AHADITH OF THE HOLY PROPHET (PBUH) INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT

AHADITH OF THE HOLY PROPHET (PBUH)

INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT
Q. Outline the main teachings of the Hadiths you have studied,
from the passages set for special study, about the
responsibilities of individual Muslims. [10 marks]
The Ahadith set for special study effectively highlight the responsibilities of
Muslims and what is expected from them in Islam. Sincerity—naseehah—forms
the backbone of a Muslim’s conduct. A Believer must fulfill his social and
religious obligations whole-heartedly to be a true Muslim. His heart must be free
from doubts about Allah SWT, His Book or His Messenger PBUH, i.e., Articles of
Faith, and must obey their Commands. Moreover, Prophet PBUH also
commands us to be cooperative with the leaders of Muslims, and have
impeccable social relationships with common people. These impeccable social
relations can be achieved only if a Believer practices fraternity and brotherhood,
and also equality. Prophet PBUH said,
“None of you believes until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself.”
If a Believer is to achieve perfection of faith, he must be genuinely interested in
well-being of his brothers by desiring for them what he desires for himself.
Absence of such a strong bond indicates weakness of Faith.
Muslims must display prudence while using their power of speech: the tongue
shall be used for propagation of good & not for indecent, hurtful or idle talk.
Another cardinal discipline for a true Believer is generosity, especially towards
neighbours and guests. If these principles are ignored, a person’s claim to
believe in Allah SWT and the Last Day can said to be disputed, according to the
Hadith:
“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.”
In another Hadith, the pre-condition to enter Paradise is also specified. A person
must abide by the injunctions of Shariah, i.e., take lawful as lawful, and unlawful
as unlawful, and perform obligatory prayers and fast in Ramadan as Prophet
pbuh said:
“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.”
These help train a Muslim for all spheres of life, making him eligible to enter
Paradise. However, the circle of virtuous deeds is not so confined. Helping
others, like acting as a fair judge between two parties, or even lifting someone
onto his conveyance also yields great rewards, equal to that of charity. A Muslim
must try to facilitate others, as the Prophet PBUH said:
“removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity”.
A Muslim shall also struggle in the way of Allah SWT—Jihad. One form, as per a
Hadith, is to do physical or verbal efforts to suppress evil. Another form is to
utilize one’s body, i.e., fight infidels in Allah’s SWT Way.
“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.”
This is the reason why those who die natural deaths or deaths by plague or
cholera in the Way of Allah SWT, are martyrs, as per another Hadith.
A Muslim is enjoined to aid the weak and destitute in the society, and be kind. A
Hadith says:
“God will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others”.
Prophet PBUH would even command his governors to be gentle to their people
and would ask them to avoid alienation or hardness. A link in the chain is aiding
the widows, poor and orphans. The rewards for these are kinship of Prophet
PBUH in Paradise, and equal to exerting oneself in Allah’s SWT Way, or
standing for prayer in night and fasting in the daytime.
“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.”            
The hadith also stress upon fair dealings and lawful earnings. Though the ‘Rizq’
of the people has been destined beforehand, the test lies in whether it is earned
through lawful or unlawful means. Laborious efforts by oneself to earn a living are
encouraged; Prophet PBUH says,
“No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his own
hand.”
Likewise shall one be kind when he sells or buys, or demands his money back,
as according to a Hadith, it earns Allah’s SWT Mercy.
“May God show mercy to a man who is kindly when he sells, when he buys, and
when he demands his money back.”
A Hadith also encourages a Believer to renew and refresh his knowledge of the
Holy Quran repeatedly. Comparing a person to an owner of tethered camel,
Prophet PBUH tells us that “if he lets them loose they will go away”.
However, this acquiring of knowledge (or any other good deed) must be done to
please Allah SWT alone, as Allah SWT regards our hearts and actions.
Therefore, a Muslim shall practice all forms of modesty and avoid pride. A Hadith
says,
“He who has in his pride as much pride as a grain of mustard will not enter
Paradise.”
In this way, class superiorities and pride etc. are negated and racial borders also
nullified. Therefore Holy Prophet PBUH compares all Believers to a single man.
A Believer shall earnestly follow these teachings, as his goal is Paradise and
earth for him is a prison from which he urges to escape.