So he gave the straight miswak to his fellow Sahabah and kept the crooked one for himself. Is this what you practice in your transactions or do you wish that no one had a car, house, children, education, job or clothes better than yours? Does the good fortune of others make you happy or unhappy? The sign of a true Muslim is that they are happy at the good fortune of others and sad at the misfortune of others.

Hadith

1376. Mu`awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah(sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Deen.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: Knowledge and understanding of Deen (religion) here stands for the understanding of the Qur'an and Hadith, religious injunctions, and knowledge of the lawful and the unlawful. This Hadith highlights the excellence of knowledge and the fact that it is a sign of Allah's Help to the person who possesses it and acts upon it.

Hadith

1016. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) saying, "There is a Surah in the Qur'an which contains thirty Ayat which kept interceding for a man until his sins are forgiven. This Surah is `Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion.' (Surat Al-Mulk 67).''
[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

Commentary: This Hadith means that on the Day of Resurrection this Surah will intercede with Allah for the forgiveness of its reciter. This Hadith has been narrated (in Arabic) in the past tense because, like the past indefinite, its occurrence is definite and not open to inquiry. At some places, however, it has also been narrated in the present tense.

The punishment of the grave is compensation for a person’s sins in the world. We should always seek refuge with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) from the trial of the grave as the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did. Reciting Surat-ul-Mulk at night also protects from punishment of the grave, inshaAllah.

Hadith.

1433. Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with her) reported, the Mother of the Believers: The Prophet (PBUH) came out from my apartment in the morning as I was busy in performing the dawn prayer. He came back in the forenoon and found me sitting there. The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Are you still in the same position as I left you.'' I replied in the affirmative. Thereupon the Prophet said, "I recited four words three times after I had left you. If these are to be weighed against all you have recited since morning, these will be heavier. These are: Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, `adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinatah `arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi [Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the weight of His Throne and equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise)].''
[Muslim].

Commentary: The recitation of the words quoted in this Hadith is highly meritorious and rewarding because they are full of Praise and Glorification of Allah.

[1433] وعن أم المؤمنين جُويْريَةَ بنت الحارِث رَضِيَ اللهُ عنها : أنَّ النَّبيَّ خرجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا بُكْرَةً حِيْنَ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَهِيَ في مَسْجِدِها ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ بَعدَ أنْ أضْحَى وَهِيَ جَالِسَةٌ ، فقالَ : « مَا زِلْتِ عَلَى الحالِ الَّتي فَارقَتُكِ عَلَيْهَا ؟ » قالت : نَعَمْ ، فَقَالَ النَّبيُّ : « لَقَدْ قُلْتُ بَعْدَكِ أرْبَعَ كَلِمَاتٍ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ، لَوْ وُزِنَتْ بِمَا قُلْتِ مُنْذُ اليَوْمِ لَوَزَنَتْهُنَّ : سُبْحَانَ الله وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ ، وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ ، وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ ، وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ » . رواه مسلم . وفي روايةٍ لَهُ : « سُبْحانَ الله عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ الله رِضَا نَفْسِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ زِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ الله مِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ » . وفي رواية الترمذي : « ألا أُعَلِّمُكِ كَلِمَاتٍ تَقُولِينَهَا ؟ سُبحَانَ الله عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ ، سُبحَانَ الله عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ ، سُبحَانَ الله عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ رِضَا نَفْسِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ رِضَا نَفْسِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ الله رِضَا نَفْسِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ الله زِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ زِنَةَ عَرشِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ الله زِنَةَ عَرشِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ الله مِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ الله مِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ الله مِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ » . فيه : شرف هذا الذكر بأي صيغة من صيغه المذكورة . وفيه : دليل على فضل هذه الكلمات الجوامع ، والأحسن الإتيان بجميع ما ذكر في هذه الروايات .

Hadith.

