Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Hajj – the Fifth Pillar of Islam

Hajj is the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia, and it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, besides Shahada (Faith), Salah (Prayer), Zakat (Charity), and Sawm (Fasting), which are the core practices required of Muslims. The pilgrimage is obligatory for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey at least once in their lifetime. 

Hajj takes place during the Islamic lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah, and its rituals are spanned from the 8th to the 12th day.  However, the actual day of Hajj is the 9th Dhu al-Hijjah when millions of pilgrims, both men and women, gather in the plain of Arafat outside Makkah and stay the entire day and leave in the evening. It is here that Khutba (sermon) of Hajj is given from Masjid Nimrah (Arabic: مسجد نمرة) located in Waadi Urana. The exact dates vary each year according to the Islamic calendar, which is about 10 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, symbolizing the ultimate act of worship and submission to Allah. It commemorates the trials of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family, particularly his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) in obedience to God's command.

Hajj represents a spiritual journey for Muslims, emphasizing themes of humility, equality, and unity. Pilgrims wear simple white garments (Ihram) to strip away distinctions of class and culture, reinforcing the concept of equality before God. Hajj draws millions of Muslims from around the world, making it one of the largest annual gatherings of people. It fosters a sense of global unity and brotherhood among Muslims, transcending national, racial, and cultural boundaries.

Hajj is a profound religious obligation that embodies the principles of faith, devotion, and equality. It serves as a reminder of the trials faced by Ibrahim and his family, and it reinforces the themes of sacrifice, patience, and submission to God's will. Through Hajj, Muslims seek forgiveness, spiritual renewal, and a deeper connection with Allah.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, in a number of his hadiths, has emphasised the importance of this holiest day of Islam. Hereinunder we share already published such Hadiths on Hajj:

• Who will return from Hajj as being born anew (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Hadith 1521)
• Fasting during the first 10 days of Duh al Hijja (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Hadith 1727)
• The Blessed Ten Days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than any other days (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith number # 1727)
• What is Talbiyah " ٱلتَّلبِيَة " (in relation to Hajj) (Jami` at-Tirmidhi as Hadith: 825)
• Fasting on Day of Arafah: Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Hadith 1162b)

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) bless us the opportunity to perform Hajj and Umrah at least once in our life time. May Allah also help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. 

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة): The month of Pilgrimage - The Hajj to know more about Hajj and its rituals. You may also consult our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Responding to Objections on Islam: If fasting is a pillar of Islam, why (Prophet) Muhammad (ﷺ) enforced it after 14 years of proclamation of Islam

A lot of objections have been raised and still being raised about various facets of Islam. Generally these objections arise from ignorance of history of development of Islam or mere as point scoring, specially for Muslims who have not had in depth knowledge of Islam. We have in our previous posts on "Responding to Objections / Lies about Islam" have tried to answer many such queries. 

Today we take on yet another objection which someone asked me in comments box of one of my post. The objection is:

If fasting is a pillar of Islam, why (Prophet) Muhammad (ﷺ) enforced it after 14 years of proclamation of Islam

Before we give a detailed reply to the objection, it would be prudent to understand few basics:

• Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was merely a messenger and prophet of Allah. His job was to convey to others what he was directed to do so. He at his own, therefore, could not say a word or proclaim anything unless the commandment of enforcing an act was Divinely delivered to him (generally through the arch angel Jibraeel or the Gabriel). 
• Secondly, the revelations which were received by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Makkah were different from the ones received in Medinah. 
• Since the aim in Makkah was to invite the pagans of Makkah to Islam, the revelations were generally short and their theme revolved around (Prophet) Muhammad (ﷺ) subjects pertaining to Tawheed, Prophethood, the Hereafter, and words of comfort for the Prophet ﷺ by narrating incidents from the past. Therefore we see that Surahs / chapters that are marked as Makki surahs / chapters are short and well focused to the infidels and inviting them to Islam.
• The Madni revelations were reveled when the Muslim state of Medinah started to evolve and there was requirement to laydown rules to govern the lives of Muslims. Thus we see the Madni Surahs / Chapters generally consist of family and social laws, injunctions of Jihad and details of legislations - including fasting as well. Therefore we see in contrast to Makki surahs, the Madni surahs are rather too long, elaborative and directional. Take for example the 2nd chapter of Qur'an, Surah al Baqarah (The Cow) was is spanned over first two and a half chapters of Qur'an.

