14. Dealings with people and good character

14. Dealings with people and good character

chapter 131. Love between people

260. Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “By the One in whose hand my soul is, you will not enter the Garden until you submit. You will not submit until you love one another. Extend the greeting to one another and you will love one another. Beware of hatred, for it is the razor. I do not tell you that it shaves the hair, but it shaves away the deen.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: The Messenger of Allahﷺ declared with affirmation that the people will not enter the Garden until they have submitted or believed; the gates of the Garden are closed without Islam and Eemaan. Also perfect Eemaan cannot be attained except with mutual love which is inturn attained through spreading the greetings of Salaam. The hadeeth shows the devastating effects of animosity in any community.

chapter 132. Friendship

261. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The souls of two believers should meet in the course of a day even if they do not actually see each other.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

262. ‘Umayr ibn Ishaq said, “We used to say that the first thing to be removed from people would be friendship.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 133. Joking

264. Anas ibn Malik said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came upon a group of women which included Umm Sulayman. He said, ‘Anjasha!* Be gentle when you drive the glass vessels!” Abu Qilaba said about this, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used an expression which some of you use in jest. He said, ‘When you drive the glass vessels!'” [*Anjasha was a singer of camel-songs who drove the camels along. ‘Glass vessels’ refers to the women on the camels.]
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Here the Messenger of Allahﷺ referred to the women employing their tender nature: the fragile vessels. He cautioned that they be driven gently so that they do not fall over the beast of burden and be wounded. Some of the scholars have viewed that the Prophetﷺ cautioned the cameleer, ‘Anjasha , regarding his songs so that the fragile vessels were not put to trial therefrom as is shown in other wordings of the same hadeeth. ‘Anjasha , was known to sing with sonorous voice. Yet, the hadeeth evinces the permissibility of singing songs and poems when they don’t involve forbidden words and musical instruments, and when doing so does not lead to something prohibited. It also shows the permissibility of using implied expressions, and good-natured teasing.

265. Abu Hurayra reported that the people said, “Messenger of Allah, you joke with us!” He replied, “But I only speak the truth.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Imam An-Nawawee (الله رحمه (explains, “the prohibited jest is that which exceeds proper bounds and is continous for it causes laughter, hard-heartedness and prevents giving remembrance of Allah and pondering about important matters of the religion. In many situations, it causes harm, breeds bitter-feeling and destroys dignity and reverence. As for the jest free of all these, such is permissible; that was what the Prophetﷺ would do sometimes, to soothe his listener and delight him. This is an encouraged practice.”

266. Bakr ibn ‘Abdullah reported that the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to throw melons at one another. He said, “If these were real, they would be men.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It encourages joking with one another sometimes and being serious-minded at other times; all as the situation demands. Since the religion prohibits wastefulness; it is understood that they would only throw the peels of melon at one another.

267. Ibn Abi Mulayka said, “‘A’isha was joking with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Her slavegirl said, ‘Messenger of Allah, some of the women who make jokers in this quarter are from Kinana!’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Rather some of our jokesters in this quarter.'”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

268. Anas ibn Malik said, “A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to ask him for a mount. He said, ‘I will give you a she-camel’s foal to ride.’ He exclaimed, ‘Messenger of Allah, what can I do with a she-camel’s foal?’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Are camels born from anything other than she-camels?'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This shows the humility of Allah’s Messengerﷺ; and his being mannerly, even during jokes. The hadeeth encourages keeping friendly relations with other Muslims.

chapter 134. Joking with a child

269. Anas ibn Malik said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to mix with us to the extent of asking a younger brother of mine, ‘Abu ‘Umayr! What has happened to the little sparrow?'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth teaches among others, that: 1. The prohibition of much mixing with people is restricted to those from whom harm is feared. 2. A child and more so, an adult could have a Kunya, for the Prophetﷺ called the boy by a Kunya, Abu ‘Umayr. 3. It is encouraged that children are allowed to play and even provided playthings as long it is permissible to play with such things. 4. One should relate with people according to their intelligence. 5. It is encouraged to joke with children within the limits of the Sharee’ah.

270. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took al-Hasan or al-Husayn by the hand and then put his feet on top of his own feet and said, “Climb up.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth affirms the Meezaan, the Balance with a pan suspended from each end upon which the deeds of man will be weighed on the Day of Rising. Good character is from the most weighty of good deeds that the servant will find on his scale of righteous deeds.

chapter 135. Good character

270. Abu’d-Darda’ reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “There is nothing which weighs heavier in the balance than good character.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

271.’Abdullah ibn ‘Amr said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was neither coarse nor loud. He used to say, “The best of you is the one who has the best character.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It encourages good character and points to the virtue of a person with good character. It prohibits being obscene and ill-mannered.

272.’Amr ibn Shu’ayb reported from his grandfather that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Shall I tell you about who among you I love the most and the one who will be seated closest to me on the Day of Rising?” The people were silent, so he repeated that two or three times. Then the people said, “Yes, Messenger of Allah.” He said, “The one among you with the best character.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: From the manners of imparting knowledge is to ask questions that invite the listener’s attention even if it means repeating it more than once. The hadeeth shows that one should not plunge into speaking about what he knows not. One should rather remain silent or say, “I do not know…” as is proven in other narrations. The approach employed by the Prophetﷺ indicates the virtue of good character; and from those who will be seated away from the Prophetﷺ are those with obnoxious character.

273. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “I was sent to perfect good character.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

274.’A’isha said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was never given a choice between two things but that he chose the easier of the two as long as it was not a wrong action. If it was a wrong action. then he was the last person to do it. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never took revenge on his own behalf. But when the respect of Allah Almighty was violated, he would take revenge on behalf of Allah Almighty.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: If the Prophetﷺ was given a choice that involves a sin by the disbelievers and the hypocrites, or a choice that could lead to a sin by the Muslims or he was very far from doing it even if it appears to be easier than the other choice which is not a sin and would basically not lead to sin. This makes clear the error in the attitude of those who consider every easy choice as Islamic even if it involves a sin or leads to a sin. The hadeeth also teaches that rulers, judges and others in the position of authority should not use their positions to settle individual scores with the people.

275.’Abdullah said, “Allah Almighty shared out your character between you as He divided your provision between you. Allah Almighty bestows wealth on those He loves and those He does not love. He only gives faith to those He loves. Whoever is stingy about spending his wealth and fears to fight the enemy and is in terror of enduring the night should repeat frequently. ‘There is no god but Allah. Glory be to Allah. Praise be to Allah, and Allah is greater.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The narration is authentic from the statements of Abdullah bin Mas’ood and has the ruling of a saying from Allah’s Messengerﷺ because the companion could not have said these words from personal opinion especially its first segments, “Allah the Exalted has shared out character among you…” Additionally, it has other supporting proofs with other chains of narration that show that it has a ruling of a saying from Allah’s Messengerﷺ. See, As-Saheehah no. 2714. The hadeeth teaches that as one supplicates for provision, he should also supplicate for good character, and that one should not be deceived by the abundance of wealth in the hands of the non-Muslims because Allah the Most High, grants wealth to those with whom He is pleased (such as Sulayman and ‘Uthman) and those with whom He is displeased (such as Fir’aon and Qaaroon). It also exhorts towards regularly giving remembrance of Allah.

chapter 136. The generosity of the self

276. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Wealth does not mean having a lot of property. Wealth means having self-contentment.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Many amongst those to whom Allah the Exalted has granted possessions are not satisfied with what they are given; so they make great efforts to acquire more as if they are destitutes, and care less about the source. They are usually stingy and would hardly even give out their obligatory Zakat. But the real wealth is to have self satisfaction; the Prophetﷺ said to Abu Hurayrah in an authentic report collected by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, “…be contented with what Allah has shared out to you; you will be from the richest of people…

