Hadith 1: Intention (an-Niyyah)
Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say:
إِنَّمَاالْأَعْمَالُبِالنِّيَّاتِوَإِنَّمَالِكُلِّامْرِئٍمَانَوَىفَمَنْكَانَتْهِجْرَتُهُإِلَىدُنْيَايُصِيبُهَاأَوْإِلَىامْرَأَةٍيَنْكِحُهَافَهِجْرَتُهُإِلَىمَاهَاجَرَإِلَيْهِ
Verily, deeds are only with intentions. Indeed, every person will get rewarded only for what they intended. Therefore, whoever emigrated for worldly reasons or for a woman, then his emigration is for what he has emigrated to.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 1, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 2: Foundation of the Sunnah
Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Resting his knees against his and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said, “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْإِسْلَامُأَنْتَشْهَدَأَنْلَاإِلَهَإِلَّااللَّهُوَأَنَّمُحَمَّدًارَسُولُاللَّهِصَلَّىاللَّهُعَلَيْهِوَسَلَّمَوَتُقِيمَالصَّلَاةَوَتُؤْتِيَالزَّكَاةَوَتَصُومَرَمَضَانَوَتَحُجَّالْبَيْتَإِنْاسْتَطَعْتَإِلَيْهِسَبِيلًا
“Islam is to witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give the alms, the fast the month of Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage to the House if he is capable of travel”.
The man said, “You have spoken rightly,” and we were amazed at him asking him and saying that he had spoken rightly. Then he said, “Tell me about faith.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
أَنْتُؤْمِنَبِاللَّهِوَمَلَائِكَتِهِوَكُتُبِهِوَرُسُلِهِوَالْيَوْمِالْآخِرِوَتُؤْمِنَبِالْقَدَرِخَيْرِهِوَشَرِّهِ
“Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in the providence (al-qadr) of both good and evil.”
The man said, “You have spoken rightly. Then tell me about excellence.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
أَنْتَعْبُدَاللَّهَكَأَنَّكَتَرَاهُفَإِنْلَمْتَكُنْتَرَاهُفَإِنَّهُيَرَاكَ
“Excellence (al-Ihsan) is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for verily, He sees you.”
The man said, “Then tell me about the Hour.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
مَاالْمَسْئُولُعَنْهَابِأَعْلَمَمِنْالسَّائِلِ
“The one who is asked does not know more than the one asking.”
The man said, “Then tell me about its signs.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
أَنْتَلِدَالْأَمَةُرَبَّتَهَاوَأَنْتَرَىالْحُفَاةَالْعُرَاةَالْعَالَةَرِعَاءَالشَّاءِيَتَطَاوَلُونَفِيالْبُنْيَانِ
“When the slave girl gives birth to her master, when the naked and barefooted will become chiefs of the people, and when the shepherds of black camels will exult themselves in constructing building.”
Then he left and I stayed for a time. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
يَاعُمَرُأَتَدْرِيمَنْالسَّائِلُ
“O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?”
I said, “Allah and His messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) know best.” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
فَإِنَّهُجِبْرِيلُأَتَاكُمْيُعَلِّمُكُمْدِينَكُمْ
“He was Gabriel, who came to teach the people their religion.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 4, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 3: Pillars of Islam
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the son of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
بُنِيَالْإِسْلَامُعَلَىخَمْسٍعَلَىأَنْيُعْبَدَاللَّهُوَيُكْفَرَبِمَادُونَهُوَإِقَامِالصَّلَاةِوَإِيتَاءِالزَّكَاةِوَحَجِّالْبَيْتِوَصَوْمِرَمَضَانَ
“Islam is built upon five: worshiping Allah alone and disbelieving in what is worshiped besides him, establishing prayer, paying charity, performing the pilgrimage, and fasting the month of Ramadan.”