With this background, let us talk of enforcement of Fasting as one of the important pillar of Islam, in fact the third of five pillars of Islam (Others being Shahadah, Prayers / Salaat, Zakat [obligatory charity] and Hajj). Why the proclamation of different laws and directions was done mostly in the last ten years of enforcement of Islam and that too in Medinah is based on cerein ground realities, such as:

• Those who reverted to Islam had lived a life of infidelity for centuries. Therefore it was not prudent to subject them to hard decisions right from the outset.
• Take for example the menace of slavery. Slavery is part of the pagan culture and slaves, both male and female, were taken after overcoming another tribe and enslaving all able bodied men and women as slaves. These slaves were subjected to very hard life by  their rich masters who had absolute rights over them. Therefore abolishment of slavery could not have been done with one act. In fact through many revelations, the slavery was abolished in stages till the new Muslim understood the philosophy of not subjecting men and women to one's wishes and be their masters. 
• Likewise, gambling and drinking, which were also embeded in the pagan life was abolished in stages and the final abolishment came in Medinah.

In the  same way, fasting, which entailed a very rigorous response from the new Muslims was not enforced straightaway in the initial stages of proclamation of Islam for two reasons:

• In Makkah, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) did not have a state of his own to proclaim acts that needed conditioning and lot of persuasion.
• Since the weather conditions of Arabia are rather harsh, it is difficult to abstain from food and water due to extreme heat of the day. One could only abstain form food and water, and many other things otherwise Halal / permissible, unless one was highly motivated, understood many WHYs, only then one could deside to endure the rigours of fasting during the long hours of the entire day.
• Therefore, it was necessary to prepare the Muslims through gradual development and establishment of Islamic practices and community structure. 

We must understand that Fasting is primarily an exercise of devotion to willingly renounce oneself, for a definite period of time, from all bodily appetites in order to form spiritual discipline and self-control. Muslims are prohibited from eating or drinking from dawn (fajr) to sunset (maghrib) when the adhan is sounded. It is considered time to begin fasting when a person standing outside can tell a white thread from a black thread, i.e. the light of the dawn and the darkness of the night.

Therefore, newly reverted Muslims needed to be conditioned to adapt themselves to the rigours of fasting. Herein under are factors which required a lot of time, fourteen years in case of enforcing fasting:

• Gradual Revelation: Progressive Revelation: The Qur'an was revealed progressively over 23 years to address the evolving needs and circumstances of the early Muslim community. Early revelations focused on foundational beliefs, such as the oneness of God, the afterlife, and moral conduct.
• Community Development: Community Building: In the initial years, the focus was on building a cohesive and strong community, especially given the challenges Muslims faced in Mecca, including persecution and social ostracism. This period required strengthening the faith and solidarity of the believers.
• Social and Economic Stability: Economic and Social Stability: By the time fasting was prescribed, the Muslim community had migrated to Medina, where they enjoyed greater stability and autonomy. This allowed for the implementation of more structured forms of worship and communal practices.
• Spiritual Maturity: Spiritual Preparedness: The early Muslims needed to develop their spiritual and moral foundation before undertaking more rigorous forms of worship. By the time fasting was prescribed, the community had matured spiritually and was better prepared to observe this demanding practice.
• Legal and Social Framework: Establishment of Laws and Practices: The Medinan period saw the establishment of many social, economic, and legal norms in Islam. With the community more established and organized, it was appropriate to introduce fasting as a mandatory practice, as part of a broader framework of worship and piety.
• Lessons from Previous Communities: Learning from Previous Revelations: Islam acknowledges the practices of previous Abrahamic faiths. Fasting was a well-known practice among Jews and Christians, and its introduction into Islam came at a time when the community could appreciate its significance and benefits, drawing lessons from these traditions.
• Preparation for Greater Trials: Preparation for Future Challenges: Fasting not only purifies the soul but also builds resilience and self-discipline. As the Muslim community faced various trials and responsibilities, fasting served as a means to strengthen their resolve and readiness for future challenges.
• Divine Wisdom: Ultimately, the timing of religious prescriptions in Islam is believed to be guided by divine wisdom, ensuring that the community could fully comprehend, accept, and practice these commands in the most beneficial manner.