277. Anas said, “I served the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for twenty years. He never said ‘uff’ to me and he never said about anything I had not done, ‘Why didn’t you do it?’ or about something I had done. ‘Why did you do that?'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: ‘Ouf’ is a grunting exclamation that shows disgust. The fact that the Prophetﷺ did not use to blame Anas is not with respect to issues regarding Allah’s orders or prohibitions; otherwise, the Prophetﷺ would not remain silent when Allah’s limits are trespassed. From self contentment is to leave unnecessary blame and criticism. A young boy serving the greatest leader of all times and keeping the best of his company day and night; in travel and at home, in times of peace and war. Yet the feelings of this little boy were not hurt; not even with a knitted brow or a frowned face as he reported in other wordings of the hadeeth. There is an important lesson here on leaving blame and avoiding criticism except when really necessary. The hadeeth shows that one could praise a person in his front if it will not make him become proud.

278. Anas ibn Malik said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was merciful. No one came to him but that he promised himself something and carried out that promise if he had anything to give. The iqama for the prayer had been given when a bedouin came and took hold of his garment and stated, ‘I am still not satisfied.’ The Bedouin alarmed the Prophet’s wives. The Prophet went with him until the man had received what he wanted. Then he returned and prayed.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: The Prophetﷺ is known to be ever merciful; and so the Bedouin could drag his garment asking the Prophetﷺ to fulfill his want so that he does not forget. The obligatory prayer did not even commence until he satisfied the Bedouin’s need! It contains evidence that there could be a break between the call for the commencement of Prayer, the Iqaamah, and its actual commencement when the leader needs to fulfill a need or for similar reasons.

279. Jabir said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was never asked for anything to which he said, ‘No.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The Prophetﷺ was very generous; he never said, ‘No’ to anyone who requested any of the things of this world from him. If he had, he gave; otherwise, he gave a promise which he fulfilled. In the Saheeh of Imam Muslim, it says, Anas reported that, “A man asked the Prophetﷺ for a herd in a valley and he gave him. So the man went to his people and said, ‘My people! Accept Islam; by Allah, Muhammad gives generously. He is not afraid of penury.’” Anas said, “If a person accepted Islam for no other than worldly benefits;as soon as he enters into Islam, it becomes dearer to him than the world and what it contains.”

280.’Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr said, “I have never seen two women more generous than ‘A’isha and Asma’. Their generosity was different. ‘A’isha used to gather things and after they had been collected together, she would share them out. Asma’ would not keep anything for the next day.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The companions (RA)– male and female – followed the lines of conduct of the Prophetﷺ; and so, were openhanded. The hadeeth shows the virtue of the companions, and exhorts towards following what the pious predecessors were upon which was what the Prophetﷺ was upon.

chapter 137. Avarice

281. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The dust of the path of Allah and the smoke of Hellfire are never joined together in the heart of a slave. Belief and avarice are never joined together in the heart of a slave.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Unreasonably strong desire to obtain and keep money could prevent a person from being openhanded, and could even cause him to hoard wealth due for Zakat. In some cases – and the refuge is with Allah – it may cause him to cheat people and deprive them of their lawful wealth. All these show the weakness of the Eemaan of such a person.

282. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Two qualities are not found together in a believer: miserliness and ill-temper.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

283. ‘Abdullah ibn Rabi’a said, “We used to sit with ‘Abdullah and they mentioned a man together with aspects of his character. ‘Abdullah said, ‘What would you think if you cut off his head? Would you be able to put it back on again?’ ‘No,’ they replied. He said, ‘And his hand?’ ‘No,’ they said. ‘And his foot?’ they said. ‘No,’ he said. He said, ‘You cannot change his character until you change his physical form. The drop remains in the womb for forty nights and then the blood congeals and then it becomes a blood clot and then a lump of flesh and then Prophet sends an angles and he records his provision, his character, and whether or not he will be happy or miserable (in the Next World).'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)

chapter 138. Good character when people have understanding

284. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “A man who is known for his good character has the same degree as someone who stands at night in prayer.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It shows the superiority of some good deeds over others, and the virtue of being of good character. The one who combines between both is certainly better in the sight of Allah the Mighty and Exalted.