Source: Sahih Bukhari 16, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 4: Divine Providence (al-Qadr)
Abdullah ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he is the truthful, the trusted, said to us:
إِنَّأَحَدَكُمْيُجْمَعُخَلْقُهُفِيبَطْنِأُمِّهِأَرْبَعِينَيَوْمًاثُمَّيَكُونُفِيذَلِكَعَلَقَةًمِثْلَذَلِكَثُمَّيَكُونُفِيذَلِكَمُضْغَةًمِثْلَذَلِكَثُمَّيُرْسَلُالْمَلَكُفَيَنْفُخُفِيهِالرُّوحَوَيُؤْمَرُبِأَرْبَعِكَلِمَاتٍبِكَتْبِرِزْقِهِوَأَجَلِهِوَعَمَلِهِوَشَقِيٌّأَوْسَعِيدٌفَوَالَّذِيلَاإِلَهَغَيْرُهُإِنَّأَحَدَكُمْلَيَعْمَلُبِعَمَلِأَهْلِالْجَنَّةِحَتَّىمَايَكُونُبَيْنَهُوَبَيْنَهَاإِلَّاذِرَاعٌفَيَسْبِقُعَلَيْهِالْكِتَابُفَيَعْمَلُبِعَمَلِأَهْلِالنَّارِفَيَدْخُلُهَاوَإِنَّأَحَدَكُمْلَيَعْمَلُبِعَمَلِأَهْلِالنَّارِحَتَّىمَايَكُونُبَيْنَهُوَبَيْنَهَاإِلَّاذِرَاعٌفَيَسْبِقُعَلَيْهِالْكِتَابُفَيَعْمَلُبِعَمَلِأَهْلِالْجَنَّةِفَيَدْخُلُهَا
“Verily, the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days in the form of seed, then he is a clot of blood for another period, then a morsel of flesh for another period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows the breath of life into him and who is commanded regarding four matters: to write down his means of livelihood, his life span, his actions, and whether he is happy or unhappy. By Allah other than whom there is no god, verily, one of you behaves like the people of Paradise until he is but an arm’s length from it, but that which has been written overtakes him, so he behaves like the people of Hellfire and thus he enters it; and one of you behaves like the people of Hellfire until he is but an arm’s length from it, and that which has been written overtakes him, so he behaves like the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 2643, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 5: Religious Innovation and Heresy (al-Bid’ah)
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
مَنْأَحْدَثَفِيأَمْرِنَاهَذَامَالَيْسَفِيهِفَهُوَرَدٌّ
“Whoever innovates something into this affair of ours which does not belong to it will have it rejected.”
Source: Sahih Bukhari 2550, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
مَنْعَمِلَعَمَلًالَيْسَعَلَيْهِأَمْرُنَافَهُوَرَدٌّ
“Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1718, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 6: Lawful and Unlawful (Halal wal Haram)
Numan ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say:
الْحَلَالُبَيِّنٌوَالْحَرَامُبَيِّنٌوَبَيْنَهُمَامُشَبَّهَاتٌلَايَعْلَمُهَاكَثِيرٌمِنْالنَّاسِفَمَنْاتَّقَىالْمُشَبَّهَاتِاسْتَبْرَأَلِدِينِهِوَعِرْضِهِوَمَنْوَقَعَفِيالشُّبُهَاتِكَرَاعٍيَرْعَىحَوْلَالْحِمَىيُوشِكُأَنْيُوَاقِعَهُأَلَاوَإِنَّلِكُلِّمَلِكٍحِمًىأَلَاإِنَّحِمَىاللَّهِفِيأَرْضِهِمَحَارِمُهُأَلَاوَإِنَّفِيالْجَسَدِمُضْغَةًإِذَاصَلَحَتْصَلَحَالْجَسَدُكُلُّهُوَإِذَافَسَدَتْفَسَدَالْجَسَدُكُلُّهُأَلَاوَهِيَالْقَلْبُ
“That which is lawful is plain and that which is unlawful is plain and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which not many people know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be whole, all the body is whole and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased. Truly it is the heart.”