Thus, the prescription of fasting 14 years after the proclamation of Islam was a strategic and well-timed step in the progressive establishment of Islamic practices, ensuring the community was adequately prepared spiritually, socially, and structurally to undertake this significant act of worship.

It was then that in the second year of Hijrah from Medinah (which was fourteen years after proclamation of Islam), Allah ordained Muslims to fast. This commandment is given in the 183-185th verses of Surah Al Baqarah as mentioned below:

• "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous." Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183)
• "[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew." Surah Al-Baqarah (2:184)
• "The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful." Surah Al-Baqarah (2:185)

Note: The context of the revelation of these verses is significant as it came at a time when the Muslim community in Medina was becoming more established and organized. The establishment of fasting during Ramadan was part of the broader development of Islamic practices and legal framework that was taking place during the early Medinan period.

This in very brief the reasons of enforcement of fasting after 14 years of proclamation of Islam. We should not say things in the air without first carrying out a little research, for an effort to know the answers to one's objections is abundantly available in the internet, social media and now the AI through ChatGPT. 

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

You may read more posts on countering / responding to lies / misinformation and disinformation about Islam: The Rebuttal: Countering disinformation being spread about Islam (Reference Page). Also read our following posts:

• Why Muslims starve themselves by during month of Ramadan?
• Ramadan - do we know enough?

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Resource References: | ChatGPT | Wikipedia | 1 | 2 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Allah's latitude for the wrongdoers is but for a limited time (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Allah is "Ar-Rahman" (The Most Merciful) and "Ar-Rahim" (The Most Compassionate). These attributes of Allah indicate that no matter how sinful a man may be, if he sincerely repents and seek forgiveness of Allah with solemn pledge not to repeat one's sins or wrongdoings, Allah in all His mercy promises to forgive.

However, those who persist in disobedience of laws defined by Allah,  associate others in His Divinity (committing of shirk) and continue to hurt others, take control of their possessions will not be forgiven and will be allowed a time barred latitude after which they will be subjected to the wrath of Allah. 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also cautions the believers in one of his mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī  (Book 65 Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)) /  كتاب التفسير / Chapter 5:  The Statement of Allah: "Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful and severe." (V.11:102) / باب قَوْلِهِ ‏{‏وَكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَى وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ‏}‏ ) as Hadith 4686, given herein under:

Narrated by Abu Musa:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah gives respite to the oppressor, but when He takes him over, He never releases him." Then he recited:-- "Such is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes (population of) towns in the midst of their wrong: Painful indeed, and severe is His seizure.' (11.102)

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَهِىَ ظَـٰلِمَةٌ ۚ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُۥٓ أَلِيمٌۭ شَدِيدٌ 

Such is the ˹crushing˺ grip of your Lord when He seizes the societies entrenched in wrongdoing. Indeed, His grip is ˹terribly˺ painful and severe. (Surah 11. Hud verse 102) 

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا بُرَيْدُ بْنُ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ ‏{‏وَكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَى وَهْىَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ 

أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ‏}‏

Such like warnings abound in Qur'an and hadiths. These are to caution those who disobey Allah and create unrest in the world or are transgressors to the extent  of making it difficult for others to breathe.  If we look around, we will find such people abound and continue to live as per their own liking, completely oblivious of the limited time afforded to them to repent. And those who do not, one day the worst wrath of Allah befalls on them unannounced. 

While Allah is merciful, He is also just. Those who persist in wrongdoing without repentance will face consequences, either in this life or the hereafter. The balance between mercy and justice ensures that while forgiveness is available, accountability is inevitable for those who do not repent.