285. Abu Hurayra said, “I heard Abu’l-Qasim say, ‘The best of you in Islam is the best of you in character when they possess understanding (of the deen).”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth is evidence that the Islam of a person is not perfect when he is of bad character; the defect is to the severity of the bad character. It also evinces the fact that the people are of different grades in their deen.

286. Thabit ibn ‘Ubayd said, “I have not seen anyone more serious when he sits with the people nor more jocular in his house than Zayd ibn Thabit.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Thābit b. ‘Ubayd (الله رحمه (is the freed slave of Zayd b. Thābit .

287. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, ‘Which religion does Allah Almighty love the most?’ He replied, ‘The simple Hanifiyya one.'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: Hanīfiyya is the path of Ibrahim – peace be upon him -; the worship of Allah Alone with full sincerity, and the one upon the path is lexically referred to as Haneef. Simplicity and turning away from evil towards the worship of Allah Alone is from good character and it shows a person’s understanding of the religion.

288. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr said, “There are four qualities such that if you were to be given them, you will not be harmed even if the world were to be taken away from you. They are: good character, restraint in food, truthful words, and upholding a trust.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth is authentic also as a saying of the Prophetﷺ. See: As-Saheehah (733).

289. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Do you know what it is that makes most people enter the Fire?” “Allah and His Messenger know best,” they said. He said, “The two empty ones: the genitals and the mouth. Do you know what it is that makes most people enter the Garden? Taqwa of Allah and good character.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: llicit sexual intercourse and consumption of prohibited food or seeking means of livelihood from prohibited sources are means by which many of the people will enter the Fire – and the refuge is with Allah. The hadeeth shows the virtue of good character: it is one of the major means to attain the Garden.

290. Umm ad-Darda’ said, “Abu’d-Darda’ stood up in the night to pray. He was weeping and said, ‘O Allah! You made my physical form good, so make my character good!’ until morning. I said, ‘Abu’d- Darda’, your only supplication for the entire night was for good character!’ He replied, ‘Umm ad- Darda’, the Muslim makes his character good with the result that his good character takes him into the Garden. He makes his character bad with the result that his bad character takes him into the Fire. The Muslim is forgiven while he is asleep.’ I asked, ‘Abu’d-Darda’, how can be forgiven while he is asleep?’ He said, ‘His brother arises in the night and performs the night prayers and makes supplication to Allah Almighty and is answered. He makes supplication for Muslim brother and his request is answered.'”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Commentary: This narration with this chain of transmission is weak; however, to supplicate for good character is authentically reported from the Prophetﷺ.

291. Usama ibn Sharik said, “I was with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when some bedouins came. There were many people on all sides. The people were silent and no one spoke except them. They said, ‘Messenger of Allah! We experience difficulty in such-and-such and such- and-such’ and it was in things which are not harmful to people. He said, ‘Servants of Allah! Allah has removed difficulty except in a case where a man slanders someone unjustly that is the one who is in difficulty and destroyed.’ They said, ‘Messenger of Allah, can we make use of medical treatment?’ ‘Yes, servants of Allah,’ he replied, ‘you can make use of medical treatment. Allah Almighty did not create an illness but that He made a cure for it except for one disease.’ They asked, ‘And what is that, Messenger of Allah?’ ‘Old age,’ he replied. They said, ‘Messenger of Allah, what is the best thing that a man can be given?’ ‘Good character,’ he replied.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth teaches many lessons including: 1. Students should be silent when questions are asked by others; for the teacher could give a response which may include a point of benefit they had not heard previously. Although the most eminent among the companions were always with the Prophetﷺ, Anas said, “We used to be delighted that an intelligent bedouin would approach him and ask him and we would listen”. 2. One should know the rulings regarding matters before embarking upon them. 3. Seeking medical attention is permissible (Mubah) and not discouraged (Makrooh) as some of the people opine. 4. Allah the Exalted is Merciful; He did not create an illness except that He made a cure for it. 5. Old age is the major precursor to death as pregnancy is to birth; and so as the illnesses connected to pregnancy become cured at child birth, death is the absolute cure for those connected to old age. 6. Good character is from the greatest favours of Allah upon people. We ask Allah to perfect our character as he has perfected our physical looks. Ameen.

292. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the most generous of people in giving charity. He was even more generous in Ramadan when Jibril, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to meet him. Every night of Ramadan Jibril used to come to him and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would read the Qur’an to him. When Jibril came to him, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was more generous in giving charity than the blowing wind.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Imam an-Nawawee (الله رحمه (said, “From the points of benefit in this hadeeth are: exhortation towards generousity at all times and doing more of that in Ramadan and on meeting with pious people. It also encourages visiting pious and good people and repeatedly, if such people do not detest it. It recommends much reading of the Qur’an during Ramadan and that it is more meritorious than other patterns of giving remembrance, and that one could actually say, Ramadan without an annexation, and other benefits that could be derived after due consideration.”

293. Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Before your time a man was called to account and it was found that the only good thing he had done was that he was easy in his business dealings with people. He used to order his slaves to go easy with people who were in difficulty. Allah Almighty said, ‘We are more entitled to do that than he is, so forgive him.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: He mixed with people; i.e “he used to lend people money” as is mentioned in another version of the narration. The hadeeth shows the virtues of extending relief to those in difficulty and being tolerant in trade dealings, seeking Allah’s countenance therefrom for Allah the Exalted only rewards an action performed for His Sake. It is also authentically reported that the man used to say to his servants, “When a person in difficulty comes, give him relief; perhaps Allah grants relief to us too…”

294. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “What is the most frequent reason for someone entering the Garden?” He said, “Taqwa and good character. He was asked, “What is the most frequent reason for people entering the Fire?” He replied, “The two empty ones: the mouth and the genitals.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Illicit sexual intercourse and consumption of prohibited food or seeking means of livelihood from prohibited sources are means by which many of the people will enter the Fire – and the refuge is with Allah. The hadeeth shows the virtue of good character: it is one of the major means to attain the Garden.

295. It is reported Nawwas ibn Sam’an asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about dutifulness and wrong action. He said, “Dutifulness is good character and wrong action is that which works on yourself and which you dislike for other people to become aware of.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: That is, the core of righteousness is good character. This hadeeth shows that sins have two signs: firstly, the fact that it pricks the heart of the doer due to the fact that the mind basically recognizes evil but is overpowered by the desires and as such, it is discomforted. Secondly, dislike of the people to be aware of it. This is because the mind basically likes to be known for its righteousness; so when it dislikes that a thing is known of it, then it shows that the thing is a sin.

chapter 139. Miserliness

296. Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Who is your master, Banu Salama?” Jabir said, “We replied, ‘Judd ibn Qays, although we think that he is a miser.’ He said, ‘What illness is worse than miserliness? Your master is ‘Amr ibn al-Jamuh.'” ‘Amr had been in charge of their idols during the Jahiliyya. He gave a wedding feast for the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he got married.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth teaches that: 1. The Prophetﷺ was concerned about the affairs of the people to the extent that he sought to know who their masters were. 2. It is permissible to backbite if it will bring about an overall pressing benefit. 3. Like those of the body, heart-related illnesses are in grades, and from the worst of them is miserliness. 4. Those who are more generous are more suitable for positions of leadership. 5. It is permissible that the associates or relatives of a man support him to host his marriage ceremony.