Allah's Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Beware of sins which are treated as being minor, just like a people who encamp in the center of a valley, so someone brings a stick of firewood and someone else brings a stick until they are, therefore, able to bake their bread. Likewise, sins which are treated as being minor, and for which the person is taken to account, will destroy him.” [Ahmad]

Commentary: It is just as the noble companion Abdullah ibn Masood (radi Allahu anhu) said: “The believer sees his sins as if he were sitting beneath a mountain which he feared was about to fall upon him, whereas the wicked sees his sins like a man who finds a fly settle upon his nose, so he does this (the narrator brushed it away from his nose).”

The Muslim should realize the greatness of his Lord, the One free and far from all imperfections, and His tremendous Power and Might, and he should not think of the sin as being great or small! Rather he should think of it with regard to the One who he is disobeying.

The committing of sin removes Iman and fear of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) from the heart. Each sin leaves a black dot upon the heart, killing it a little bit. When the heart is covered in black, a seal is then put on it and the door of guidance is shut on it. The sins which are ignored, neither repented for nor erased by the doing of good deeds, cause their doer’s destruction.

Hadith.

"Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) drew four lines and said to the Companions, "Do you know what these are?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "The best women of the women of Paradise are Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint Imran, and Aasiyah bint Muzahim (the wife of the Pharaoh)." [Ahmad]

Commentary: It was the style of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) that he would ask a question to draw the attention of his Companions. This hadith tells us who the best women in Paradise are.

They are four and what they have in common is that they are all connected to a prophet. Two of them brought up prophets: Maryam (alaihis salaam) brought up Isa (alaihis salaam) and Aasia (alaihis salaam) brought up Musa (alaihis salaam). The other two perfect women, Khadeejah and Fatima (radi Allahu anhuma), were the wife and daughter of a prophet respectively.

Hazrat Khadeeja was one of the main pillars of support for Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), spiritually, emotionally and financially. She was also the mother of one of the perfect women, i.e. Hazrat Fatima. Hazrat Fatima was Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam)’s daughter – ascetic and most like him. She was the mother of Imams Hasan and Husain, who are the leaders of the youth in Jannah. She was also the wife of Hazrat Ali, one of the Sahabah promised Jannah.

Hadith

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "A servant of God will remain standing on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about his (time on earth) and how he used it; about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth and from where he acquired it and in what (activities) he spent it; and about his body and how he used it." [Tirmidhi]

Hadith

513. Fadalah bin `Ubaid Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) say: "Happiness is due to him who is guided to Islam and possesses provision that suffices him for his day and remains content.''[At-Tirmidhi].
512. In a related hadith: Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He is successful who has accepted Islam, who has been provided with sufficient for his wants and been made contented by Allah with what He has given him.” [Muslim]

Commentary: Nowadays when people say, ‘So and so is very successful’ what they mean is, ‘He/she is making a lot of money.’ In the above mentioned hadith Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) explains who qualifies to be called successful. It’s not having Car X, House in W and Job Z but:
1. Islam.
2. Needs fulfilled.
3. Possession of a thankful heart.

The word Tuba (translated here as happiness) is given to Jannah. Some Ahadith say that it is the name of a heavenly tree as well. Lexically, however, it means greeting and good tiding. The sense of this Hadith is analogous to that of the previous one.
The real success of a man will be measured by his being blessed with Divine mercy and forgiveness in the Hereafter, and this is contingent on Islam alone. If he lacks the wealth of Islam, all the worldly possessions will not ensure his success in the next world. This Hadith tells us that richness is not to be defined in terms of a lot of belongings, and that the real richness is gauged by the contentment of the soul.

Hadith

404. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were in the company of Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) when we heard a bang. Thereupon Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said. "Do you know what this (sound) is?'' We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better.'' He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "That is a stone which was thrown into Hell seventy years before and it has just reached its bottom".
[Muslim].

In related hadith: The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Indeed a giant rock can be thrown from the brink of Hell and it will continue to fall into it for seventy years without reaching the bottom of it." [Jami At-Tirmidhi - graded sahih]

Commentary :One can imagine the torments and horrors of Hell from its depth.
Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said: "Increase in your remembrance of the Fire, for its heat is extreme, its bottom is distant, and its whips are of iron." [Jami At-Tirmidhi - graded sahih] There wouldn’t be a single criminal left on the face of this earth were people to remember the horror of Jahannum!

