AHADITH FOR SPECIAL STUDY

(a) Describe their teachings about what Muslims believe;

(b) Explain how Muslims can put these teachings into action.

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) Teachings:
1. Muslims must follow the teachings of Islam.
2. The true Muslims are loyal to God, the Qur’an and the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Muslims must be loyal to the basic teachings of
Islam and sincerely follow the Five Pillars.
3. They are not only sensitive to the needs of other people but obey their leaders as loyal members of the community.
4. The Holy Quran says; “O you who believe Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those charged with authority
among you...” This means that obedience to Allah, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the pious rulers is imperative.

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims can put the teachings of this Hadith into action by being obedient to Islam.
2. They should try to obey the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in their daily lives. Muslims should base their personal
lives on the teachings of Islam e.g. they should offer regular prayers and should fast in Ramadan.
3. They should also respect their leaders as the Holy Prophet (PBUH) showed respect for the leaders of his time when he wrote
to bring them to Islam. Even though he did not accept their way, he wrote kindly to ask them to become Muslims.
4. They should sincerely act to maintain the good of society e.g. they should take care of their neighbours, guests and even
strangers.

2. None of you believes until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself.
(a) Teachings:
1. Concern for the well-being of others is the basic teaching of this Hadith and is an important aspect of faith.
2. Care for others is a sign of sincere belief and that belief is only sincere when put into action.
3. A part of a Muslim’s faith is to work for the good of others as the Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said: ‘You cannot enter
Paradise unless you are believers and you cannot be true believers unless there is mutual love between you’.
4. This Hadith, therefore, teaches understanding and respect for others i.e. Social justice.

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims should always respond to the need of others. Care for others is a basic part of faith for which Muslims will be
rewarded.
2. By following this Hadith we should be sympathetic towards the less fortunate e.g. in case of any natural catastrophe like
floods or earthquakes, we should understand the pain of victims and should help them in their rehabilitation.
3. This will be in accordance with the Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s example when he created brotherhood between the Ansar of
Medina and Muhajirun of Makka.
4. Thus, it will create a harmonious and selfless society which will free from greed and egoism.

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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) Teachings:
1. Belief in Allah and the last day is the foremost requisite of being a Muslim. This Hadith highlights three important aspects of
our lives.
2. First, to speak wisely, speak the truth, and speak kindly without taking sides. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) stressed upon it in a
number of other sayings: ‘A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands Muslims are safe’.
3. The second aspect is about living in a community and caring for one’s neighbours. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) laid such a
great emphasis on the rights of neighbor that the companions began to feel that the neighbours would also be made rightful
heirs to the property of the deceased.
4. The third aspect is of generosity and hospitality towards guests. Hence this Hadith emphasizes upon the importance of the
rights of others and our duties towards them.
(b) Actions:
1. Belief in Allah and the Last Day is an integral part of a Muslims belief. All Muslims must follow Allah’s will as they are all
accountable to Him.
2. They must refrain from idle talk or such conversation which may offend others e.g. they should neither use abusive language
nor indulge in backbiting etc.
3. They should also be kind and considerate to their neighbours e.g. we should avoid playing loud music which may irritate our
neighbours. Holy Prophet (PBUH) said “None of you truly believes until he wants his brother what he wants for
himself”.
4. Similarly, guests should be welcomed wholeheartedly and be served generously. Such acts will help to create a polite and
civilized society.

