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.
Describe Hadith teachings about what Muslims believe?

a) Islam is an easy and simple religion. It does not overburden a Muslim. The Holy Quran
says, “Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.”
[2:185] The Hadith mentions that if a person establishes just the pillars of Islam properly and
spends his life within the boundary of lawful, he is sure to enter paradise. The Hadith does not
mention zakat and hajj, may be because these were not obligatory on that person or at the time of
his question. The Hadith throws light on the importance of prayer and fasting in a Muslim’s life.
These pillars strengthen our relation with our Creator and keep us away from shameful things.
The Hadith also teaches us that just verbal faith without observing the limits of lawful and
unlawful has no value.

How Muslims can put these teachings into action?

b) The Hadith teaches us that a person must be very punctual in religious duties. Without
establishing them on regular basis he is not sure to enter paradise. Among these duties prayer is
the most recurring. We need to offer the prayer regularly taking care of all of its conditions.
Quran says, “Woe to the worshippers who are neglectful of their prayers.”[107: 4-5] We must
spend the month of Ramadan as we are taught as it refreshes our faith. The most important thing
in a Muslim’s life is the observance of the restrictions of Shariah. He must make sure that he is
not commenting anything unlawful. We must respect and follow the laws of Allah without
tempering with them.

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 hasting up
his belongings onto it is a charity; every step you take to prayers is a charity; and removing a
harmful thing from the road is a charity.

a) The Hadith tells us that we are blessed by Allah with lots of blessings and sometimes
we don’t even think about them such as the joints of our body. We are taught to thank Allah for
His countless blessgnis and the best way is to do the acts of charity. This Hadith highlights the
importance of good deeds, no matter how great or small. It teaches us that charity does not only
mean to fulfill the material needs of the needy but all good deeds and acts of righteousness are
rewarded as charity. Muslims are ordered to take care of the needs of their fellow beings. It
teaches us that whenever we benefit the other person in any way we are appreciated by Allah as
Islam condemns selfishness.

b) The best way to practice this Hadith is to do every action according to the Sunnah of
the Holy Prophet. We should be regular in visiting mosque for prayer as every step will be
considered as an act of charity and it will also strengthen our relation with Allah and other
members of the community. Whenever we find any one in some need or trouble we should try to
help him instead of ignoring him. The exercise in charity can range from the highest action like
administration of justice to the routine actions like helping the blind to cross the road etc. we
must not underestimate even the minor good deeds as Allah values our intentions more than
outer action.

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 part of the faith.
a) This Hadith talks about an important duty given to this Ummah that is enjoining good
and forbidding evil. The Holy Quran says, “You are best nation evolved for mankind you
enjoin good and forbid evil.” [3:110] Forbidding evils keeps the community away from all bad
practices and helps to flourish goodness. It is said in this Hadith the responsibility of every
Muslim male and female to work in his full capacity to shun every evil practice in his family and
community and ask people to come up on the best way of life mentioned in the Quran and
Sunnah. It is something which Prophets used to do, so it is a highly reward able action. If they
will not do this they will be punished and considered a part of wrongdoers.

b) Every Muslim is responsible to stop the evil. If a person has authority, like the head of
the state, should use his authority to make sure that no evil is practiced publicly in his empire.
Likewise a father must use his authority to stop his wife and children from evil. But in some
cases we have no authority like over our friends and other members of the community. Then we
should convey the message through speech to convince them nicely. The Prophet said, “The
greatest jihad is to say the truth in front of a tyrannical ruler”. In some cases we cannot use
even our tongue, in that case we must at least feel that thing bad and must not become a part of
it.

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) Jihad is exerting or striving to the utmost of one’s capacity in the way of Allah. It is a
meritorious act and great reward is promised for those who fight or spend in the way of Allah. It
mentions physical jihad, which means to use power according to the laid down principles with an
object to bringing an end to aggression against Islam. Quran says, “Fight in the way of Allah
those who fight you but transgress not the limits.” [2:190] a person may also perform jihad with
wealth. It may be spending money for the social cause and welfare or supplying arms or
transportations to the warriors who go to fight the enemies of Islam. Quran also says, “And strive
with your goods and your persons in the cause of Allah. That is best for you if you know.” [9:41]
Such a person is the best as he gives the greatest sacrifice to benefit mankind.
 b) This Hadith encourages Muslims to perform jihad to spread word of Allah as only
Islam has the solutions of the problems mankind in this world and Hereafter. Striving hard in
Allah’s way also means taking part in warfare to safeguard the faith and remove oppression and
aggression against Islam. The Holy Prophet did mental jihad in Makka but in Madina he
remained busy in physical jihad with his person. He was commanded, “O Prophet urge the
believers to fight.” [8:65] He asked people to donate for the cause of jihad in Tabuk expedition
and companions donated generously. It tells us that we should never legged behind like
hypocrites in such meritorious acts.