WORDS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD SELECTIONS FROM THE HADITH
Compiled by: Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
1. Islam has been built on five pillars; testifying that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger; performance of prayers; alms-giving (zakat); pilgrimage to the Ka’bah; fasting during Ramadan. (Bukhari and Muslim, authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar)
2. Anyone who befriends another or makes an enemy, gives or withholds, has perfected his faith, if what he does is done for the sake of the Almighty. (Bukhari, on the authority of Abu Umamah)
3. When the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked by ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah what was meant by faith, he replied, ‘Self-restraint and gentleness.’ (Muslim).
4. One who is willing to accept God as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad as God’s Messenger has savoured the taste of faith. (Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib).
5. Simplicity, too, is a part of faith. (Abu Dawud, on the authority of Abu Umamah).
6. A man without trust is a man without faith. And a man who does not fulfill his promises is a man without faith. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, on the authority of Anas ibn Malik).
7. Greed and faith can never co-exist in the human heart. (An-Nasa’I on the authority of Abu Hurairah)
8. God loves those believers who labor to earn a living through lawful means. (Al-Tabarani, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar)
9. Actions are judged by their intention and every man shall be judged accordingly. Thus he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger; his migration was for Allah, and His Messenger; and for whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take some women in marriage, his migration was for that for which he migrated. (Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab).
10. When you see sycophants, throw dust in their faces. (Muslim, on the authority of Miqdad ibn Aswad)
11. Asked what reward there would be for a man who desired fame and compensation for having performed jihad, the Prophet (SAW) said, ‘There is no reward for him.’ When asked the same question three times over, the Prophet SAW gave the same reply each time. Then he said, ‘God accept those deeds which were performed purely for His sake and which were meant to seek His pleasure.’ (Abu Dawud and An-Nasa’I on the authority of Abu Umamah)
12. Keep your faith pure. Even the smallest good deed will suffice. (According to Al-Mundhiri when Mu’adh ibn Jabal was appointed ruler of Yemen, He asked the Prophet (SAW) for advice and was given the above reply.)
13. One who says his prayers (salat) with great propriety when he is in the presence of others, but does so without proper reverence when he is alone, is committing an act of contempt for his Lord. (Al-Mundhiri, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud).
14. When a person repents, God’ s pleasure at this is even greater than that of one who dismounts from his camel, loses it in the desert and then finds it again all of a sudden. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Anas ibn Malik)
15. According to ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) sent word to him to come clad in armour and bearing arms. ‘When I came into his presence, he was performing his ablutions.’ The Prophet (SAW) said to me, ‘O Amr, I am sending you on a mission. God will bring you back safe. And will reward you with spoils.’ I said, ‘O Prophet, I did not migrate for the spoils. It was for the sake of God and His Messenger.’ The Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘The best wealth for a good man is to possess is that which has been lawfully acquired.’ (Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
16. None of you truly believers until your own inclinations are in accordance with the message I have brought. (An-Nawawi from Kitab al-Hujjah on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As)
17. God has imposed certain moral obligations, do not abrogate them; He has forbidden certain things, do not indulge in them; He has laid down certain limits, do not transgress them; He is silent on certain matters, do not knowingly argue over them. (Ad-Darqutni, on the authority of Abu Tha’labah)
18. There is a covenant of salat (prayers) between me and the people. Therefore, if a man gives up salat, he is guilty of kufr (infidelity). (Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’I and ibn Majah on the authority of Buraydah).
19. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab wrote to his governors that the most important thing of all to him was prayer (salat). A man who prayed regularly safeguarded his faith. And a man who was found wanting in his prayers would be found wanting even more in other matters. (mishkat al-Masabih).
20. A salat offered in congregation is 27 times more worthy of reward than the salat offered alone. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar).
21. Anywhere that three Muslims reside, the prayer must be offered in congregation, otherwise Satan will overpower them. Adhere, therefore, to congregational prayer, lest the wolf eat up the goat which strays away from the herd. (Abu Dawud, on the authority of Abu’d-Darda).