297. Warrad, the scribe of al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba, said, “Mu’awiya wrote to al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba, saying, ‘Write down for me something which you heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.’ Al-Mughira wrote to him, ‘ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to forbid gossip, wasting money, asking too many questions, refusing to give, disobedience to parents and burying daughters alive.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: From the dispositions of the miserly is overwhelming desire to take from people; both miserliness and greed to take from others are from bad character.

298. Jabir said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was never asked for anything to which he said, ‘No,'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The Prophetﷺ was very generous; he never said, ‘No’ to anyone who requested any of the things of this world from him. If he had, he gave; otherwise, he gave a promise which he fulfilled. In the Saheeh of Imam Muslim, it says, Anas reported that, “A man asked the Prophetﷺ for a herd in a valley and he gave him. So the man went to his people and said, ‘My people! Accept Islam; by Allah, Muhammad gives generously. He is not afraid of penury.’” Anas said, “If a person accepted Islam for no other than worldly benefits;as soon as he enters into Islam, it becomes dearer to him than the world and what it contains.”

chapter 140. Sound property for a sound man

299. ‘Amr ibn al-‘As said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent for me. He commanded me to put on my clothes and arms and come to him. I did that and came to him while he was doing wudu’. He looked at me and then lowered his eyes. then he said, ”Amr, I want to put you in charge of an army and Allah will give you booty. I will give you a correct portion of the spoils.’ I said, ‘I did not become Muslim out of the desire for property. I became Muslim out of the desire for Islam and so that I would be with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.’ He said, ”Amr! Sound property is very excellent for a sound man!'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth draws attention to the facts that: 1. It is the duty of the leader of the Muslims or his designate to prepare and dispatch the Muslim army for Military assignments. 2. Those who are specifically enlisted for Military expeditions must respond to such calls by the leader. 3. The leader of the Muslims should see to the economic empowerment of the individuals of the community. 4. The virtues of ‘Amr bin Al-’Aas (عنهام الله ريض ;( his sincerity, piety and love for Allah’s Messengerﷺ. 5. Sound wealth is important and appropriate for the pious Muslim.

chapter 141. The person who is secure in his property

300. Mihsan al-Ansari reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When someone is secure in his property, healthy in his body and has his food for the day, it is as if he owned the entire world.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: The Muslim should be contented and regularly give thanks for Allah’s favours on him. The narration indicates the importance of security, sound health and provision.

chapter 142. Cheerfulness

301. Mu’adh ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Khubayb al-Juhani related from his father that his uncle said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came out to them with the traces of ghusl on him. He was cheerful. We thought that he was with his wives. We said, ‘Messenger of Allah, we see that you are cheerful.’ He said, ‘Yes, and praise be to Allah!’ Then wealth was mentioned that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘There is no harm in wealth for someone who has taqwa, but health for the person who has taqwa is even better than wealth. Cheerfulness is a blessing.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This narration indicates the followings: 1. Private relations with one’s wives is from the means to attain cheerfulness. 2. Wealth without fearful consciousness of Allah is harmful because it will be gathered unlawfully, spent unlawfully and denied those to whom it is due unlawfully. 3. Sound health aids the performance of good deeds; the sick is usually frail and unable. 4. Whomever Allah has granted sound health should make good use of the time and not waste it in engagement in unlawful things. 5. Allah the Mighty and Exalted is abundantly merciful to His servants.

302. An-Nawwas ibn Sam’an al-Ansari reported that he asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about dutifulness and wrong action. He said, “Dutifulness is good character and wrong action is what works on yourself and which you dislike for other people to become aware of.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: That is, the core of righteousness is good character. This hadeeth shows that sins have two signs: firstly, the fact that it pricks the heart of the doer due to the fact that the mind basically recognizes evil but is overpowered by the desires and as such, it is discomforted. Secondly, dislike of the people to be aware of it. This is because the mind basically likes to be known for its righteousness; so when it dislikes that a thing is known of it, then it shows that the thing is a sin.

