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Some Muslim Virtues (Sayings of the Prophet)
The Holy Qur’an is the highest authority in Islam. Muslims believe, it contains the exact words of God as revealed to Prophet Muhammad and recorded by his companions. In applying the Qur’anic teachings to everyday life, Muslims rely upon the sunnah (sayings and actions) of the Prophet. According to Muslim tradition, this sunnah is a concrete implementation, a tangible form, and an embodiment of the will of God in the form of Muhammad’s deeds. They were recorded in what are called ahadith (pieces of news, stories, or reports). This [chapter] conveys to you just a portion of the many interesting and enlightening ahadith. Numbers 1-19 have been extrapolated from “Riyadh-Us-Saleheen” Volumes 1 and 2. Numbers 20-24 have been extrapolated from “An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith.” Both works were compiled by Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya Bin Sharaf An-Nawawi. Each hadith quoted in this pamphlet is followed by an individual reference that indicates the original source of ahadith collection: Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Abu Daud, or Imam Tirmidhi.
1) Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: “The strong man is not one who is good at wrestling, but the strong man is one who controls himself in a fit of rage” (Bukhari and Muslim). RAS Vol 1, #45.
2) Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: “It does not befit a Siddiq (righteous Muslim) to frequently curse others.” (Muslim). RAS Vol 2, #1552
3) Jarir Ibn Abdullah relates that the Holy Prophet said: “He who is not merciful to people God will not be merciful to him.” (Bukhari and Muslim). RAS Vol 1, #227.
4) Anas Bin Malik relates that the Holy Prophet said: “No one of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.” (Bukhari and Muslim). RAS Vol 1, #183.
5) Anas Bin Malik relates that the Holy Prophet said: “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed. A man inquired, “O Messenger of God! I help him when he is oppressed, but how can I help him when he is an oppressor? He said, “You can keep him from committing oppression. That will be your help to him.” (Bukhari). RAS Vol 1, #237.
6) Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: “Look at those who stand at a lower level than you but don’t look at those who stand at a higher level than you, for this would make the favours (conferred upon you by God) insignificant (in your eyes).” (Muslim 42.7070).
7) Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-’Aas says that the Holy Prophet did not indulge in loose talk nor did he like to listen to it. He used to say, “The best of you is the best among you in conduct.” (Bukhari and Muslim). RAS, Vol 1, #625.
8) Sahl bin Sa’d says that the Holy Prophet has said: “Whosoever gives me a guarantee to safeguard what is between his jaws [backbitting, lies, etc.] and what is between his legs [adultery, etc.], I shall guarantee him paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim). RAS Vol 2, #1513
9) Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: “The believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best behaviour, and the best of you are those who are the best to your wives.” (Tirmidhi). RAS Vol 1, #278
10) Abu Zarr relates that the Holy Prophet said: “Do not belittle any good deed. Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face (is a good deed).” (Muslim). RAS Vol 1, #121.
11) Anas Bin Malik relates that the Holy Prophet said: “Make things easy and do not make them difficult, cheer people up by conveying glad tidings to them and do not repulse (them).” (Muslim). RAS Vol 1, #637
12) Ayesha relates that the Holy Prophet said: “Do not abuse the dead, for they have reached the result of what they have done. (e.g. facing the consequences of their deeds)” (Bukhari 8.76.523).
13) Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: “Beware of envy because envy consumes (destroys) virtues just as fire consumes firewood.” (Abu Daud). RAS Vol2, #1569
14) Wasila bin Al-As-qa’a relates that the Holy Prophet said: “Do not express pleasure at the misfortune of a brother lest God should bestow mercy upon him and make you suffer from a misfortune.” (Tirmidhi). RAS Vol 2, #1577
15) Ibn Mas’ud relates that the Holy Prophet once asked: “Who of you loves the wealth of your heir more than your own wealth?” The companions said: “O Messenger of God, there is none of us that loves his heir’s wealth more than his own wealth. He said: “Then his wealth is that which he has sent forward (his good deeds credited for his afterlife) but that which he retains belongs to his heir. (Bukhari). RAS Vol 1, #545
16) Ayaz bin Himar relates that the Holy Prophet said: “God has revealed to me that you should humble yourselves to one another. One should neither hold himself above another nor transgress against another.” (Muslim). RAS. Vol 1, #602
17) Abdullah bin Mas’ud relates that the Holy Prophet said: “A true believer does not taunt or curse or abuse or talk indecently.” (Tirmidhi). RAS, Vol 2, #1734.
18) Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: “A believer must not hate a believing woman, if he dislikes one of her characteristics he will be pleased with another.” (Muslim). RAS Vol 1, #275
19) Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: “RIchness is not the abundance of wealth, rather it is in the richness of the heart.” (Bukhari and Muslim). RAS Vol 1, #522. (See Also Muslim 5.2287).
20) On the authority of Abu Huraira, who said the Messenger of God said: “(Part of) the beauty of a man’s Islam is to leave what does not concern him” (Tirmidhi). Nawawi #12.
21) On the authority of Abu Huraira, that the Messenger of God said: “He who believes in God and the Last Day should speak well or otherwise keep quiet. Also he who believes in God and the Last Day should honour his neighbor. And he who believes in God and the Last Day should honor his guest. ” (Bukhari & Muslim). Nawawi #15.
22) On the authority of Abu Malik al-Harith ibn Asim al-Ash’ari, who said: the Messenger of God said: “…Prayers are divine light; charity is a proof; patience is light, and the Qur’an is an proof for or against you. Every man goes forth in the morning and in fact he is seller of his soul. He either sets it free (e.g. doing good) or destroys it (e.g. doing evil). (Muslim). Nawawi #23.
23) On the authority of Abu Huraira, who said: the Messenger of God said: “Charity is to be given for every joint of the human body (as a sign of gratitude to God) everyday the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as charity, and to help a man ride his riding animal, or to lift his luggage on to it, is also regarded as charity, and (saying) a good word is also charity, and every step taken on one’s way to offer prayer is also charity and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also charity.
(Bukhari 4.52.232:& Muslim). See also Nawawi #26
24) On the authority of an-Nawwas ibn Sam’an that the Prophet said: “Righteousness is good conduct, and sin is what rankles in your mind and which you dislike people finding out” (Muslim). Nawawi #27.
(Excerpt from book "Easily Understand Islam")
Click to read sample chapters from the book below
Table of Contents
Why is there Evil and Suffering?
Why I Believe in God — A Muslim Speaks
The Quran, Modern Science, and More
Islam & Racism
Islam: A Solution for America’s Social Problems?
Some Muslim Virtues (Sayings of the Prophet)
Section IV: Islam & Christianity
Common Ground: Judaism, Christianity & Islam