22. When you lead the prayer, you should make it short because, among those offering salat there may be some who are infirm, sick and old. But when you offer individual prayers, you may lengthen them as much as you wish. (Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
23. When I stand for salat, I want to offer a long prayer, but I shorten it when I hear a child’s cry, because I do not want to cause anxiety to the mother. (Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Qatadah).
24. Jabir ibn Samurah related how he used to offer Friday prayers with the Prophet. He said that the latter’s prayer, as well as his sermon were moderate in length. (Al-Muslim)
25. Everything has a cleansing agent. And fasting is the cleansing agent for the body. Fasting is more a matter of patience than of anything else. (Ibn Majah on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
26. If the observer of a fast does not give up false utterances and their pursuit, then God does not require him to give up his food and water. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
27. Fasting is like a shield. When one of you is observing a fast, neither should you indulge in indecent talk nor should you create an uproar. And if someone talks ill of you, or fights with you, you should just say, ‘I am observing my fast.’ (Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
28. The man who keeps a fast in full faith, and for reward in the world hereafter, will be forgiven his past sins. And the man who prays in the night during Ramadan with faith and for reward in the world hereafter, will be forgiven all his past sins. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
29. When Ramadan comes, the doors of Heaven are opened, the doors of Hell are closed, the devils are put in chains, and the doors of mercy are opened. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
30. Anas ibn Malik said that they used to travel with the Prophet (SAW). Those who observed a fast never found fault with those who did not keep the fast. Similarly, those not observing the fast never said anything amiss to those who kept their fast. (Al-Bukhari)
31. Any man who misses a fast without a reason, such as illness, can never atone for it, even if he fasts for the rest of his life. (At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
32. Partake of sahur (food taken a little before dawn during Ramadan), for there is a blessing in it. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim and on the authority of Anas ibn Malik).
33. Abdullah ibn al-‘Abbas reported that the Prophet (SAW) made alams-giving on Id’-ul-Fitr an obligatory act. As well as providing food for the poor, it was meant to atone for any absurdity or immodesty that may have been committed during fasting in the month of Ramadan. (Hadith Abu Dawud).
34. When you pay zakat (alms), you have done your duty, as it is obligatory. But a person who amasses unlawful wealth, and then makes gifts to the poor from it will have no spiritual reward for so doing. On the contrary, he will carry the burden of it with him into the next world. (Ibn Majah on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
35. Allah has made the Muslims duty bound to pay zakat (alms). It will be realized from the wealthy to be distributed among the needy. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Al-‘Abbas.)
36. The owner of any land, which is irrigated by rain water or a stream, or which is situated close to a river, is obliged to give one tenth of its produce to the needy. The owner of such land as is irrigated by other methods will pay half this amount. (Al-Bukhari, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Al-‘Abbas).
37. If a person to whom God has given wealth does not give zakat (alms), he will find that, on the Day of Judgment, his wealth turns into a poisonous snake with two black spots on its head. It will be like a yoke around his neck. Then it will seize him by the jaws and declare, ‘I am your wealth, I am your treasure.’ (Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
38. A believer, who feeds another of the faithful who is hungry, will be fed on the fruits of Paradise by God on the Day of Judgment. And a believer, who servers water to another who is thirsty, will have thirst slaked from the sealed drinks by God on the Day of Judgment. And if a believer clothes another of the faithful who is in dire need of clothing, he too will be rewarded with apparel from Paradise by God on the Day of Judgment. (At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri).
39. Abu Dharr al-Ghifari relates that he came to the Prophet, who was sitting in the shade of the Kabah. When he saw me he said, ‘They stand to lose.’ I said, ‘May my parents ransom you. To whom do you refer.?’ ‘To Those with an excuse of riches.’ He replied, ‘who just squander their wealth, heedless of the fact that they can be saved only if they spent generously for a good cause. And there are very few wealthy men of that ilk.’ (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
40. Giving alms to the poor is a single good deed, but giving alms to a poor relative has the double virtue of giving alms and at the same time, treating one’s own relative well. (An-Nasa’I and At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Salman ibn ‘Amir).
