(11)Chapter: Evidence that the one who is content with Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad (saws) as his prophet, then he is a believer, even if he commits major sins
It is narrated on the authority of 'Abbas b. 'Abdul-Muttalib that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying:
He has found the taste of faith (iman) who is content with Allah as his Lord, with Islam as his religion (code of life) and with Muhammad (ﷺ) as his Prophet.
(12)Chapter: Clarifying the number of branches of faith, the best and the least of them, the virtue of modesty (Al-Haya') and the fact that it is part of faith
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is a branch of faith.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً يَعِظُ أَخَاهُ فِي الْحَيَاءِ فَقَالَ " الْحَيَاءُ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ " .
Salim reported on the authority of his father that the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) heard a man censuring his brother regarding modesty. Upon this the Prophet remarked:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا السَّوَّارِ، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " الْحَيَاءُ لاَ يَأْتِي إِلاَّ بِخَيْرٍ " . فَقَالَ بُشَيْرُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ إِنَّهُ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي الْحِكْمَةِ أَنَّ مِنْهُ وَقَارًا وَمِنْهُ سَكِينَةً . فَقَالَ عِمْرَانُ أُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَتُحَدِّثُنِي عَنْ صُحُفِكَ .
It is narrated on the authority of 'Imran b. Husain that the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Modesty brings forth nothing but goodness. Bushair b. Ka'b said: It is recorded in the books of wisdom, there lies sobriety in it and calmness of mind in it, Imran said: I am narrating to you the tradition of the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) and you talk of your books.
It is narrated on the authority of Qatada. We were sitting with 'Imran b. Husain in a company and Bushair ibn Ka'b was also amongst us. 'Imran narrated to us that on a certain occasion the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Modesty is a virtue through and through, or said: Modesty is a goodness complete. Upon this Bushair ibn Ka'b said: Verily we find in certain books or books of (wisdom) that it is God-inspired peace of mind or sobriety for the sake of Allah and there is also a weakness in it. Imran was so much enraged that his eyes became red and he said: I am narrating to you the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and you are contradicting it. He (the narrator) said: Imran reported the hadith, He (the narrator) said: Bushair repeated, (the same thing). Imran was enraged. He (the narrator) said: We asserted: Verily Bushair is one amongst us. Abu Nujaid! There is nothing wrong, with him (Bushair).
It is narrated on the authority of Sufyan b. 'Abdulla al-Thaqafi that he said:
I asked the Messenger of Allah to tell me about Islam a thing which might dispense with the necessity of my asking anybody after you. In the hadith of Abu Usama the (words) are: other than you. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: Say I affirm my faith in Allah and then remain steadfast to it.
(14)Chapter: Clarifying the superiority of Islam, and what part of it is best
باب بَيَانِ تَفَاضُلِ الإِسْلاَمِ وَأَىِّ أُمُورِهِ أَفْضَلُ
It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. 'Amr that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) which of the merits (is superior) in Islam. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked:
That you provide food and extend greetings to one whom you know or do not know.
'Abdullah b. Amr b. al-As is reported to have said:
Verily a person asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) who amongst the Muslims was better. Upon this (the Holy Prophet) remarked: From whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Musa Ash'ari:
I asked the Messenger of Allah which (attribute) of Islam is more excellent. Upon this he remarked: One in which the Muslims are safe, protected from the tongue and hand of (other Muslims).
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْجَوْهَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بُرَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَفْضَلُ فَذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ .
Ibrahim b. Sa'id al-Jauhari has narrated this hadith with the same words in addition to these. The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) was asked as to who amongst the Muslims is better, and the rest of the hadith was narrated like this.
(15)Chapter: Clarification of those characteristics which, if a person attains them, he will find the sweetness of faith
باب بَيَانِ خِصَالٍ مَنِ اتَّصَفَ بِهِنَّ وَجَدَ حَلاَوَةَ الإِيمَانِ
It is reported on the authority of Anas that the Prophet of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him ) said:
There are three qualities for which anyone who is characterised by them will relish the sweetness of faith: he to whom Allah and His Messenger are dearer than all else; he who loves a man for Allah's sake alone; and he who has as great an abhorrence of returning to unbelief after Allah has rescued him from it as he has of being cast into Hell.
It is reported on the authority of Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
There are three qualities for which any one who is characterised by them will relish the savour of faith: that he loves man and he does not love him but for Allah's sake alone; he is to whom Allah and His Messenger are dearer than all else; he who prefers to be thrown into fire than to return to unbelief after Allah has rescued him out of it.
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِهِمْ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " مِنْ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ يَهُودِيًّا أَوْ نَصْرَانِيًّا " .
A similar hadith has been reported on the authority of Anas (with another chain of transmitters) with the exception of these words:
that he again becomes a Jew or a Christian.
(16)Chapter: The obligation to love the messenger of Allah (saws) more than one's family, son, father, and all other people; And mentions of an absolute absence of faith regarding one who does not love him with such love
It is reported on the authority of Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
No bondsman believes, and, in the hadith narrated by Abdul Warith, no person believes, till I am dearer to him than the members of his household, his wealth and the whole of mankind.
It is narrated on the authority of Anas that the Prophet (may peace blessings be upon him) observed:
By Him in whose Hand is my life, no, bondsman (truly) believes till he likes for his neighbour, or he (the Holy Prophet) said: for his brother, whatever he likes for himself.
(18)Chapter: Clarifying the prohibition of annoying one's neighbor
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessing be upon him) observed:
He will not enter Paradise whose neighbour is not secure from his wrongful conduct.
(19)Chapter: Encouragement to honor one's neighbor and guest, and the obligation to remain silent unless one has something good to say, and the fact that all of that is part of faith
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed:
He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should either utter good words or better keep silence; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbour with kindness and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest.
