Chapter: 1, Faith (Kitab Al Iman)
From hadith no 1 to 20
Hadith No: 1 Narrated/Authority of Yahya bin Yamur
The first man to discuss Divine Decree in Basra was Mabad al-Juhani. I and Humaid bin Abdur-Rahman Himyari went on a pilgrimage or Umrah. We wanted to ask a Companion of the Messenger of Allah about Divine Decree. By chance, we met Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab as he was entering the mosque. My companion and I approached him. One of us stood on his right and the other on his left. I thought my companion would let me speak, so I said: “Abu Abdur Rahman! In our land, there are people who recite the Holy Quran and pursue knowledge. They claim that there is no such thing as Divine Decree and that events are not predestined.” Abdullah ibn Umar said: “Tell those people that I have nothing to do with them and they have nothing to do with me. They are not responsible for my belief.” Abdullah ibn Umar swore that even if someone who doesn’t believe in Divine Decree had gold equal to the size of Mount Uhud and gave it in the way of Allah, it would not be accepted unless they affirmed their faith in Divine Decree. He also mentioned that his father, Umar ibn al-Khattab, told him about a man who appeared before Allah’s Apostle wearing white clothes with black hair. No one recognized him. He asked the Prophet about Islam, faith, good deeds, and the hour of the Doom. The Prophet answered his questions. After the man left, the Prophet told Umar that the inquirer was Gabriel, who came to instruct him in matters of religion.
Hadith No: 2 Narrated/Authority of Yahya bin Yamur
When Mabad talked about the issue of Divine Decree, we disagreed. The narrator said that Humaid bin Abdur-Rahman Himyari and I argued. They continued discussing the meaning of the hadith narrated by Kahmas and its chain of transmission. Some words were different in different versions.
Hadith No: 3 Narrated/Authority of Yahya bin Yamur
Humaid bin Abdur-Rahman and I met Abdullah bin Umar. We discussed the Divine Decree. Abdullah bin Umar narrated a hadith that was transmitted by Umar from the Apostle. There is a slight variation in that.
Hadith No: 4 Narrated/Authority of Abu Huraira
One day, the Messenger of Allah appeared in public. A man approached him and asked, “Prophet of Allah, what is Iman?” The Holy Prophet replied, “Iman means affirming your faith in Allah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His Messengers, and the Resurrection hereafter.” The man then asked, “Messenger of Allah, what does al-Islam signify?” The Holy Prophet answered, “Al-Islam signifies worshipping Allah alone, not associating anything with Him, establishing obligatory prayer, paying Zakat, and observing the fast of Ramadan.” The man continued, “Messenger of Allah, what does al-Ihsan imply?” The Holy Prophet explained, “Al-Ihsan means worshipping Allah as if you are seeing Him. And if you cannot see Him, then pray with the mindset that He is seeing you.” The man asked another question, “Messenger of Allah, when will the hour of Doom come?” The Holy Prophet replied, “No one knows when the hour of Doom will come, not even the one who is asked about it. But I can tell you some signs of its arrival, such as when a slave girl gives birth to her master, when the naked and barefooted become the chiefs of the people, and when shepherds of black camels boast about their extravagant buildings. Doom is one of the five unseen happenings that only Allah knows.” Then the Holy Prophet recited a verse emphasizing that only Allah has knowledge of the hour, the rain, what is in the wombs, and what people will earn tomorrow or where they will die. After the conversation, the man left. The Messenger of Allah then asked his companions to bring the man back. However, when they went to find him, he had disappeared. The Messenger of Allah explained that the man was Gabriel, who had come to teach the people about their religion.
Hadith No: 5 Narrated/Authority of
Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Numair told us this hadith. He heard it from Muhammad bin Bishr, who heard it from Abd Hayyan al-Taymi. In this narration, instead of saying “when a slave-girl gives birth to her master,” it says “when a slave-girl gives birth to her own master.”
Hadith No: 6 Narrated/Authority of Abu Huraira
The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said, “You can ask me about religion.” But the Companions of the Holy Prophet were too respectful to ask anything. Then a man came and sat near him. He asked, “Messenger of Allah, what is al-lslam?” The Holy Prophet replied, “You must only believe in Allah, pray, give to the poor, and fast during Ramadan.” The man said, “You told the truth.” He asked again, “Messenger of Allah, what is al-Iman (faith)?” The Holy Prophet said, “You must believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His Apostles, and you must believe in Resurrection and Divine Decree.” The man said, “You told the truth.” He asked again, “Messenger of Allah, what is al-Ihsan?” The Holy Prophet said, “You must fear Allah as if you can see Him, even though you cannot see Him. He sees you.” The man said, “You told the truth.” The man asked, “When will the hour of Doom come?” The Holy Prophet said, “Only Allah knows. But I can tell you some signs. One sign is when you see a slave woman giving birth to her master. Another sign is when ignorant and foolish people rule the earth. And another sign is when shepherds of black camels build grand buildings. The hour of Doom is one of the five unseen things that only Allah knows.” Then the Holy Prophet recited a verse. Abu Huraira said, “The man stood up and left.” The Messenger of Allah said, “Bring him back to me.” They searched for him, but they couldn’t find him. The Messenger of Allah said, “He was Gabriel and he wanted to teach you about religion when you didn’t ask.”