4. A man asked the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and give him peace): Do you think 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) Teachings:
1. This Hadith very clearly outlines the basic requirements of being a good Muslim. One may do as much as one can, to gain
Allah’s pleasure, but it also shows that Allah does not burden mankind with the impossible.
2. The importance of prayer and fasting are highlighted here as pillars of Islam.
3. Similarly Allah has laid down clear rules about lawful and unlawful and He expects Muslims to live accordingly.
4. It is by following these basic Islamic principles that paradise can be attained and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in this Hadith
confirms this.
5. In another Hadith the Holy Prophet (PBUH) assured an Arab that he would enter Paradise if he had pure belief in Allah and
followed the Pillars of Islam like prayer, fasting and zakat, which proves that these are the pre requisite for the success in the
Hereafter.
(b) Actions:
1. Muslims should always be obedient towards God by following the pillars of Islam like prayer and fasting so that they should
be blessed with paradise.
2. However they should also be very careful about halal and haram e.g. they must avoid alcohol, gambling and riba based
transactions as such actions are strongly forbidden in Islam. Holy Quran says “Allah has allowed trade but banned
usury”.
3. They should live their lives by following the straight path shown by Allah through the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy
Prophet (PBUH).
4. If they do this they’ll be surely successful in the Hereafter.
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5. “Every persons 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 on to it or hoisting up his
belonging on to it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take to prayer is a charity;
and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity”.
(a) Teachings:
1. This Hadith highlights the importance of good deeds, no matter how great or small, towards ones fellow beings.
2. Another aspect that is highlighted is Allah’s acceptance and the recognition of goodness on our part-He sees the intention as
well as the deeds.
3. Sadaqa not only means the giving of charity in money or goods to the poor and deserving but also includes many charitable acts
big or small which are usually ignored.
(b) Action:
1. Muslims should practice different acts of charity in their everyday life e.g. they should attend to the sick, help the blind to cross
the road and protect the children from the traffic rush.
2. Similarly if there is any conflict between our class fellows; instead of taking side of our friends, we should act fairly.
3. Such acts will be blessed by Allah and will help to create a pious society as the Holy Prophet (PBUH) by his own example
showed how worship of Allah through prayer, fasting etc. and service to humanity (e.g. his modesty, kindness, justice etc.)
established an exemplary Muslim community.

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) Teachings:
1. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) explains that a Muslims is duty bound to contain evil.
2. It is a sign of strength of one’s faith to physically stop people from doing wrong, if that is not possible then to speak out against it,
and even if that is not possible, to consider a wrong act as sinful.
3. Therefore, This Hadith very clearly and forcefully clarifies the moral obligation that Muslims have to promote good and forbid evil
as the Holy Quran says “Help one another in matters of goodness and piety but do not help one another in matters of
sins and transgression”.

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims should fight against evil.
2. We should fight evil, with our hands or voices or thoughts e.g. we should stop our friends from cheating in tests;
3. Similarly we should forcefully condemn backbiting and lying etc. to prove that we are true Muslims.
4. Such acts will also promote modesty and purity in society.

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 in the way of Allah with
his person and his property’.
(a) Teachings:
1. This Hadith defines what makes a person the best when he struggles in way of Allah with himself and with his wealth.
2. The Quran says “And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s cause) He will replace it”.
3. This struggle establishes a society based on the right moral principles of justice and piety as laid down in Islam.
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4. One who spends in the way of Allah will be rewarded as well as the one who fights in the way of Allah will also be granted the
best recompense.

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims should follow this Hadith by sacrificing their time, money and even life in the way of Allah e.g. a true believer rises
before Fajr to offer Tahajjud prayers, or sits in Itikaf in the month of Ramadan or finances the hajj of a less fortunate Muslim;
they are all performing jihad.
2. Similarly when a Muslim is required to use his wealth to establish a just society based on good principles, he should do so.
3. This will be in accordance with the examples of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the companions who were always ready to strive for
Islam like the companions generously contributed at the time of Tabuk expedition.

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) Teachings:
1. This Hadith clarifies the concept of martyrdom. A martyr is one who voluntarily gives his life for the sake of Allah while fighting on
the battlefield.
2. The Hadith, however, mentions more categories of martyrs who will be rewarded on the Day of Judgment. These categories
contain the one who dies naturally in the cause of Allah, signifying a person whose death is not because of his being killed in the
war by sword etc. but on the account of some other events while going for Jihad such as falling from a horse, dies while
defending his family or property.
3. The Hadith also includes persons who die as a result of a serious and painful disease or those who meet a sudden death due to
a catastrophe.
(b) Actions:
1. Muslims should always be ready to strive in the way of Allah so that if they die while performing any kind of Jihad, then they
should be included among martyrs.
2. They must be true believers and practicing Muslims i.e. they live their lives in following the teachings of Islam e.g. prayer,
fasting, zakat and Hajj and by fulfilling the rights of fellow beings like of parents, neighbours, stranger etc.
3. In such a case if death approaches them whether natural or accidental then they’ll be rewarded as martyrs.