Source: Sahih Bukhari 52, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 7: Religion is Sincerity (an-Naseehah)
Tamim Al-Dari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), peace and blessings be upon him, said three times:
إِنَّالدِّينَالنَّصِيحَةُإِنَّالدِّينَالنَّصِيحَةُإِنَّالدِّينَالنَّصِيحَةُ
“Verily, the religion is sincerity.”
We said, “To whom?” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
لِلَّهِوَكِتَابِهِوَرَسُولِهِوَأَئِمَّةِالْمُؤْمِنِينَوَعَامَّتِهِمْوَأَئِمَّةِالْمُسْلِمِينَوَعَامَّتِهِمْ
“To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 55, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 8: Fighting in Defense of Islam (al-Jihad)
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أُمِرْتُأَنْأُقَاتِلَالنَّاسَحَتَّىيَقُولُوالَاإِلَهَإِلَّااللَّهُفَإِذَاقَالُوالَاإِلَهَإِلَّااللَّهُعَصَمُوامِنِّيدِمَاءَهُمْوَأَمْوَالَهُمْإِلَّابِحَقِّهَاوَحِسَابُهُمْعَلَىاللَّهِ
“I have been commanded to fight the people until they say there is no God but Allah, so when they say there is no God but Allah then their lives and wealth are protected from me – except by right of justice – and their reckoning is with Allah.”
Then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recited the verse:
إِنَّمَاأَنْتَمُذَكِّرٌلَسْتَعَلَيْهِمْبِمُصَيْطِرٍ
“Verily, you are only a reminder; you are not over them as a dictator.” (88:22)
Source: Sahih Muslim 21, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Taymiyah comments on this tradition, saying:
مُرَادُهُقِتَالُالْمُحَارِبِينَالَّذِينَأَذِنَاللَّهُفِيقِتَالِهِمْلَمْيُرِدْقِتَالَالْمُعَاهَدِينَالَّذِينَأَمَرَاللَّهُبِوَفَاءِعَهْدِهِمْ
“The meaning of this tradition is to fight those who are waging war whom Allah has called us to fight, and it does not mean to fight those who have made peace with whom Allah has commanded us to fulfill their peace.”
Source: Majmu’ Al-Fatawa 19/20
Hadith 9: Avoid Excessive Questioning
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say:
مَانَهَيْتُكُمْعَنْهُفَاجْتَنِبُوهُوَمَاأَمَرْتُكُمْبِهِفَافْعَلُوامِنْهُمَااسْتَطَعْتُمْفَإِنَّمَاأَهْلَكَالَّذِينَمِنْقَبْلِكُمْكَثْرَةُمَسَائِلِهِمْوَاخْتِلَافُهُمْعَلَىأَنْبِيَائِهِمْ
“Avoid what I have forbidden for you, and do what I have commanded you as much as you are able. Verily, the people before you were destroyed only because of their excessive questioning and contradicting their prophets (peace be upon them).”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1337, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
اتْرُكُونِيمَاتَرَكْتُكُمْفَإِذَاحَدَّثْتُكُمْفَخُذُواعَنِّيفَإِنَّمَاهَلَكَمَنْكَانَقَبْلَكُمْبِكَثْرَةِسُؤَالِهِمْوَاخْتِلَافِهِمْعَلَىأَنْبِيَائِهِمْ
“Leave me with what I have left you. When I narrate a saying to you, then take it from me. Indeed, the people before you were destroyed only because of their excessive questioning and disagreeing with their prophets (peace be upon them).”
