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)
Belief in Tawhid, Quran and the last Messenger is
1.
demonstrated by following the eternal guidance of the
Quran and Sunnah.
 2. Muslims should observe the five pillars of Islam.

3. As for cooperating with the leader of the community,

Muslims should remember the speech of Abu Bakr
on his election as caliph:
4. “Help me if I am in the right, set me right if I am
in the wrong”
5. 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) Muslims are bonded together with common faith:
1. “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.
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.“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)Muslims should negate selfishness, promote spirit of
sacrifice and love for the fellow Muslims
 1. Should develop a sense of collective welfare
and make efforts to ensure comfort and benefits for
others as much as for himself:
2. True believers should not look down upon
others and should not taunt them or call them by
offensive nick names.
3. 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) Power of speech not only a great bounty by God but

also a means of expressing faith:“He has created man.
He has taught him the speech (and intelligence),”
Several evils, transgression and indecencies originate
form misuse of the tongue. 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) Muslims should avoid all indecencies 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
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) This Hadith sums up the secret of entry to Paradise.
Prayer and fasting are the two of the five pillars on
which is erected the building of faith: “He who
gives up prayer has indeed disbelieved.”
“What stands between a believer and disbelief is
abandonment of regular prayer”
“The fast is a shield (against Satan).”
These two pillars train believers to believe in the
importance of the lawful and the unlawful.
“…….he (the Prophet) allows them as lawful
what is good and prohibits them from what is
bad” (7:157)

(b)Muslims should be regular and punctual in daily

prayer as it keeps them from evils: “Verily, regular
prayer refrains from shameful and unjust
deeds” (29:45)
1. They should fast in Ramadan to promote self-
restraint
 Observance of both these trains them to tell right
from wrong and earn by Halal (permitted) means
while shunning all Haram (forbidden) actions:
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)Muslims should consider all their physical powers as
a gift of God.This will enable them to express gratitude
to God by helping fellow Muslims in daily matters
They should consider such acts as charity e.g., settling
disputes of the people and removing harmful objects
from the roads.Such acts should be equated with
exerting energy in the worship of God.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)True believers should shape their conduct in such a
way as can help the fellows in day to day affairs.
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)
 They should hurry to offer their prayer, share the
burdon of fellows and, wherever possible, remove
anything harmful from thoroughfares. 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) Islam teaches its followers to first establish a true
Islamic society based on the teachings of the Quran and
Sunnah.It further commands them to defend the society
against all possible evils with whatever available
resources. 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.Believers
should remember that struggle against evil is a constant
phenomenon as the ultimate source of evils is Satan:
“Verily Satan is an avowed enemy to man” (12:5)
(b) Eradication of evil involves struggle of varying
degrees depending on the available resources with the
Muslim community and government. If sufficient
resources are available, then the Muslim state may
permit physical Jehad: “Believers……….. strive hard
in God’s way with their possessions and their own
selves” .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.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) Jehad or struggle in the way of God is an act of
worship and shows genuineness of faith. Jehad is aimed
at suppressing evil, stopping aggression and
transgression but within the limits prescribed by the
code of conduct of war in Islam. 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. Therefore, according to their belief,
those who sacrifice their lives during Jehad, are not
dead:“Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the
presence of their Lord.” (3:169)
(b) Jehad is the ultimate expression of one’s faith as it
involves sacrificing everything in God’s way and
defending Islam. Those engaged in Jehad are trained to
sacrifice their belongings and lives without
hesitation: “Fighting is prescribed to you though you
may dislike it”.For this reason, the Quran and the
Prophet have repeatedly admired those busy in Jehad
and ranked them as the best Muslims. The Holy Prophet
fought battles, received wounds and also witnessed
martyrdom of his close associates.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) The Hadith has expanded the scope of martyrdom
by including those not involved directly in any physical
fight/struggle (Jehad) in God’s way.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. For example,
natural death, death from plague and cholera.The
Prophet has repeatedly said “in the way of God” and
that means to die in a state of strong faith in God.….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
(b)Believers should be ready to lay down their lives in
God’s way only. 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.
They should be ready to sacrifice their lives while
fighting on God’s command as well as while suffering
any physical ailment. 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) Islam related struggle for lawful earning with the
performance of obligatory rituals: “To earn a clean
living is also a duty next to the obligatory duties of
faith” (Hadith) 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”.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) The Muslims should follow the example of the
Prophet who set several guiding examples. He would
mend his shoes and clothes, work as ordinary worker in
the construction of the mosque and digging of the ditch.
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:
1. “The one who offers and the one who
accepts the bribe will both go to the Fire of
Hell”.
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) Islam instructs its followers to be caring and
considerate towards the unsupported and the needy.
It promises greater rewards for such noble attitude, e.g.,
earning the pleasure of God and closeness to His
Messenger. It also associates such nobility with the love
for God:“And they feed for the love of God, the
indigent, the orphan and the captive” (76:8)
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.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) The Prophet, himself being an orphan, always took
special care of the orphan and the needy. Muslims
should imitate his examples in whatever possible ways
They should donate generously for the orphanages run
and maintained by various charity organizations. 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”.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) This Hadith highlights the importance of the
responsibilities of a Muslim ruler.Being the leader of the
Muslim community is a huge responsibility and a great
trust of God with the ruler. A Muslim ruler is required to
consider himself the custodian of his people, responsible
for their prosperity and welfare: “Leader of the
community is indeed its servant” (Hadith)
Such an attitude is based on a strong sense of
accountability before the people as well as the Supreme
Lord. 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) The Prophet and his four successors set glorious
traditions about how to act as rulers.They devoted their
energies for the general welfare and collective prosperity
of their people.Muslim rulers need to follow these model
rulers who ruled not only the state but also the hearts of
their subjects.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. Caliph Ali remarked: “The
state might survive with paganism but might not
survive with injustice”.