9. No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his hand
(a) Teachings:
1. This Hadith stresses the dignity of labour and hard work.
2. Islam discourages reliance on other people and beggary.
3. The virtue of earning lawfully through individual effort is preferred and blessed by Allah and Muslims must take responsibility
for earning their own livelihood.
4. Prophets also earned their living through their own work. At another place the Holy Prophet (PBUH) appreciated the hard
work by saying: ‘One who earns his living by the sweat of his brow is a friend of Allah’.

(b) Actions:
1. A Muslim should support himself and his family through his own hard work.

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 2. It is better for a Muslim to live within his means, even if it is humbly, than to earn unlawfully e.g. we should not indulge in
taking bribes etc. rather should prefer to do modest jobs like waiters and salesmen.
3. Similarly beggary is increasing in our society; we should condemn and discourage it.
4. This will not only promote self-sufficiency which is good for the individual but it is also good for community.

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) Teachings:
1. This Hadith clearly explains the importance of the rights of fellow beings. The Holy Prophet (SAW) stressed upon the
Muslims to be aware of people’s needs and attend to them.
2. Although only the words ‘widow’ and ‘poor’ have been mentioned, they cover the whole range of indigent, invalid, and the
needy people in the community.
3. Efforts for their care and welfare have been regarded equivalent to Jihad.
4. It is made clear that worship is not restricted as to prayers and fasting only but covers every good deed. The Holy Quran
orders believers to look after the weak and vulnerable ones as it says: ‘Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression
and repulse not the beggar’.

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims must always be ready and willing to help those in need e.g. financial assistance for the poor students to complete
their education.
2. Such acts of charity and kindness go on to earn Muslims Allah’s pleasure.
3. If they’ll look after the less fortunate ones then their reward will be equivalent to those who practice pillars of Islam or fight in
Allah’s way.

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 and the middle finger.
(a) Teachings:
1. This Hadith teaches that Muslims can go to paradise with the Holy Prophet (PBUH) if they do good.
2. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) particularly recommended the good deed of looking after orphans.
3. The mention of the two fingers symbolizes the close proximity with the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in Paradise.
4. In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) regarded that house as the best where an orphan is treated with kindness and
he (PBUH) declared the worst home is one in which an orphan is not treated with affection. Therefore, as an orphan himself
he (PBUH) especially recommended Muslims to care for orphans.

(b) Actions:
1. The teaching of this Hadith encourages Muslims to care for the orphans and other vulnerable e.g. we can pay school fee of a
poor so that he should not be deprived of his education.
2. Similarly we should donate generously to orphanages and try to adopt orphan child to look after him. In this way we will
follow the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and will therefore, be rewarded.
3. Such steps will also increase care, cooperation and positive feelings within the members of the society.

12. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) sent Abu Musa and Mu'adh
ibn Jabal to Yeman, 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.'

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(a) Teachings:
1. The teaching of this Hadith is that Muslims must always be gentle to others and cause rejoicing when they rule.
2. Muslims must also act fairly when they govern.
3. The Hadith focuses on Muslim leadership being helpful to those who are led and that it should never be by force rather by
encouragement.
4. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is quoted as saying that the best rulers were those who were loved by the people and who loved
their people. So, Muslim rulers are always polite and affectionate.
(b) Actions:
1. Muslims can put the teaching of this Hadith into practice by being gentle towards others and by making them rejoice due to
their actions towards them e.g. a teacher should not discourage a weak student rather motivate him to work harder to get
through the exam.
2. Also a Muslim government should always be fair in its actions e.g. the government of Pakistan should work sincerely to
reduce load shedding of electricity so that people live comfortably.
3. Such actions will reduce aggression and despair in society.