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2679, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 10: Allah is Pure and Accepts Only Pure
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَيُّهَاالنَّاسُإِنَّاللَّهَطَيِّبٌلَايَقْبَلُإِلَّاطَيِّبًاوَإِنَّاللَّهَأَمَرَالْمُؤْمِنِينَبِمَاأَمَرَبِهِالْمُرْسَلِينَفَقَالَيَاأَيُّهَاالرُّسُلُكُلُوامِنْالطَّيِّبَاتِوَاعْمَلُواصَالِحًاإِنِّيبِمَاتَعْمَلُونَعَلِيمٌوَقَالَيَاأَيُّهَاالَّذِينَآمَنُواكُلُوامِنْطَيِّبَاتِمَارَزَقْنَاكُمْ
“O people, ver ily, Allah is pure and He accepts only what is pure. Ver ily, Allah has commanded the believers with that which He commanded His Messengers. He said: O Messengers, eat from good things and work righteousness, for indeed I am knowing of what you do (23:51); and He said: O you who believe, eat from good things with which We have provided you.”(2:172)
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) added:
ثُمَّذَكَرَالرَّجُلَيُطِيلُالسَّفَرَأَشْعَثَأَغْبَرَيَمُدُّيَدَيْهِإِلَىالسَّمَاءِيَارَبِّيَارَبِّوَمَطْعَمُهُحَرَامٌوَمَشْرَبُهُحَرَامٌوَمَلْبَسُهُحَرَامٌوَغُذِيَبِالْحَرَامِفَأَنَّىيُسْتَجَابُلِذَلِكَ
“Then he mentioned the case of a man who, having traveled very far, becomes disheveled and dusty and he raises his hands to the sky, saying, “O Lord! O Lord!” while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished with the unlawful, so how can he be answered?”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1015, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 11: Leave Doubts
Al-Hasan ibn Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
دَعْمَايَرِيبُكَإِلَىمَالَايَرِيبُكَفَإِنَّالصِّدْقَطُمَأْنِينَةٌوَإِنَّالْكَذِبَرِيبَةٌ
“Leave what makes you doubt to what does not make you doubt; verily, truth brings tranquility but falsehood brings doubts.”
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2518, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 12: Minding Our Own Business
Ali ibn Hussein (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّمِنْحُسْنِإِسْلَامِالْمَرْءِتَرْكَهُمَالَايَعْنِيهِ
“Verily, from the perfection of a person’s Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him.”
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2318, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 13: Love Good For All Creation
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَايُؤْمِنُأَحَدُكُمْحَتَّىيُحِبَّلِأَخِيهِأَوْقَالَلِجَارِهِمَايُحِبُّلِنَفْسِهِ
“None of you believes until he loves for his brother or his neighbor what he loves for himself.”
Source: Sahih Bukhari 13, Grade: Sahih
Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْأَحَبَّأَنْيُزَحْزَحَعَنْالنَّارِوَيَدْخُلَالْجَنَّةَفَلْتُدْرِكْهُمَنِيَّتُهُوَهُوَيُؤْمِنُبِاللَّهِوَالْيَوْمِالْآخِرِوَيَأْتِيإِلَىالنَّاسِمَايُحِبُّأَنْيُؤْتَىإِلَيْهِ
“Whoever would love to be delivered from the Hellfire and entered into Paradise, then let him die with faith in Allah and the Last Day, and let him treat the people the way he would love to be treated.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1844, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 14: Legal Punishment
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَايَحِلُّدَمُامْرِئٍمُسْلِمٍيَشْهَدُأَنْلَاإِلَهَإِلَّااللَّهُوَأَنِّيرَسُولُاللَّهِإِلَّابِإِحْدَىثَلَاثٍالثَّيِّبُالزَّانِيوَالنَّفْسُبِالنَّفْسِوَالتَّارِكُلِدِينِهِالْمُفَارِقُلِلْجَمَاعَةِ
“It is unlawful to shed the blood of a Muslim person who testifies that there is no God but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah except in one of three cases: the married person who commits adultery, legal retaliation for murder, and a person who leaves their religion and rebels against the community.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1676, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 15: Good Manners with Neighbors and Guests
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْكَانَيُؤْمِنُبِاللَّهِوَالْيَوْمِالآخِرِفَلْيَقُلْخَيْرًاأَوْلِيَصْمُتْوَمَنْكَانَيُؤْمِنُبِاللَّهِوَالْيَوْمِالآخِرِفَلْيُكْرِمْجَارَهُوَمَنْكَانَيُؤْمِنُبِاللَّهِوَالْيَوْمِالآخِرِفَلْيُكْرِمْضَيْفَهُ
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak goodness or be silent; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 47, Grade: Sahih