41. If a man who sets out with the intention of performing Hajj, ‘umrah or jihad meets with his death on the way, he will be granted the rewards of jihad, Hajj, or ‘umrah by his Maker. (Al-Bayhaqi on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
42. Asked which deed inspired the greatest respect, the Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘To believe in Allah and His Messenger.” When asked what ranked next in order of merit, he said,’ To perform jihad, for the sake of Allah.’ Asked what came after that, he replied hajj mabrur, that is, performing pilgrimage while remaining free from sin. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
43. A man who decides to perform Hajj should act with promptness, for he may fall sick, or his mount may get lost, or a need may arise that becomes an obstacle. (Ibn Majah, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Al-‘Abbas).
44. God’s blessings are for everyone, but a strong believer is better than a weak one. Wish for things which are beneficial to you, and in this, seek God’s help. Do not lose heart. If you are visited by misfortune, do not say, ‘If I had done this or that, it could have been averted. ‘ Because it opens the door to Satan. (Ibn Majah on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
45. Young man, (the Prophet said to 'Abdullah ibn al-'Abbas) hear some words of advice; Be mindful of God and God will protect you. Be mindful of God and you will find Him before you. If you seek help, seek Help of God. Know that if all the people were to gather together to give you the benefit of anything, it would be something that God had already prescribed for you, and that if they gathered together to harm you with anything, this would only be as God had already ordained. (At-Tirmidhi).
46. Umm Salmah (the Prophet’s wife) recounts an incident which took place when the Prophet was at home with her. He called out to the maid servant, and when she failed to appear, he showed signs of displeasure. Then Umm Salamah peeped out through the curtain and saw the maid playing. The Prophet (SAW), who was holding a miswak (a twig for cleaning the teeth) in his hand, said to the maid servant, ‘If I had no fear of retribution on Judgment Day, I would have tapped you with this twig.’ (Al-Adab al-Mufrad by Imam al Bukhari).
47. On the Day of Judgment, from amongst all those destined for Hell, a particular man, the richest man in the world, will be brought forth and cast into Hell for a moment. Then he will be taken out and will be asked, ‘O son of Adam, have you ever known the good things of life? Have you ever seen comfortable days?’ And he will reply, ‘By God, O Lord, never.’ Then from amongst all those destined for Paradise, one who has suffered the most in the world will be brought forth and will be allowed to enter Paradise for a moment. Then he will be taken out and asked, ‘O son of Adam, have you ever seen suffering? Have you ever experienced hardship in your life?’ He will reply, ‘By God, no, I have never suffered, I have never undergone hardship.’ (Hadith of Muslim, on the authority of Anas ibn Malik) (That is, just one moment in hell would suffice to make an evil person forget all the enjoyment he may have had in life, while the mere sight of Paradise would be enough to make a righteous man forget all the suffering he may have experienced in the life of this world).
48. According to Mu’adh ibn Jabal, when the Prophet (SAW) appointed him governor of Yemen, he said, ‘Abstain from luxuries, for those who live luxurious lives are no servants of God.’ (Hadith of Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
49. A man who acquires a stretch of land by tyranny will be made to wear a yoke made of seven earths around his neck on the Day of Judgment. (al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Sa’id ibn Zayd)
50. A man may speak of God’s pleasure without giving it much importance and yet be raise din status by his Creator. A man may say something which is abhorrent to God, without, attaching any importance to it, and it may sweep him straight into Hell. (Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
51. ‘A man who has as much as an iota of arrogance in his heart will not enter Paradise.’ Hearing those words of the Prophet (SAW0, a man asked, ‘What if a man likes to dress in good clothes and wear good shoes?’ The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘God himself possesses elegance. And He likes elegance. This has nothing to do with arrogance. A man is arrogant when he refuses to accept the truth, and considers others to be inferior.’ (Muslim, on the authority of Ibn Mas’ud).
52. God accepts the repentance of a man right to his last gasp, before he dies. (At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abdullah ibn ‘Umar).
53. Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, who went to the Prophet (SAW) for advice, was given this counsel: ‘Fear God, for He is the one Who sets right all that concerns you. Read the Qur’an and keep remembering God, For then you will be remembered in the heavens. And that will be a light for you on the earth.’ (Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
54. The heart becomes rusted, like iron in water.’ When asked how to banish this corrosion, the Prophet (SAW) replied ‘Remember death frequently and recite the Qur’an.’ (An-Nasa’I on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar)
55. According to Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (SAW) recited a verse from the Qur’an about the Day the earth would give its account. Then he asked, ‘Do you know what this account will be?’ His listeners replied, ‘God and His Messenger know better.’ ‘The account the earth will give,’ said the Prophet, ‘is the witness it will bear to the deeds and misdeeds all men and women have committed throughout its length and breadth, and to the exact moments of their commission. That is what the earth’s account will be.’ (At-Tirmidhi)
56. Following the rule of abstinence from worldly things does not mean that what is normally permitted becomes prohibited or that wealth should be allowed to go to waste. On the contrary, such abstinence means that you should place greater reliance on what God intends for you than on what you have in hand yourself. And when misfortune strikes, you should relish its continuance for the reward this will bring. (At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari).
57. Anyone who unjustly flogs his servant will be punished on the Day of Judgment. (At-Tabarani, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
58. Love for the life of this world is damaging to the life of the Hereafter. Anyone who values the life of the Hereafter will be indifferent to the life of this world. Therefore, prefer that which is eternal to that which is ephemeral. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari).
59. Wise is he won controls his desires and prepared for the life which starts after death. And cast down is he who lives for the love of this world and has false expectations from God. (At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Shaddad ibn Aus).
60. On the Day of Judgment the rightful will be given their due. So much so that a goat with horns will be avenged for the goat without horns. (Muslim and At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abu Hurairah). (That is, a person who is as insignificant as a goat without horns will also receive his due on that day).
61. The lightest punishment for those in Hell will be two sparks under both feet. So searing will be their effect that the brain will begin to boil like a vessel on the fireplace. (Al-Bukhari, and Muslim on the authority of Nu’man ibn Bashir).
62. On the Day of Judgment, no step shall a man stir until he has answered questions on five aspects of his worldly existence: his life and how he spent it; his knowledge and what use he has made of it; his wealth, how he acquired it, and how he has spent it; and his body and how he has utilized it. (At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
63. The cautious man travels early in the morning. And the early morning traveler reaches his destination. Pay heed. God’s reward is peerless. Pay heed. God’s reward is Paradise. (At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
64. The man who enters Paradise will live in eternal blessedness. He will never be needy. Neither will his clothes wear out, nor will he lose his youth. Paradise has everything- things which have never been seen or heard of, and which are quite beyond human imagination. (Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
65. According to Asma bint Abu Bakr, the Prophet (SAW) once stood up and delivered a sermon in which he spoke of the trials that a man would be subjected to beyond the grave. When he delivered this discourse, the believers wept bitterly. (Al-Bukhari).
66. When those destined for Paradise enter it, to each a herald will cry: ‘Now you will enjoy good health forever. You will never fall ill. You will retain your youth forever. You will never grow old. You will be prosperous forever. You will never be needy. This is the essence of God’s promise to you.’ Then a cry will go up: ‘This is the Paradise that you were promised. You have been made its inheritor in return for your good deeds.’ (7:43). (Muslim and At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
67. A man thus addressed the Prophet (SAW): ‘O Messenger of God, who rightfully deserves the best treatment from me?’ ‘Your mother,’ the Prophet replied, ‘Then who?’ the man asked again, ‘Your mother.’ Replied the Prophet. ‘Then who?’ asked the man once again. ‘Your mother,’ said the Prophet. The man asked once more, ‘then who?’ ‘Your father.’ Said the noble Prophet. (Al-Bukhari, and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
68. The Prophet (SAW) once exclaimed, ‘Shame on him! Shame on him! Shame on him!’ When asked who the man in question was, the Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘He is the one who had both or one of his parents with him in their old age, yet he failed to enter paradise.’ (Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
69. Abu Usayd as-Sa’idid tells of how they were once with the Prophet (SAW) when a man from the Banu Salmah arrived in their midst. Addressing the Prophet (SAW), he asked, ‘O Messenger of God, Are there any outstanding debts which I have to repay after my parents’ deaths?’ The Prophet SAW replied, ‘Yes, pray for them and seek forgiveness for them. And fulfill their obligations now that they are gone. And treat their relations with kindness, and respect their friends.’ (Abu Dawud).
