Hadiths

Major Teachings
 Paper 2: Hadith

Q1. Choose any two of the following Hadiths, and:

a) Describe their teachings about what Muslims
believe;
b) Explain how Muslims can put these teachings
into action.
 Hadith
• What is hadith?
• The term Hadith derives from the Arabic root ḥ-d-th meaning “to
happen” and so “to tell a happening,” “to report,” “to have, or give, as
news,” or “to speak of.” It means tradition seen as narrative and
record.

• In Islamic literature, it is defined as ‘‘any narration that reports the

words, deeds, approval or disapproval of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH).’’
 Hadith 1

Religion is sincerity. ‘We said: 'To whom?' The Holy Prophet said: “To
Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and to
their common people”
Teachings:
1. Muslims must follow the teachings of Islam.
2. The true Muslims are loyal to God, to Quran and the Holy Prophet
(PBUH). Muslims must be loyal to the basic teachings of Islam
and sincerely follow the five pillars.
3. They are not only sensitive to the needs of other people but obey
their leaders as loyal members of the community.
4. The Holy Quran says: “O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the
messenger and those charged with authority among you …” This means
that obedience to Allah, His messenger and pious rulers is imperative.
Actions
1. Muslims can put the teachings of this Hadith into action by being
obedient to Allah.
2. They should obey the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in
their daily lives. Muslims should base their personal lives on the
teachings of Islam e.g. they should offer regular prayers and should fast
in Ramadan.
3. They should also respect their leaders as the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
showed respect for the leaders who he wrote letters to bring them to
Islam. Even though he did not approve of their way but he wrote to
them kindly and asked them to become Muslims.
4. They should sincerely act to maintain the good of society e.g. they
should take care of their neighbours, guests and even strangers.
 Hadith 2
None of you believes until he wants for his brother what he wants for
himself.
Teachings:
1. Concern for the well-being of others is the basic teaching of this
Hadith and is an important aspect of faith.
2. Care for others is a sign of sincere belief and that belief is only
sincere when put into action.
3. A part of a Muslim's faith is to work for the good of others as the
Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said: 'You cannot enter Paradise unless
you are believers and you cannot be true believers unless there is mutual love
between you'.
4. This Hadith, therefore, teaches compassion and respect for others i.e. Social
justice.
Actions:
1. Muslims should always respond to the need of others. Care for others is a
basic part of faith for which Muslims will be rewarded.
2. By following this Hadith we should be sympathetic towards the less fortunate
e.g. in case of any natural catastrophe like floods or earthquake, we should
understand the pain of victims and should help them in their rehabilitation.
3. This will be in accordance with the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) example
when he created brotherhood between the Ansar of Madinah and
Muhajirun of Makkah.
4. Thus, it will create a harmonious and selfless society which will be
free from greed and egotism.
 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‘
Teachings:
1. Belief in Allah and the last day is the foremost requisite of being a
Muslim. This hadith highlights three important aspects of our lives.
2. First, to speak wisely, speak the truth, and speak kindly without
taking sides. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) stressed upon it in a number
of other sayings: 'A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands
other Muslims are safe’.
3. The second aspect is about living in a community and caring for
one's neighbours. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) laid such a great emphasis
on the rights of neighbours that the companions began to feel that the
neighbours would also be made rightful heirs to the property of the
deceased.
4. The third aspect is of generosity and hospitality towards guests.
Hence this Hadith emphasizes upon the importance of the rights of
others and our duties towards them.
Actions:
1. Belief in Allah and the Last Day is an integral part of a Muslims belief.
All Muslims must follow Allah's will as they are all accountable to Him.