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) Teachings:
1. Muslims believe that learning and understanding the teachings of the Qur’an is very important.
2. As by tending to camels one not only keeps a hold of them but benefits from them, similarly by reading the Holy Qur’an
regularly Muslims hold on to the rope of Allah and practice being good thus earning the pleasure of Allah.
3. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has stressed upon the reciting and teaching the Holy Quran in the following words:
‘The best amongst you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it’

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims can put the teachings of this Hadith into action by reciting the Qur’an regularly.
2. They can learn dua’s from it or become Hafiz-ul- Qur’an.
3. Muslims should not only learn the Holy Quran in Arabic but also strive to understand its meaning.
4. They should also try to teach Quran to those who don’t know it.
5. This will help to create a righteous society which will be following the straight path shown by Allah given in the Holy Quran
and so eventually be blessed by God in both the worlds.

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) Teachings:
1. This Hadith teaches that Muslims should be fair in all their trade dealings.
2. They should be honest and fair in all aspects of trade whether buying or selling.
3. Allah will look favourably upon a man who deals with others fairly and kindly in all he does.
4. Leniency should also be shown to the person who has borrowed money and is unable to pay it back as the Holy Prophet
(PBUH) has said ‘If the debtor is in difficulty, grant him time till it is easy for him to repay’.

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims must always be honest in trade dealings. They should not sell sub-standard things and likewise when they buy
something they must pay a fair price and not take advantage of the seller’s situation.
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 2. If something is returned there must be a genuine reason or if something is faulty Muslims should be fair in giving a refund.
3. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself was a trader and he earned the respect of Hazrat Khadija because of his honesty when
she employed him to conduct her business.
4. Similarly if we give loan to a needy then we should be as flexible as possible in demanding its return. If we are aware of his
difficulties then we should give him enough time to return the loan.

15. God will not show mercy on him who does not show mercy to others.
(a) Teachings:
1. Mercy and kindness are integral to Islam and a Muslim’s conduct towards others influences his treatment by God.
2. Muslims must treat others as they would want Allah to treat them.
3. The Holy Quran says: ‘Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you?’.
4. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has also preached mercifulness on another occasion by saying: ‘Be kind to those who are on
earth, the One Who is in the heavens will be kind to you’.

(b) Actions:
1. God will show mercy to those who practice it.
2. Muslims should always be aware of God’s forgiving nature and put this belief into practice in their own lives e.g. we should
always be ready to forgive the mistakes of our friends, class fellows and servants.
3. In case of any problem instead of being harsh and aggressive towards others we should be patient and tolerant.
4. This will be in accordance with the example of Holy Prophet (PBUH) when he forgave his worst enemies after the conquest
of Makka.

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) Teachings:
1. This Hadith teaches about Muslim belief in brotherhood. It teaches Muslims about community relations and how they should
feel and act towards other believers.
2. Just as the head is the command centre and vital to humans, similarly brotherhood is essential to all Muslims.
3. Muslims are joined together in brotherhood by their common faith and it is when they stop caring about the pain and
sufferings of others that this unity and brotherhood gets broken.
4. The Holy Quran stresses upon the significance of fraternity among Muslims when it says: ‘The believers are but a single
brotherhood’.

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims should always try to be aware of the sufferings of others around them, be it their family, friends, community or other
Muslims around the world.
2. This principle was put into practice by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) when he declared the Ansar and Muhajirun as brothers.
3. This brotherhood is being practiced by Muslims all over the world when they support their oppressed Muslim brothers in
Palestine and Kashmir.
4. Similarly when there was a devastating earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 aid was provided by different Muslim and other
countries creating an excellent example of universal brotherhood.

