Faith

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “God will not cause all my people (or he said, Muhammad’s people) to err. God’s hand is over the community, and he who is separate from it will be separate in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He also reported God's messenger as saying, “Follow the main body, for he who is separate from it will be separate in hell.” [1] [1] The source is lacking. The editor of Damascus edition quotes Mirak Shah as saying Ibn Majah gives this tradition from Anas. Ibn Majah (fitran, 8) has part of this in a tradition from Anas.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Sonny, if you can keep your heart morning and evening void of deceit towards anyone, do so.” Then he said, “Sonny, that pertains to my <i>sunna</i>. He who loves my <i>sunna</i> has loved me, and he who loves me will be with me in paradise.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as Saying, “He who holds fast to my <i>sunna</i> when my people are in a corrupt state will have the reward of a hundred martyrs.” [1] [1] The source is lacking. The editor of Damascus edition quotes Mirak Shah and others as saying Bayhaqi gives the tradition in his <i>kitab az-Zuhd</i> as coming from Ibn Abbas.

Jabir told that when ‘Umar came to the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “We hear from Jews traditions which charm us, so do you think we should write down some of them ?” he replied, “Are you in a state of confusion as the Jews and the Christians were? I have brought them to you white and pure, and if Moses were alive he would feel it absolutely necessary to follow me.” Ahmad transmitted it, and also Baihaqi in <i>Shu’ab al-iman</i>.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone eats what is good, acts according to a <i>sunna</i>, and men are safe from injuries on his part, he will enter paradise.” A man said, “Messenger of God, to-day there are many such among the people to which he replied, “And there will also be such in generations after my time.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “In the times in which you are living, anyone who abandons a tenth of what he is commanded will perish; but a time is coming when anyone who does a tenth of what he is commanded will be safe.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported that God's messenger said when a number of his Companions were around him, “Swear allegiance to me on the basis that you will not associate anything with God, or steal, or commit fornication, or kill your children, or produce slander which you yourselves have falsely fabricated, or be disobedient concerning what is good. If any of you fulfils his promise, God will undertake his reward but if anyone perpetrates any of these things and is punished for it in this world, it will be an atonement for him. If, however, anyone perpetrates any of those things and God conceals it regarding him, the matter lies in God’s hands; if He wishes He will forgive him, and if He wishes He will punish him.” So we swore allegiance to him on that basis. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Umama reported God’s messenger as saying, “No people have gone astray after following right guidance unless they have been led into disputation.” Then God’s messenger recited this verse, “They only put him forth to you as a matter of dispute; nay, they are a contentious people.” [1] Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah transmitted it. [1] Quran xliii, 58.

Anas declared that God’s messenger used to say, “Do not impose austerities on yourselves and so have God imposing austerities on you; for people have imposed austerities on themselves and God has imposed austerities on them. Their survivors are to be found in cells and monasteries.” [Then he quoted], “Monasticism, they invented it; we did not prescribe it for them.” [1] Abu Dawud transmitted it. [1] ibid, lvii, 27.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The Qur’an came down showing five aspects:

what is permissible, what is prohibited, what is firmly fixed, what is obscure, and parables. So treat what is permissible as permissible and what is prohibited as prohibited, act upon what is firmly fixed; believe in what is obscure, and take a lesson from the parables.” This is the wording in <i>Al-masabih</i>. Baihaqi transmitted it in <i>Shu’ab al-iman</i>, his wording being, “Act according to what is permissible, avoid what is prohibited, and follow what is firmly fixed.”

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Things are of three categories:

a matter whose right guidance is clear, which you must follow; a matter whose error is clear, which you must avoid; and a matter about which there is a difference of opinion, which you must entrust to God.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Mu'adh b. Jabal reported God’s messenger as saying, “The devil is a wolf to man, like the wolf which harries sheep, catching the one which is solitary, the one which stays far from the flock, and the one which wanders. So avoid the branching paths and keep to the general community.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who separates himself a handbreadth from the community has cast off the rope of Islam from his neck.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Malik b. Anas, in <i>mursal</i> form, reported God’s messenger as saying, “As long as you hold fast to two things which I have left among you, you will not go astray:

God’s Book and His messenger’s <i>sunna</i>” He transmitted it in <i>Al-Muwatta</i>.

Ghudaif b. al-Harith ath-Thumali reported God’s messenger as saying, “No people introduce an innovation without its equivalent being withdrawn from the sunna; so holding firmly to a sunna is better than introducing an innovation.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Hassan said that no people had produced an innovation in their religion without God removing an equivalent amount from their sunna, then not restoring it to them till the day of resurrection. Darimi transmitted it.

Ibrahim b. Maisara reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who honours an innovator has assisted in undermining Islam.” Baihaqi transmitted it in mursal form in Shu'ab al-iman.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that when God’s messenger went out to the place of prayer on the day of sacrifice, or on the day when the fast was broken, he came upon some women and said, "Give alms, you women folk, for I have been shown that you will be the majority of the inhabitants of hell.” They asked, “For what reason, messenger of God?” He replied, “You are greatly given to abuse, and you are ungrateful to your husbands. Among women who are deficient in intelligence and religion I have not seen anyone more able to remove the understanding of a prudent man than one of you.” They asked, “What is the deficiency of our religion and our intelligence, messenger of God?” He replied, “Is not the testimony of a woman equivalent to half the testimony of a man?” They said, “Yes.” Remarking that that pertained to the deficiency of her intelligence, he asked, “Is it not the case that when she menstruates she neither prays nor fasts?” When they replied, “Yes,” he said, “That pertains to the deficiency of her religion.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said that if anyone learns God’s Book and follows its contents, he will be guided by God away from error in this world and be guarded by Him on the day of resurrection from the strictest account. A version renders him as saying that one who models his life on God’s Book will not go astray in this world, or be miserable in the next. Then he recited this verse, “He who follows my guidance will not go astray or be miserable.” [1] Razin transmitted it. [1] Quran xx, `123.