70. A man who treats his relatives well in order to return their good treatment of him shows no real love for them. The man who really shows love for his relatives is one who treats them well, despite their being unkind to him. (Al-Bukhari, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar).
71. He who satiates himself, while his immediate neighbors go hungry, is not a true believer. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, on the authority of Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas).
72. Asma bint Abu Bakr related how her foster mother, a believer in polytheism (shirk), had come to her during the period of the treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah. Concerned that her foster mother was a polytheist, she addressed the Prophet, “O Messenger of God, my idolatrous (mushrik ) mother has come to me and she wants something from me. Should I give it to her?’ ‘Yes. Treat her well;’ replied the Prophet SAW (Al-Bukhari, and Muslim).
73. A man who has two wives, but does not give them equal treatment, will find half his body lost on the Day of Judgment. (At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
74. When a man dies, nothing lives on after him, except for three things: sadaqah jariyah (continuing charity), knowledge which can benefit others, or virtuous offspring who will pray for him. (Muslim on authority of Abu Hurairah). (That is, his charity, the benefit of which continues even after the donor has passed away, such as the building of a bridge or a hospital, or a the digging of a well.)
75. A believer should never loathe a believing wife. If one quality in her does not find favor with her husband, some other quality will be to his liking. (Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
76. A man once went to the Prophet with a grievance against his relatives. ‘O Messenger of God,’ he said, ‘I have some relatives whom I treat with kindness. Yet they show me no kindness. I treat them well and they treat me badly. I show them forbearance and they treat me with brutality.’ The Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘If you are as you say you are, then it is as if you have smeared their faces with dust. And you will always have God’s help against them so long as you continue to be well behaved towards them.’ (Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
77. When the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked who was the best of all women, he replied, ‘The woman whose husband feels pleased to see her, who obeys when her husband commands, and who does not take a stand about her or her wealth which is displeasing to her husband.’ (An-Nasa’I on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
78. When a man spends on his family members with the intention of seeking God’s pleasure, then his spending becomes an act of charity. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Mas’ud).
79. A person once said to the Prophet SAW, ‘O Messenger of God, a certain woman is said to offer salat (prayers), observe fasts, and give alms generously, but she hurts her neighbors. The Prophet (SAW) replied. ‘She will go to the Hell.’ Then the man asked, ‘O Messenger of God, a certain other woman says fewer prayers, keeps fewer fasts voluntarily and offers little in her ways of alms. She only gives a few pieces of cheese. But she never hurts her neighbors with her tongue.’ The Prophet (SAW ) replied, ‘She will enter Paradise.’ (Ahmad ibn Hanbal on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
80. When the Prophet (SAW) was asked by A’ishah to which of two neighbors she should send a gift, he replied, ‘To the one whose door is closer to your own.’ (Al-Bukhari).
81. The Prophet (SAW) once exclaimed, ‘By God, he is not a believer! By God, he is not a believer! By God, he is not a believer!’ The people asked, ‘O Messenger of God, who?’ ‘The man whose excesses prevent his neighbor from living in peace,’ replied the noble Prophet (SAW) (Al-Bukhari and on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
82. A believer is a mirror to another believer. A believer is a brother to another believer. He saves from losses. He safeguards his interests in his absence. (Abu Dawud, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
83. According to Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet (SAW) said to him, ‘O my son, if you can act in such a way that you spend your mornings and your evenings without wishing anyone ill, then that is how you should always act.’ Then he added, ‘O my son, this is my way. And anyone who loves my ways, loves me. And anyone who loves me will live with me in Paradise.’ (Muslim).