17. Modesty produces nothing but good.

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(a) Teachings:
1. This Hadith emphasizes modesty as being the key to good conduct which prevents a person from wrong doings.
2. Modesty develops a person’s character and leads him towards integrity. Thus a modest person will always strive to do his
best in all that he undertakes.
3. Modesty also includes humility, simplicity, decency, forgiveness etc. Therefore, it is strongly linked to faith as it is a state of
mental piety.
4. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said ‘Modesty is from faith and faith is in Paradise. Indecency is from evil and evil is in
fire’. This Hadith therefore, shows the importance of modesty as a basis for being successful in Hereafter.

(b) Actions:
1. Modesty must be practiced in all actions of a Muslim e.g. lowering his gaze in the presence of the opposite gender which
protects him against immorality.
2. Similarly, Muslims should think of others before themselves like the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who was a perfect example of
modesty e.g. he forgave his worst enemies after the conquest of Makkah.
3. Therefore, concern for others that springs from modesty eliminates many social evils which not only earns the modest person
the respect of others but also establishes a decent society.

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) Teachings:
1. The primary teaching of this Hadith is that Muslims must have faith in their heart.
2. It is having this faith which will lead all Muslims to paradise whereas pride will only lead to hell.
3. The Holy Quran condemns pride as it says: ‘And walk not on earth with conceit and arrogance’.
4. Humility is a quality which is liked by Allah whereas arrogance is associated with devil.
5. This Hadith therefore, tells that a tiny amount of faith can lead to paradise and a tiny amount of pride can lead to hell.
6. It is this important difference between faith and pride that Muslims must accept and should know that they are opposite
characteristics.
(b) Actions:
1. Muslims must have faith in their hearts.
2. They must increase their faith and resist pride e.g. rich should know that their wealth is Allah’s gift and they should express
their gratitude to Allah by sharing their wealth with the poor like giving charities (instead of looking down upon them).
3. In this way not only they will remain faithful believers but this will also eliminate hatred and jealousy from the society.

19. The world is the believer’s prison and the unbeliever’s paradise.
(a) Teachings:
1. A prison is a confined place, where a person lives temporarily and he has to abide by its laws. He is not free to do as he
pleases.
2. Similarly this world is a temporary place for a believer and his ultimate goal is Paradise.
3. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said: ‘Live in this world as a stranger or a wayfarer’. This means that one’s life is a
passage through this world and the real destination is heaven.
4. On the other hand, for the unbeliever, this life is everything as he does not believe in the life after death. He lives in this world
without any concept of accountability and hence indulges in sin and the gratifications of his desires. This is why this world is
his paradise.
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(b) Actions:
1. Muslims should always remember Allah and pray to him.
2. By remembering Allah at all times they can go about their daily lives without deviating from the path preferred by Allah.
3. Muslims sometimes get so engrossed in this world that they may forget about being answerable to Allah, whereas those who
remember Allah will strive to do good and treat this world as a temporary abode.
4. There is an afterlife far better than what this world has to offer and Muslims should strive to attain success in it.

20. God does not regard your appearances and your possessions, but he regards your hearts and
your actions.
(a) Teachings:
1. This Hadith mentions the principle on the basis of which Allah judges a person.
2. Allah is not interested in a person's wealth, status etc. but with what is in his heart and is reflected through his actions. This
means that no virtue will be accepted without sincerity.
3. Worldly possessions, power and wealth, or high social status will never impress Allah as it is stated in the Holy Quran; ‘Verily
the most honoured in the sight of Allah is he who is the most pious of you’.
4. A true Muslim is, therefore, known by his pure conduct and not by outward appearances and this is the criterion of true faith.

(b) Actions:
1. Muslims must be true to Islam.
2. They should be interested in good conduct and not in possessions e.g. a Muslim should not give charity for show off but
sincerely for the sake of Allah which will not only bring him closer to Allah but will also promote humility and purity in society.
3. Similarly politicians should work honestly for the welfare of the country and not just to impress people to give them votes.
4. Therefore, by acting upon this Hadith hypocrisy will be eradicated.