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed:
He who believes in Allah and the Last Day does not harm is neighbour, and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day shows hospitality to his guest and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day speaks good or remains silent.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Shuraih al-Khuzai' that the Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:
He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should do good to his neighbour and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to the guest and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should either speak good or better remain silent.
(20)Chapter: Clarifying that forbidding evil is part of faith, faith increases and decreases; Enjoying what is good and forbidding what is evil are obligatory
It is narrated on the authority of Tariq b. Shihab:
It was Marwan who initiated (the practice) of delivering khutbah (address) before the prayer on the 'Id day. A man stood up and said: Prayer should precede khutbah. He (Marwan) remarked, This (practice) has been done away with. Upon this Abu Sa'id remarked: This man has performed (his duty) laid on him. I heard the Messenger of Allah as saying: He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.
It is narrated on the authority 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed:
Never a Prophet had been sent before me by Allah towards his nation who had not among his people (his) disciples and companions who followed his ways and obeyed his command. Then there came after them their successors who said whatever they did not practise, and practised whatever they were not commanded to do. He who strove against them with his hand was a believer: he who strove against them with his tongue was a believer, and he who strove against them with his heart was a believer and beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed. Abu Rafi' said: I narrated this hadith to 'Abdullah b. 'Umar; he contradicted me. There happened to come 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud who stayed at Qanat, and 'Abdullah b 'Umar wanted me to accompany him for visiting him (as 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud was ailing), so I went along with him and as we sat (before him) I asked Ibn Mas'ud about this hadith. He narrated it in the same way as I narrated it to Ibn 'Umar.
The same hadith has been transmitted by another chain of narrators on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud who observed:
Never was there one among the prophets who had had not disciples who followed his direction and followed his ways. The remaining part of the hadith is like that as narrated by Salih but the arrival of Ibn Mas'ud and the meeting of Ibn 'Umar with him is not mentioned.
(21)Chapter: People excel over one another in faith, and the superiority of the people of Yemen in faith
باب تَفَاضُلِ أَهْلِ الإِيمَانِ فِيهِ وَرُجْحَانِ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ فِيهِ
It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) pointed towards Yemen with his hand and said:
Verily Iman is towards this side, and harshness and callousness of the hearts is found amongst the rude owners of the camels who drive them behind their tails (to the direction) where emerge the two horns of Satan, they are the tribes of Rabi'a and Mudar.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، أَنْبَأَنَا حَمَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " جَاءَ أَهْلُ الْيَمَنِ هُمْ أَرَقُّ أَفْئِدَةً الإِيمَانُ يَمَانٍ وَالْفِقْهُ يَمَانٍ وَالْحِكْمَةُ يَمَانِيَةٌ " .
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah observed:
There have come the people of Yemen; they are tender of hearts, the belief is that of the Yemenites, the understanding (of the faith) is that of the Yemenites and sagacity is that of the Yemenites.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الأَزْرَقُ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ .
Abu Huraira reported the same hadith which is transmitted to us by another chain of transmitters, e. g. Muhammad b. al-Muthanna, Ishaq b. Yusuf Azraq, Ibn 'Aun, etc.
The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed: There came to you the people from Yemen; they are tender of hearts and mild of feelings, the understanding is Yemenite, the sagacity is Yemenite.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) remarked:
The summit of unbelief is towards the East and the pride and conceitedness is found among the owners of horses and camels who are rude and uncivil, people of the tents, and tranquillity is found among those who rear goats and sheep.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed:
The belief is among the Yemenites, and the unbelief is towards the East, and tranquillity is among those who rear goats and sheep, and pride and simulation is among the uncivil and rude owners of horses and camels.
I heard the Messenger of Allah saying this: Pride and conceitedness is found among the uncivil owners of the camels and tranquillity is found among the owners of sheep and goats.
I heard the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) saying: There came the people of Yemen, they are tender of feelings and meek of hearts. The belief is that of the Yemenites, the sagacity is that of the Yemenites, the tranquillity is among the owners of goats and sheep, and pride and conceitedness is among the uncivil owners of the camels, the people of the tents in the direction of sunrise.
It is reporter on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed:
There came the people of Yemen who are soft of hearts, tender in feelings: the belief is that of the Yemenites, the sagacity is that of the Yemenites and the summit of unbelief is towards the East.
It is reported on the authority of Jabir b. Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and, blessings be upon him) observed:
The callousness of heart and sternness is in the East and faith is among the people of the Hijaz.
(22)Chapter: Clarifying that no one will enter paradise but the believers; loving the believers is part of faith and spreading Salam is a means of attaining that
The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessing be upon him) observed: You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith) and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: (i. e.) give currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one another by saying) as-salamu alaikum.
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا " . بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ وَوَكِيعٍ .
Zuhair b. Harb said:
Jarir reported on the authority of A'mash with this chain of transmitters that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: By him in Whose hand is my life, you shall not enter Paradise unless you believe. The rest of the hadith is the same as narrated by Abd Mu'awiya and Waki'.
(23)Chapter: Clarifying that the religion is sincerity
It is narrated on the authority of Tamim ad-Dari that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"The Religion is sincerity." We said, "To whom?" He said "To Allah, to His Book, To His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their masses."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، وَأَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، قَالَ بَايَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ .
It is narrated on the authority of Jarir that he observed I gave pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) on the observance of prayer, payment of Zakat, and sincerity and well-wishing for every Muslim.
It is narrated on the authority of Jarir that he observed:
I owed allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) on hearing ( is commands) and obeying (them) and the Prophet) instructed me (to act) as lay in my power, and sincerity and goodwill for every Muslim.