84. Each one of you is a shepherd. And each one of you will be asked about your flock. A ruler also is a shepherd and he will be asked about his flock. And every man is a shepherd to his family. And a woman is the custodian of her husband’s house and his children. Thus each one of you is a shepherd, and each one will be asked about his flock. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar).
85. You should visit the sick, feed the hungry and set prisoners free. (Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari).
86. Whenever God makes a man responsible for other people, whether in greater or lesser numbers, he will be questioned as to whether he ruled his charges in accordance with God’s decrees or not. And that will not be all. God will question him even about his family members. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar).
87. If you show kindness to your servant while employing him in some task, this will weigh heavily in your favor on the Day of Judgment. That will be your reward. (Amr ibn Hurayth).
88. The best person among you is the one who treats his family members well. And I am the best person for my family. (Ibn Majah, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Al-‘Abbas).
89. When the Prophet (SAW) was asked which form of Islam was better, he replied, ‘To feed the people and extend greetings of peace to them- be they of your acquaintance or not.’ (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As).
90. On the Day of Judgment, God will say, ‘O son of Adam, I was sick, but you did not visit Me.’ The man will reply, ‘O my Lord! How could I visit You – the Lord of the whole universe?’ God will say, ‘Did you not know that such and such a man had fallen ill?’ Yet you did not visit him. Did you not know that had you gone there to visit him you would have found Me there with him?’ (Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
91. O Muslim women, do not belittle the gift of any women in your neighborhood, even if it happens to be a goat’s hoof. (Al-Bukhari, and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
92. According to Anas ibn Malik, when God’s Messenger said, ‘Help your brother, irrespective of whether he is the oppressor or the oppressed.’ A man said, ‘O Messenger of God, I can help the oppressed, but how can I help the oppressor?’ The Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘Stop him from committing an act of oppression. That in itself is a form of help.’ (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
93. According to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, the Prophet (SAW), addressing the people on the occasion of the farewell pilgrimage, exhorted them to listen carefully to what he had to say: ‘All Muslims are brothers. They constitute one brotherhood. Nothing belonging to one Muslim can become legitimate property of another, unless it has been freely and willingly given. Do not, therefore, do injustice to your own selves. O God, have I conveyed your message? Woe betide you. When I am gone, do not become infidels and start killing each other.’ (Al-Bukhari).
94. Do not marry women for their beauty. It is possible that their beauty may destroy them. Do not marry them for their wealth. It is possible that their wealth may make them rebellious. Instead, marry them on the basis of their faith. And a black maid who is a believer is much better for you. (Ibn Majah on the authority of Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As).
95. The worst feast is the marriage feast to which the rich are invited and the poor are not. And anyone who does not accept an invitation commits an act of disobedience against God and His Messenger. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
96. According to Jarir ibn ‘Abdullah, when he asked the Prophet (SAW) about a man’s gaze falling inadvertently on a strange woman, the Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘Turn your eyes away.’ (Muslim).
97. O young people, those among you who are able must enter into marriage. For it helps to divert your attention from women. And it is a safeguard against lust. And those who cannot marry should observe fasts, for fasting too is a safeguard. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud).
98. There are four reasons for a man to marry a woman: her wealth; her lineage; her beauty; her faith. Woe betide you! Only enter into marriage with one who has faith. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
99. The best gift from a father to his child is education and upbringing. (At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Sa’id ibn Al-‘As)
100. The best dower is the easy one. (Abu Dawud, on the authority of Uqbah ibn ‘Amir)
101. Should I not tell you what is the best charity? To spend on the daughter who has been returned to you (a divorced or widowed daughter), when there is no one else to earn for her. (Ibn Majah, on the authority of Suraqa ibn Malik).
102. According to A’ishah, once when a child was brought to the Prophet (SAW), he hugged him and said, ‘These children make cowards and misers of the parents. And they are the flowers of the Almighty.’ (ibn Majah).
103. According to ‘Abdullah ibn al-‘Abbas, the Prophet (SAW) cursed those men who try to resemble women and women who try to resemble men. (Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa’i).
104. On the Day of Judgment, what will weigh most heavily in favor of the believer will be his good morals. God abhors those who indulge in shameless talk and use indecent language. (At-Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abu’d Darda).
