Keeping Tongue and Hand from Offense

Abu Musaرضي الله عنه narrated that he asked Allah’s Messenger صلىالله عليه وسلم:whose Islam is the best? (i.e. who is a good Muslim?) the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, “One who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands.” [Al-Bukhari]

Commentary:

In this Hadith, there is an evidence for keeping our tongues from harming Muslims by all means. The tongue is specified because it is the part that can express about the heart.

Also, it is an evidence for keeping the hand from harming Muslims. The hand is mentioned here because most actions are done by the hands.

Instructions:

1-No transgression of others’ rights even little rights

2-The best among Muslims are those who avoid harming others.

3- Not cursing anybody

4-Mentioning something that people do not like is harmful.

5-Avoiding reporting what causes enmity and division among friends

6-Warning against taking anything from others unless you take a permission

Prohibition of Hatred and Envy

Anas bin Malik narrated that Allah’s messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not hate one another, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert each other, and O’ Allah’s worshippers! Be brothers. It is not permissible for any Muslim to desert(doesn’t talk to) his Muslim brother for more than three days”. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Commentary:

In this Hadith, our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم guides us to what we ought to be as Muslim brothers characterized by love, harmony, sympathy and courtesy conducive to honorable morals keeping us away from bad morals keeping our hearts free from hatred and malice and leading us to treat each other with Islamic polite conduct (behavior). This Hadith also indicates that Islam makes the brotherhood relationship stronger than blood and kinship relationships since it is based on faith in Allah. Hence a Muslim is not permitted to desert his Muslim brother for more than three days unless there is a divine reason so that the deserted can hopefully go back to reason.

Instructions:

1-Prohibition of hatred, envy, backbiting and abandonment.

2-Prevention of harming any Muslim in any way.

3-Prohibition of forsaking a Muslim brother over three days.

4-Motivation brotherliness and familiarity among Muslims

Muslims Must Love Each Other

On the authority of Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said “ None of you would be a truly believer until he wishes for his Muslim brother what he wishes for himself” [ Al-Bukhari&Muslim]

Commentary:

This Hadith teaches us that we must love our brothers in Islam for the sake of Allah. We should do whatever our brothers wish on condition that it is allowed in Islam. This Hadith calls for equality and modesty. Love among Muslims cannot be achieved until we keep ourselves free from envy, hatred, and cheating.

Insructions:

1- To wish and hate for your Muslim brother like what you do for yourself is part of your perfect faith .

2- Envy and hatred cause the lack of faith.

3- To guide your Muslim brother to the good and to keep him away from injustice is part of the love for the sake of Allah.

4- Warning against selfishness (i.e. to wish everything good for yourself but not for others).

Morality

Abdullah bin Amr رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was neither a fahish (one who speaks bad words) nor a mutafahish (one who speaks obscene evil words to make people laugh), He صلى الله عليه وسلم never used bad language. He صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say “the best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character”. [by Al-Bukhari @ Muslim]

Commentary:

There is an evidence in this Hadith that our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was very polite and well-mannered. He صلى الله عليه وسلم does not speak bad words nor does he speak obscene evil words to make people laugh. Obscene manners are everything that are excessive till it becomes disgusting. This includes words, deeds, and attributes. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said “Allah does not like obscene and immoral people”.

Instructions:

1-The greatness of Islamic Laws, as Islam calls for morality such as avoidance of harm, keeping smiling, and doing good.

2-Adherence to virtuous and avoidance of immorality.

3-Morality makes you closer to the status of our prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in doomsday.

4-To respect Muslims and to treat them kindly is an aspect of morality.

5-Morality makes you favorable to Allah.

6-Top people have the best moral.

Forgiveness and Tolerance

Narrated by Aishahرضي الله عنها “Whenever Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was given a choice between two matters , He would choose the easier course as long as it was not sinful to do so; but if it was sinful ,he was most strict in avoiding it. Allah’s Messenger never took revenge upon anything for his own sake; but when Allah’s Legal Bindings were violated, he would take revenge for Allah’s sake. [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Commentary:

In this Hadith, there is evidence of ease and tolerance of Islam. Prophet Mohammed صلى الله عليه وسلم always recommends the better choice unless it entails guilt(sin), thereupon he usually selects the right path. Mohammed صلى الله عليه وسلم never took revenge for himself as he pardoned the Arabian (Bedouin) who shouted at him and the other one who strongly pulled his garment hurting his shoulder. This is a self-evident proof of the Prophet’s forgiveness (pardon) except when the law of Allah is violated.

Instructions:

1-Show of Islam as a religion of ease and tolerance in all matters unless it is a guilt.

2-Pardon and tolerance lead to harmony and brotherliness among Muslims.

3-Following Prophet Mohammed صلى الله عليه وسلم as a model example for pardon, tolerance, and patience.

4-A Muslim who pardons and tolerates others is greatly rewarded by Allah the Almighty.

5-Pardon and tolerance relates to public rights but not to Divine Rights.

6-Pardon & tolerance are not motivated by inability and weakness but by the desire for Allah’s reward.

7-No reaction with evil is not a part of such pardon & tolerance

Politeness of Speech & Kindness of Meeting

Narrated Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه : Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not disdain a good deed, (no matter how small it may seem) even if it is your meeting with your (Muslim)brother with a cheerful face.” [Muslim]

Commentary:

This Hadith guides us that a Muslim should not scorn what ever Islam teach us to do even little things. A Muslim should meet his Muslim brothers happily & smilingly, though it may appear quite insignificant to some people, because it is said that the appearance always reflects the essence. Therefore, meeting your brothers happily & cheerfully leads to their happiness and love for the sake of Allah. Now,one can feel the importance Islam gives to moral values and good manners.

Instructions:

1- Not to look down upon the good even little things.

2- Using cheerfulness and flexibility with friends & brothers.

3- Motivation of what makes the Islamic brotherhood bondage stronger.

4- Cheerfulness in front of your brothers is required (good).

Superiority of Greeting (Asslam) and Recommending its Spreading

Narrated Abdullah bin Amr رضي الله عنه : A man asked Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم “Which act in Islam is the best?” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied “To give food, and to salute everyone, whether you know them or not.” [by Al-Bukhari & muslim]

Commentary:

Asslam(peace) is one of the names of Allah. To say Asslam (peace be upon you) means that you are in the protection of Allah, as Allah be with you or in your company. To feed the poor and the destitute is an act of goodness, and the fulfillment of the needs of the indigent is of the same order. Greeting everybody (saying ‘As-Salamu ‘Alaikum’), whether an acquaintance or a strange, is a good quality too. Both these acts generate mutual love and remove hatred & ill-will from hearts. All other ways of greeting are no substitute for Islamic way of greeting.

There are three forms for Asslam:

1-Asslamu alaykum (peace be upon you)

2-Asslamu alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah (peace & mercy of Allah be upon you.

3-Asslamu alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh(peace , mercy and blessing of Allah be upon you)

The best form to be much rewarded is the complete one.

Instructions:

1-Delivering Asslam is sunnah (optional) but its response is obligatory.

2-Good morning or good afternoon is not the Islamic greeting .

3-We should greet whom we know and whom we do not know.

4-It is permissible to greet by gesture while uttering Asslam(if the other person cannot hear you)

5-We should start phone talk with Asslam.

6-We would say Asslam when we are leaving.

7-Promoting feeding & greeting