2. They must refrain from idle talk or such conversations which may
offend others e.g. they should neither use abusive language nor indulge
in backbiting etc.
3. They should also be kind and considerate to their neighbours e.g. we
should avoid playing loud music which may irritate our neighbours. Holy
Prophet (PBUH) said, “None of you truly believes until he wants for his
brother what he wants for himself".
4. Similarly, guests should be welcomed wholeheartedly and be served
generously. Such acts will help to create a polite and civilized society.
 Hadith 4
A man asked the Messenger (May Allah Bless Him and Give Him Peace), ‘Do you think 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.’
Teachings:
1. This Hadith very clearly outlines the basic requirements of being a good Muslim. One may do as
much as one can, to gain Allah's pleasure, but it also shows that Allah does not burden mankind
with the impossible.
2. The importance of prayer and fasting are highlighted here as pillars of Islam.
3. Similarly Allah has laid down clear rules about lawful and unlawful and He expects Muslims to
live accordingly.
4. It is by following these basic Islamic principles that paradise can be
attained and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in this Hadith confirms this.
5. In another Hadith the Holy Prophet (PBUH) assured an Arab that he
would enter Paradise if he had pure belief in Allah and followed the
Pillars of Islam like prayer, fasting and zakat, which proves that these
are the pre-requisites for the success in the Hereafter.
Actions:
1. Muslims should always be obedient towards God by following the
pillars of Islam like prayers and fasting so that they should be blessed
with paradise.
2. However, they should also be very careful about halal and haram e.g.
they must avoid alcohol, gambling and riba based transactions as such
actions are strongly forbidden in Islam. Holy Quran says “Allah has
allowed trade but banned usury".
3. They should live their lives by following the straight path shown by
Allah through the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet
(PBUH).
4. If they do this they'll be surely successful in 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, help a man
with his mount lifting him on to it or hoisting up his belonging on to it
is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take to prayer is
a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity”.
Teachings:
1. This Hadith highlights the importance of good deeds, no matter how
great or small, towards ones fellow beings.
2. Another aspect that is highlighted is Allah's acceptance and the
recognition of goodness on our part. He sees the intention as well as
the deeds.
3. Sadaqa not only means the giving of charity in money or goods to
the poor and deserving but also includes many charitable acts, big or
small, which are usually ignored.
Action:
1. Muslims should practice different acts of charity in their everyday life e.g.
they should attend to the sick, help the blind to cross the road and protect
the children from the traffic rush.
2. Similarly if there is any conflict between our class fellows: instead of
taking side of our friends, we should act fairly.
3. Such acts will be blessed by Allah and will help to create a pious society
as the Holy Prophet (PBUH) by his own example showed how worship of
Allah through prayer, fasting etc. and services to humanity (e.g. his modesty,
kindness, justice etc.) established an exemplary Muslim community.
 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.
Teachings:
I. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) explains that a Muslim is duty bound to
contain evil.
2. It is a sign of strength of one’s faith to physically stop people from
doing wrong, if this is not possible than to speak out against it and even
if that is not possible, to consider a wrong act as sinful.
3. Therefore, this Hadith very clearly and forcefully clarifies the moral
obligations that Muslims have to promote good and forbid evil. The
Holy Quran says “help one another in matters of goodness and piety
but do not help one another in matters of sins and transgression".
Actions:
1. Muslims should fight against evil.
2. We should fight evil, with our hands or voices or thoughts e.g. we
should stop our friends from cheating in tests.
3. Similarly we should forcefully condemn backbiting and lying etc. to
prove that we are true Muslims.
4. Such acts will promote modesty and purity in society.
 Hadith 7