Hadith.

Amar bin Maymoon Al-Audi (radhi Allahu anhu) narrates that once Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) gave the following advice to a Sahaabi: “Treasure five things before five others: Your youth before old-age; your health before illness; your wealth before poverty; your free time before becoming occupied, and your life before death." [Tirmidhi] Commentary: This wonderful hadith describes the four major assets of life: youth, health, wealth, and free time. Although life is counted as the fifth point, but by mentioning it last the implication is that the previous four factors make up the capital of one’s life. The word “treasure” at the start of this hadith is quite significant. A human being treasures things that are valuable. A Muslim in particular, is taught to value and appreciate the four major funds that make up a person’s capital for investment in the hereafter. So take advantage of and treasure your youth before you grow old, your health before you fall sick, your wealth before you grow poor, your free time before you become busy, and finally your life before you die.

Hadith

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) said: "The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) never criticized any food. If he wanted it he would eat it, and if he disliked it he would refrain." [Abu Dawud - graded sahih]

Commentary: Important table manners for us to learn! Not only will we get along better with our family members when we adopt these manners, but we will also exhibit our love of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) by displaying his mannerisms, thus increasing our chances of being with him on the Day of Resurrection.

Hadith

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Act upon the obedience to Allah and avoid the prohibitions of Allah, and order your children to abide by the commandments of Allah and to avoid the prohibitions of Allah, and by that you protect yourselves and them from the Hellfire.” [Ibn Jurayr]

Commentary: This hadith holds a couple of important lessons for us:

1. It is the right of children to be brought up in accordance with the guidelines of Islam. It is the duty of parents to protect their children from the Fire of Hell by teaching them Allah’s commands and prohibitions.

2. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) first commands the parents to act upon the commands of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). It is a well known fact, that children learn by imitation. What a parent says, carries a lot less weight, than what a parent does. Children automatically do what their parents do, but not necessarily what they say.

Hadith.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah Mighty and Majestic sent me as a guidance and mercy to believers and commanded me to do away with musical instruments, flutes, strings, crucifixes, and the affair of the pre-Islamic period of Ignorance.” [Abu Dawud]

Commentary: The evidence against musical instruments, in particular wind and string instruments, is irrefutable. There are many sahih ahadith forbidding the use of musical instruments. The Sunni schools of Fiqh all prohibit wind instruments (e.g. flutes, trumpets) and string instruments (e.g. violins, guitars) categorically, while they differ in their ruling on percussion instruments (e.g. drums). “The Islamic Ruling On Music And Singing In Light Of The Qur'an, The Sunnah, And The Consensus Of Our Pious Predecessors,” by Abu Bilal Mustafa Al-Kanadi, is a detailed discourse on this topic.

The ‘duff’ (tambourine), a percussion instrument, is allowed as an exception to the general prohibition on musical instruments. This is proven by numerous instances of Rasul Allah’s taqriri Sunnah (i.e. he saw its use but did not forbid it.) The duff, accompanied by song, was used in the Prophet’s time on special occasions and weddings, but not as a general pastime.

A hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari, on the prohibition of musical instruments is: “From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk (by men), the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful…. Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and He will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection.” [Authentic nature of this hadith discussed in the Commentary on Sahih ul-Bukhari, entitled Fat-hul Baari by Ibn Hajar, vol. 10, p.51]

Singing is not forbidden, provided that the content is appropriate. However, singing to the accompaniment of musical instruments becomes forbidden because of the haraam (forbidden) element of music. We see a large part of the Ummah being deceived about life and morality, wasting the precious little time they have of this life, while engrossed in musical ‘entertainment’. We already know that most of what is sung in 'enterainment' goes against Islamic principles (promoting drugs, dating, promiscuity, ego,etc), so why spend/waste your time doing something that Allah(swt) is displeased of and will ultimately take you further from Him?

The obsession with music has become as common as the air we breathe. The seriousness of this sin can be judged by the following hadith of Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), on the authority of Anas (radi Allahu anhu): “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will pour molten lead into the ears of whoever sits listening to a songstress.” [Ibn Asakir in Tareekha]