Selections from Hadith
Hadith
1. Spreading Hearsay
Hafs ibn 'Asim (rta)stated that God's Messenger (sws) said: "It is enough for a person to be
regarded a liar if he narrates every thing he hears [without verifying it]."[1]
2. Some Major Sins
Abu Bakrah (rta)said: "[Once] we were with God's Messenger (sws). He said: 'Should I not
inform you about the three greatest of the major sins? [They are:] Associating with God,
disobeying parents and [giving] a false statement or a false testimony.' And [while he was saying
this,] God's Messenger (sws) was leaning on a support. He [then] sat [upright] and continued to
repeat these words until we wished that he become silent."[2]
3. Kindness to Servants
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (rta)says that a person came to the Prophet (sws) and asked him: "O
Messenger of God! How many times should we forgive our servant?" At this, he remained silent.
The question was repeated to him and he [still remained] silent. When he was posed the question
a third time, he replied: "Forgive him seventy times every day."[3]
4. Sanctity of Life, Wealth and Honour
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (rta) stated that the Prophet (sws) [in the sermon of the last hajj]at Mina
asked: "Do you know what day this is?" The companions replied: "God and the Messenger
know." The Prophet (sws) remarked: "This is the sacred day. So do you know which city is
this?" The companions replied: "God and the Messenger know." The Prophet (sws) said: "This is
the sacred city. Do you know which month is this?" The companions replied: "God and the
Messenger know." The Prophet (sws) said: "This is the sacred month." He [further] said: "Indeed,
God has made your lives, your wealth, and your honour as sacred as this day of yours in this
month of yours in this city of yours."[4]
5. Etiquette of Eating
'Umar ibn Abi Salamah (rta) says: "I was an infant and was being brought up under [the
supervision] of God's Messenger (sws) when while eating my hand would circulate all over the
plate. When God's Messenger (sws) [saw this,] he remarked: 'Young Man! Eat after taking God's
name with the right hand from the part of the plate near you.' Consequently, after this I would eat
in this manner."[5]
6. Moderation in Preaching
It is narrated by Abu Wa'il: " 'Ammar (rta) delivered a sermon to us that was very brief and
concise. When he descended [from the pulpit] we said: 'O Abu al-Yaqzan! You were concise and
brief in your speech. We wish that you had gone into details.' At his, he said: 'I heard God's
Messenger (sws) saying: "The lengthening of a person's prayer and the shortness of his sermon is
a sign of his wisdom. So, increase [the time of] your prayer and decrease [the time of] your
speech. Indeed, some sermons are [as potent as] magic."'"[6]
It is narrated by Abu Wa'il that 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (rta) would instruct and remind people
[about religion] every Thursday. A person from among them said: "O Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, I
want you to remind us every day." He replied: "I don't do this lest it may be burdensome on you.
I remind you at intervals the way the Prophet (sws) used to remind us at intervals lest we may
become fed-up."[7]
7. Refraining from Arrogance
'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (rta)reported that the Prophet (sws) said: "A person in whose heart is the
slightest trace of arrogance will not enter Paradise." A person asked: "A person likes that his
clothes be nice and his shoes [also] be nice. [Is this not arrogance?]" The Prophet (sws) replied:
"God is beautiful and likes what is beautiful. Arrogance [actually means] denying the truth and
regarding people to be inferior."[8]
[1]. Ibid., vol. 1, 10, (no. 5).
[2]. Ibid., vol. 1, 91, (no. 87).
[3]. Abu Da'ud, Sunan, vol. 4, 341, (no. 5164).
[4]. Al-Bukhari, Al-Jami' al-sahih, vol.5, 2247, (no. 5696).
[5]. Ibid., vol.5, 2056, (no. 5061).
[6]. Muslim, Al-Jami' al-sahih, vol.2, 594, (no. 869).
[7]. Al-Bukhari, Al-Jami' al-sahih, vol.1, 39, (no. 70).
[8]. Muslim, Al-Jami' al-sahih, vol.1, 93, (no. 91).
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