lt was said: O Messenger of Allah, who is most excellent of men? The

messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
'The believer who strives in the way of Allah with his person and
property.’
Teachings:
1. This Hadith explains that the best person is the one who struggles in
the way of Allah with himself and with his wealth.
2. The Quran says, "And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s
cause) He will replace it”.
3. This struggle establishes a society based on the right moral principles
of justice and piety as laid down in lslam.
4. One who spends in the way of Allah will be rewarded as well as the
one who fights in the way of Allah will also be granted the best
recompense.
Actions:
1. Muslims should follow this Hadith by sacrificing their time, money and
even life in the way of Allah e.g. a true believer rises before Fajr to offer
Tahajjud prayers, or sits in Itikaf in the month of Ramadan or finances the
hajj of a less fortunate Muslim.
2. Similarly when a Muslim is required to use his wealth to establish a just
society based on good principles, he should do so.
3. This will be in accordance with the examples of Holy Prophet (PBUH)
and his companions who were always ready to strive for lslam like the
companions who generously contributed at the time of Tabuk expedition.'
 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, whosoever 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 of plague is a martyr, he who
dies of cholera is a martyr.”
Teachings:
1. This Hadith clarifies the concept of martyrdom. A martyr is one who voluntarily gives his
life for the sake of Allah while fighting in the battlefield.
2 . The Hadith, however, mentions more categories of martyrs who will be rewarded on the
day of Judgment. These categories contain the one who dies naturally in the cause of Allah,
signifying a person whose death is not because of his being killed in the war by sword etc. but
on the account of some other events while going for Jihad such as falling from a horse or
dying while defending his family or property.
3. The Hadith also includes persons who die as a result of a serious and painful disease or
those who meet a sudden death due to a catastrophe while they were in the way of Allah.
Actions:
1. Muslims should always be ready to strive in the way of Allah so that if they
die while performing any kind of Jihad, then they should be included among
martyrs.
2. They must be true believers and practicing Muslims i.e. they live their lives
following the teachings of Islam e.g. they pray, fast, pay the obligatory charity
(zakat) and perform Hajj and fulfill their duties towards their fellow beings like
parents, neighbours and strangers.
3. ln such a case if death approaches them whether natural or accidental
they'll be rewarded as martyrs.
 Hadith 9
No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his hand.
Teachings
1. This Hadith stresses the dignity of labour and hard work.
2. lslam discourages reliance on other people and beggary.
3. The virtue of earning lawfully through individual effort is preferred and
blessed by Allah and a Muslim must take responsibility for earning his own
livelihood.
4. Prophets also earned their living through their work and a saying of the
Holy Prophet states that 'One who earns his living by the sweat of his brow is
the friend of Allah’.
 Actions:
1. A Muslim should support himself and his family through his own hard
work.
2. It is better for a Muslim to live within his means, even if it is to live
humbly, than to earn unlawfully e.g. we should not indulge in taking bribes
etc. rather should prefer to do modest jobs like waiters and salesmen.
3. Similarly beggary is increasing in our society - we should condemn and
discourage it.'
4. This will not only promote self-sufficiency which is not only good for the
individual but is also good for the community.
 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 prayers in
the night or fasts in the day.
Teachings:
1. This Hadith clearly explains its importance of the rights of fellow beings. The
Holy Prophet (SAW) stressed upon the Muslims to be aware of people's
needs and attend to them.
2. Although only the words ‘widow’ and ‘poor’ have been mentioned, it covers
the whole range of indigent, invalid, and the needy people in the
community.
3. Efforts for their care and welfare have been regarded equivalent lo Jihad.
4. lt is made clear that worship is not restricted as to prayers and
fasting only but covers every good deed. The Holy Quran orders
believers to look after the weak and vulnerable as it says: 'Therefore,
treat not the orphan with oppression and repulse not the beggars'.
Actions:
1. Muslims must always be ready and willing to help those in need e.g.
financial assistance for the poor students to complete their education.
2. Such acts of charity and kindness earns a Muslim Allah's pleasure.
3. lf they’ll look after the less fortunate ones then their reward will be
equivalent to those who practice pillars of lslam or fight in Allah's way.
 Hadith 11
'l and the man who brings up an orphan will be in paradise like this.‘
And he pointed with his Two fingers, the index and the middle finger.
Teachings
1. This hadith teaches the Muslims that they can go to paradise with
the Holy Prophet (PBUH) if they do good deeds.
2. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) particularly recommended the good deed
of looking after an orphan.
3. The mention of the two fingers symbolizes the close proximity with
the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the paradise.
4. ln another Hadith, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) regarded that house as
the best where an orphan is treated with kindness and he (PBUH)
declared that the worst home is one in which an orphan is not treated
with affection. Therefore, as an orphan himself he (PBUH) especially
recommended Muslims to care for orphans.
Actions
1. The teaching of this Hadith encourages Muslims to care for the
orphans and other vulnerable people e.g. we can pay school fee of a
poor so that he should not be deprived, of his education.
2. Similarly we should donate generously to orphanages and try to
adopt an orphan child to look after him. ln this way we will follow the
teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and will therefore, be rewarded.
3. Such steps will also increase care, cooperation and positive feelings
within the members of the society.
 Hadith 12
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) sent Abu Musa and Muadh bin Jabal to Yemen 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.
Teachings:
1. The teachings of this Hadith is that Muslims must always be gentle to others and cause
rejoicing when they rule.
2. Muslims must also act fairly when they govern.
3. The Hadith focuses on Muslim leadership being helpful to those who are led and that
they should never lead by force rather they should always lead by encouragement.
4. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is quoted as saying that the best rulers are those who are
loved by the people and who love their people. So Muslim rulers are always polite and
affectionate.
Actions:
1. Muslims can put the teachings of this Hadith into practice by being
gentle towards others and by making them rejoice due to their actions
towards them e.g. a teacher should not discourage a weak student
rather motivate him to work harder to get through the exam.
2. Also a Muslim government should always be fair in its actions e.g.
the government of Pakistan should work sincerely to
reduce load shedding of electricity so that people lives comfortably.
3. Such actions will reduce aggression and despair in society.
 Hadith 13
He who studies the Qur'an is like the owner of tethered camels. lf he
attends to them he will keep hold of them, but if he lets them loose
they will go away.
Teachings:
1. Muslims believe that learning and understanding the teachings of
the Quran is very important
2. As by tending to camels one not only keeps hold of them but benefits
from them. Similarly by reading Holy Qur'an regularly Muslims hold on
to the rope of Allah and practice being good thus earning the pleasure
of Allah.
3. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has stressed upon the reciting and teaching
the Holy Quran in the following words:
'The best amongst you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it'.
Actions:
1. Muslim can put the teachings of this Hadith into action by reciting
the Qur'an regularly.
2. They can learn duas from it or become Hafiz-ul-Qur'an.
3. Muslims should not only learn the Holy Quran in Arabic but also
strive to understand its meanings.
4. They should also try to teach Quran to those who don't know it.
5. This will help to create a righteous society which will be following the
straight path shown by Allah given in the Holy Quran and so eventually
be blessed by God in both the worlds.