105. Save yourself from envy, For envy eats up virtue as fire eats up wood. (Abu Dawud, on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
106. It is not proper for a man to keep away from his brother for more than three days, and then when they meet to turn their faces away from each other. The better of the two is the one who greets the other first. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari).
107. An honest and trustworthy merchant (in the world hereafter) will be with the Prophets, the truthful and the martyrs. (At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri).
108. According to Abu Musa al-Ash’ari, the Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Believers are like the different parts of a building, each one supporting the other.’ Then he demonstrated what he meant by interlocking his fingers. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
109. How evil is the man who hoards essential supplies! If God wills it that the prices of merchandise fall, that makes him unhappy. But if the prices rise, that makes him happy. (Al-Bayhaqi on the authority of Mu’adh).
110. You will observe that the believers are like the parts of the body in relation to each other in matters of kindness, love and affection. When one part of the body is afflicted, the entire body feels it; t here is loss of sleep and a fever develops. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Nu’man ibn Bashir).
111. To earn through labor is the best way to earn, provided the work is done with sincerity. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
112. It is obligatory for a Muslim to pay heed to his ruler and obey him, whether he likes him or not, as long as the ruler does not order him to commit a sin. If he orders him to sin, then he is not to pay heed to him or obey him. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar).
113. Muslims are brothers. When one Muslim sells something to another, it is his duty to inform the other of any defect in the merchandise. (Ibn Majah on the authority of Uqbah ibn ‘Amir).
114. Avoid falling under suspicion. For suspicion does the worst damage. Do not inquire into the lives of others. Do not pry. Do not exaggerate what others say. Bear each other no malice, and do not hurt each other’s interests. And, by being brothers to each other become the servants of God. (Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
115. The best sustenance is that which you earn by your own industry. The Prophet Dawud (pbuh) used to earn his sustenance with his own hands. (al-Bukhari and on the authority of Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib).
116. According to Suhayl when God’s Messenger passed by a camel and noticed that it had become so thin that its back and its stomach seemed to be touching, eh said,’ Fear God when dealing with these beasts. Mount them when they are in good condition, and leave them in that same state.’ (Abu Dawud).
117. A merchant who hoards goods in order to raise their price is a sinner. (Muslim on the authority of Ma’mar)
118. According to Rafi’ ibn Khadij, when the Prophet (SAW) was asked which was the better kind of earning, he replied, ‘That for which a man works with his hands. And honest trading.’ (Ahmad ibn Hanbal). 119. A time will come when people will no longer care about whether their wealth has been lawfully or unlawfully acquired. (Al-Bukhari and on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
120. It is not just for a man to sell his merchandise without disclosing its defects. It is proper for the vendor to tell the buyer of any defects of which he is aware. (Ahmad ibn Hanbal on the authority of Wathilah).
121. The trader who does not hoard essential supplies receives His sustenance, while the hoarder of essential supplies is cursed. (Ibn Majah and Ad-Darimi on the authority of Umar ibn Al-Khattab).
122. Allah will show compassion to those who show kindness while buying and selling, and recovering debts. (Al-Bukhari on the authority of Jabir).
123. One who denies an heir his legacy will be denied the legacy of Paradise by the Almighty. (Ibn Majah on the authority of Anas ibn Malik)
124. One who makes sacrifices for the sake of God will have all his sins pardoned, except for his debts. (Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar)
125. Pay the laborer his wages even before his sweat dries up. (Ibn Majah on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar).
126. There was a man who used to give loans to poor people. When his assistant had to go to them to recover the loans, he would urge him to be forgiving to those who were not able to pay back his loans with ease, believing that, in that way, perhaps God would show him forgiveness. When the man came face to face with the Almighty, He forgave him. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
127. If a man commits something to your care, be sure to return it to him. Never betray anyone’s trust, not even if the person concerned his failed to stand by his commitments to you. (At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurairah).
128. Save yourself from the curse of an oppressed person, who seeks his rights from God, for God never denies the righteous their rights. (Al-Bayhaqi on the authority of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib).