303. Anas reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the best of people, the most generous of people and most courageous of people. One night the people of Madina were alarmed by a noise and the people went towards its source. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, met them, having already reached the source of the noise before them and he was saying, “Do not be alarmed. Do not be alarmed.” He was riding a horse belonging to Abu Talha without a saddle and a sword was hung around his neck. He said, “I found it (the horse) like a great river” or it was a great river (meaning its speed).
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The Prophetﷺ was the best of people in nature, character, lineage, generousity, bravery, humility and other indices of goodness. Imam an-Nawawee (الله رحمه (said, “It shows the beautiful qualities with which Allah the Most High has honoured him…” The hadeeth is also evidence that ahead of official moves, an individual could explore and expose an army that attempts a sudden invasion of the Muslims.

304. Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Every act of kindness is sadaqa. Part of kindness is that you offer your brother a cheerful face and you pour some of your bucket into his water vessel.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: One should always try to make his brother happy; and from the means to attain that is to meet him with a cheerful face, talking to him politely and seeking to ease his tasks at all times. Imam Nawawee (الله رحمه (said, “That is, it has the ruling of sadaqah in terms of reward.” This contains evidence that every good deed one performs or says is written down for him as sadaqah.

chapter 143. What is necessary in helping someone in distress

305. Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, “Which is the best action?” He replied, “Belief in Allah and jihad in His Way.” He was asked, “Which slaves are best?” He replied, “The highest in price and the most precious to their people.” He said, “What do you think I should do if I am unable to fight?” He said, “Help someone in trouble or work for someone who does not work.” He said, “What do you think that I should do if I am too weak (to act accordingly)?” He said, “Spare people your evil. That is a sadaqa which you bestow on yourself.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth shows the following: 1. The ardent desire of the companions (RA)to identify which deed is best in order to hasten towards it. They would even seek to know the good deeds to perform in the circumstances of inability and weakness. 2. The importance of belief in Allah; no deed is accepted without Eemaan 3. From the best things to give out are those that are most dearing to us. 4. The unskilled may have problems of spending upon himself and his household; so benefit extended to him may turn to be benefits to large number of people. 5. Refraining from harming people is from charity. This is because it does not disturb the one in a sound state nor increase discomfort for the one in difficulty.

306. Sa’id ibn Abi Burda related from his grandfather that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Every Muslim owes sadaqa.” He said, “What do you think he should do if he cannot find anything to give?” He replied, “He should find work and thus benefit himself and be able to give sadaqa.” He said, “What do you think he should do if he cannot or does not do that?” He said, “He should help someone with a great need.” He said, “What do you think he should do if he cannot or does not do that?” He replied, “He should command the good.” He asked, “What do you think he should do if he cannot or does not do that?” He replied, “He should refrain from evil. That is sadaqa for him.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Every Muslim should give charity by way of giving thanks to Allah for His favours on him. The hadeeth contains exhortation for the needy Muslim to work with his hands, enhance himself and extend benefit to others and not be dependent upon the people. One should try to perform other good deed deeds if he is unable to perform a particular one.

chapter 144. The person who makes supplication to Allah to make his character good

307.’Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to supplicate, “Oh Allah, I ask You for health, restraint, trustworthiness, good character and contentment with the decree.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

308. Yazid ibn Yabnus said, “We went to ‘A’isha and said, ‘Umm al-Mu’minin, what was the character of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, like?’ She replied, ‘His character was the Qur’an. Can you recite the sura entitled “The Believers”?’ She said, ‘Recite: “It is the believers who are successful: those who are humble in their prayer; those who turn away from worthless talk; those who actively pay zakat; those who guard their private parts.” (23:1-5)’ She said, ‘That was the character of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.'”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Commentary: However, it is authentically related with another chain of transmission in Saheeh Muslim that she (عنها الله ريض (would say, “His character was the Qur’an…” It shows that the supplication of the Prophetﷺ for noble character (as reported in other authentic narrations) was granted such that his character was the Qur’an. The Qur’an has been revealed to be learnt and acted upon.