Hadith No: 7 Narrated/Authority of Talha bin Ubaidullah
A person with messy hair from Najd approached the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). We heard him talking, but couldn’t understand until he got closer. We found out he was asking about Islam. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: You should pray five times a day and night. The person asked if there were any other prayers required. The Holy Prophet said no, but you can pray voluntarily and fast during Ramadan. The person asked if there were any other obligations. The Holy Prophet said no, but you can do other things voluntarily. The Messenger of Allah also told him about Zakat. The person asked if there were any other payments required. The Holy Prophet said no, but you can pay voluntarily. The person said he wouldn’t add or subtract anything from the obligations. The Prophet said he would be successful if he stayed true to his word.
Hadith No: 8 Narrated/Authority of Anas bin Malik
Talha b. ‘Ubaidullah reported a hadith that is similar to the one mentioned earlier. The Holy Prophet said, “If he is truthful, he will succeed.” Alternatively, the Holy Prophet said, “If he is truthful, he will enter heaven.”
Hadith No: 9 Narrated/Authority of Anas bin Malik
The Holy Prophet forbade us from asking for anything we don’t really need. So, we were happy when a smart person from the desert came and asked him a question. The man said, “Muhammad, your messenger told us that Allah sent you as a prophet. Is that true?” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes, it’s true.” The man asked, “Who created the heaven?” The Holy Prophet replied, “Allah.” The man asked, “Who created the earth?” The Holy Prophet replied, “Allah.” The man asked, “Who made the mountains and everything in them?” The Holy Prophet replied, “Allah.” The man said, “By Allah, who created the heaven and earth and mountains, did Allah really send you?” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes.” The man asked, “Your messenger also told us that we have to pray five times a day. Did Allah tell you to do that?” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes.” The man asked, “Your messenger also told us that we have to give Zakat from our money. Did Allah tell you to do that?” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes.” The man asked, “Your messenger also told us that we have to fast during Ramadan. Did Allah tell you to do that?” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes.” The man asked, “Your messenger also told us that we have to go on Hajj if we can. Did Allah tell you to do that?” The Holy Prophet said, “Yes.” After hearing all this, the man said, “By Allah, I won’t add anything or take anything away from what you said.” The Holy Prophet said, “If he’s true to his words, he’ll go to Paradise.”
Hadith No: 10 Narrated/Authority of Thabit
Anas said, “In the Holy Qur’an, we were forbidden from asking the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) about anything.” Anas then reported the hadith using similar words.
Hadith No: 11 Narrated/Authority of Abu Ayyub Ansari
Once during the journey of the Holy Prophet, a bedouin appeared. He caught hold of the nosestring of the Prophet’s she-camel. The bedouin asked the Prophet, “Tell me what brings me closer to Paradise and keeps me away from Hell.” The Prophet paused and looked at his companions. Then he said, “You have been guided well.” The Prophet then told the bedouin, “Repeat what you said.” The bedouin repeated his question. The Prophet replied, “To get closer to Paradise and avoid Hell, worship Allah alone, pray, give to charity, and be good to your family.” After saying this, the Prophet asked the bedouin to let go of his she-camel’s nosestring.
Hadith No: 12 Narrated/Authority of
Muhammad b. Hatim transmitted this hadith. Abu Ayyub Ansari is the authority.
Hadith No: 13 Narrated/Authority of Abu Ayyub
A man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) to tell him what he can do to go to Paradise and avoid going to Hell. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that he should worship Allah alone, pray, give to the poor, and be kind to his relatives. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that if the man does these things, he will go to Paradise.
Hadith No: 14 Narrated/Authority of Abu Huraira
A Bedouin once went to the Messenger of Allah and asked, “Tell me what I can do to go to Paradise.” The Prophet replied, “Worship Allah alone, pray, give Zakat, and fast during Ramadan.” The Bedouin swore, “I won’t add or remove anything from that.” When the Bedouin left, the Prophet said, “Anyone who wants to see a person from Paradise should look at him.”
Hadith No: 15 Narrated/Authority of Jabir
Nu’man b. Qaufal went to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) and asked if he would go to Paradise if he prayed, avoided forbidden things, and considered permissible what is allowed by the Shari’ah. The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said yes.
Hadith No: 16 Narrated/Authority of Jabir
I will add the following words. I will not do anything else.
Hadith No: 17 Narrated/Authority of Jabir
A man asked the Messenger of Allah if he would go to Paradise if he prayed, fasted during Ramadan, followed the rules of the Shari’ah, and avoided what is forbidden. The Prophet said yes. The man said he would not add anything else.
Hadith No: 18 Narrated/Authority of Abdullah bin Umar
The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said that the foundation of Islam is built on five pillars. These pillars are: the belief in one God, praying regularly, giving to charity, fasting during Ramadan, and going on pilgrimage to Mecca. Someone asked Abdullah bin Umar which comes first, the pilgrimage or fasting during Ramadan. He answered that fasting during Ramadan comes before the pilgrimage.
Hadith No: 19 Narrated/Authority of Abdullah bin Umar
Al-Islam is built on five pillars. These pillars are: worshipping only Allah and denying all other gods, praying, giving Zakat, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting during Ramadan.
Hadith No: 20 Narrated/Authority of Abdullah bin Umar
The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said that al-Islam is built on five pillars. These pillars are: believing in only one god, Allah, and that Muhammad is His messenger, praying, giving Zakat, going on the Pilgrimage to the Ka’ba, and fasting during Ramadan.