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) The conduct of the Muslims depends on the degree
of their association with the Quran because it is the
basis of their lives.
1. The Prophet has linked this bond with the
ownership of the tethered camels
2. As long as the camels are supervised and kept
tethered, they remain under control.
3. 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.
4. 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
We should recite Holy Quran with English or Urdu
translation so that we will be able to understand its
teachings and act upon it.
2. The Quran should be recited in the manner
prescribed by the Quran itself: “And recite the
Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones” (73:4)

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) Economic teachings of Islam stress on honesty and
justice on one hand, while mercy and lenience on the
other.
1. Buyers and sellers should not have any
intention of exploiting or cheating each other:
2. “One who cheats is not among us” (Hadith)
3. Sellers should believe that honesty and
generosity are liked by God.Buyers similarly should
not have any ill intention of exploiting any weakness
of the seller.
 4. 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) The Prophet conducted trade with full honesty and

dedication .He would not hide defects of merchandise
while selling any items.
1. Muslim traders should follow this and should
not try to unduely maximize profits.
2. While buying anything, Muslims should observe
some limit of bargaining so that the seller does not
feel uncomfortable.
3. A creditor should be generous enough to give
any relief to the debtor because the Prophet greatly
admired such degree of kindness:
4. “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”.
5. Islam forbids interest and instructs to
extend “the good loan” (Interest-free loan).

Hadith 15
God will not show mercy to him who does not show
mercy to others
(a) Among all attributes of God, mercy is very special
because according to a Hadith-i-Qudsi:“Truly My
mercy overcomes My wrath”God, therefore, loves
those who show mercy to others, and He commands the
Muslims to seek His mercy and extend mercy on
others. The Holy Prophet is called “mercy for all
creatures” in the Quran (21:107)
1. 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.
2. None can be more ill-fated than the one who
gets deprived of God’s mercy.
(b) The Muslims are required to follow the footsteps of
the Prophet who never cursed his enemies in Makka,
Taif and the battlefield. In the battle of Uhud, when some
companion asked him to curse the Makkans, his reply
was: “I have not been sent to curse”
1. He kindly treated captives of Badr and forgave
his fatal enemies on the conquest of Makkah.
2. Muslims today may imitate such noble conduct
and generosity of heart.
3. 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:
4. “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) Islam established the universal Muslim brotherhood
when the Prophet migrated to Madina: “The believers
are a single brotherhood” (49:10)
1. All Muslims regardless of social and
geographical background were united as a single
community.Since it is a divine arrangement, all
Muslims are bound to observe it
2. 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.
3. The Prophet also used another comparison :
4. “One believer to another is like the bricks of
a building; each one is holding and supporting
the other”.

(b)The believers may follow this Hadith in a variety of

ways. The Ansar of Madina accommodated the
Muhajireen of Makka by sharing all their assets with
them. During congregational prayers and the pilgrimage
to Makka, Muslims come closer to each other and this
trains them to share joys and sorrows. They should care
for fellow Muslims in hour of need and trials.For example
we should extend financial,moral and diplomatoc
support to Palestine.The Prophet linked true belief with a
sense of brotherhood: “you cannot be true believers
unless there is reciprocal love among you”.
Hadith 17
Modesty produces nothing but good.

(a) Moral teachings of Islam are intimately linked with

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

(b) we should adopt ways of observing modesty both

towards God and the fellow members of the community.
1. Regular prayer effectively wards off evil
thoughts and actions
2. This way, a believer’s conduct is shaped according
to the divine commands and guidance.
3. Another way of observing modesty is to put interests
of fellows before one’s own interests.t. The teaching of this
Hadith can be implemented by concern for others. Modesty
is what stops a believer from being arrogant and
thoughtless towards others and makes him/her God
conscious, and it is this trait in their character which helps
to keep a Muslim on the righteous path. it would eliminate
a lot of issues concerning society. 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) According to Muslim belief, true faith alone
guarantees a believer’s salvation from the fire of Hell
and entry to Paradise.
1. Faith promotes the spirit of submission before
the will of God and thus negates pride.
2. Pride symbolises disobedience as is evident
from Satan’s refusal to obey God:
3. “We said to angels: “Bow down to Adam”,
and they all bowed down except for Iblis; he
refused and was haughty” (2:34)
4. 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)Muslims should promote humbleness and submission
before God so that they earn His blessing.
1. The Quran mentions the ways of being humble
towards God and reward of such attitude:
2. “The believers must eventually win
through. Those who humble themselves in their
prayers” .We should follow the teachings of Holy
Quran and develop humility by being polite and
 down to earth. By strengthening a sense of humility,
pride can be effectively resisted and controlled.
3. Holy Prophet (pbuh) led a simple and humble
life.We should follow his Sunnah.
4. Following the Sunnah of Prophet 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) 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:
1. “Say ‘I believe in God and then act
uprightly.” (Hadith)
2. He lives in this world just as a prisoner or a
stranger in the light of this instruction of the
Prophet:
3. “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.A
Muslim becomes God fearing and leads a righteous
life to get better reward in the hereafter.

Hadith 20
God does not look at your forms and your
possessions, but he looks at your hearts and your
deeds.
(a) This Hadith categorically declares the criterion by
which God judges actions and conduct.
1. God does not consider outward appearance or
worldly gains made by a person.
2. 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”
3. 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.”
4. 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.