"This is for what your own hands have sent before [to the Judgment], and because Allah is not ever unjust to His servants." Quran 3:182

Remember, Allah may forgive those who are slack or lazy in carrying out their personal obligations to Allah, except shirk. But those who hurt others unduly, will not be forgiven unless those who are wronged forgive them. This is like a ruler usurping public money and stuffing these in his coffers for his personal use will not be forgiven unless he returns the money of the people and seek their forgiveness. Such rulers and demagogues are being warned here.

If we are among such people, let us make good our loss by seeking forgiveness from those whom we have wronged, making good their losses, and then earnestly repent and seek Divine forgiveness. Remember, no one knows how much time he is left with!

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject

For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Source of Hadith

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ cautioned against Jealousy and Mutual Estrangement

Man by nature is a peeping tom and is always on the lookout of the faults of the others to let others down. As the saying goes, "Others' lawn is always greener," man is always jealous of what his brother, neighbour or friends have. Therefore his eyes keep tracking what others are doing or buying or their relations with others and position in the society. 

Mostly women are in the habit of being jealous of others and spying, and looking for faults for others for the purpose of point scoring and let others down. The severing of blood relations is generally due to the jealousy and hating of others by women. In many a hadith, They also have heartburns when they see other women having a better life or riding a better car or living in a posh house happily with their families. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has cautioned women from such heinous acts and warned them of severe consequences on the Day of Judgement.

One such Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī  (Book 78 Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab) /  كتاب الأدب / Chapter 57:  Jealousy and mutual estrangement are forbidden / باب مَا يُنْهَى عَنِ التَّحَاسُدِ وَالتَّدَابُرِ ) as Hadith 6064, given herein under:

Narrated by Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others' faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah's worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!")

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّ، فَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيثِ، وَلاَ تَحَسَّسُوا، وَلاَ تَجَسَّسُوا، وَلاَ تَحَاسَدُوا، وَلاَ تَدَابَرُوا، وَلاَ تَبَاغَضُوا، وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا ‏"‏‏.‏

Jealousy is often rooted in insecurities and fears that a person may not even realize they have. These could include fear of oversimplification, fear of inadequacy, fear of abandonment, fear of being replaced, and fear of being judged.

Jealousy may take any of the following forms:

• Situational Jealousy.
• Romantic Jealousy.
•  Creative Jealousy.
• Envy Jealousy.
• Pathological Jealousy.
• Sexual Jealousy.
• Attachment Jealousy.
• Sibling Rivalry.

Just can over the forms of the jealousies mentioned above. The last one should be on the top as jealousy stems with the siblings for being loved more or given more attention by parents. Even sisters are jealous of the spouse of their sisters and envy their romantic attractions. One may go on and on to discuss this single evil act from which stem many other ills of spying, envy, even hatred. Such actions often end up in having lost former closeness and affection and result in a state of alienation from a previous close or familial relationship. Estrangement can leave one wondering where they belong, and who they belong to. Estrangement can cut lifelong roots, leaving one feeling adrift.

Thus the hadith above says it all about Jealousy and Mutual Estrangement which most of us harbour in our hearts and envy others. It must be remembered that each one of us is given our share by Allah, and it is not taken away from share of others, nor a part of our share is given to others. Let us live a contended life and be thankful to Allah for what He thought best for us. We cannot equate our possessions with others nor can have part or whole of possessions of others, unless we are from the evil and usurp others' rights and possessions.

Let us be brothers as Qur'an advises to be so as to create an aura of tranquility and brotherhood, rather than of enmity and severing of our bondage.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.

For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Source of Hadith

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Why the raising of the dead from graves in Qur'an is equated with swarms of Locust on the Day of Resurrection

Qur'an commences the life form of all creatures including the humans from the embryonic stage to the time of death. It mentions of a day when all dead will be risen from their graves like swarms of locust and will be paraded in for the Divine Court. This would be the Day of the Resurrection, when the fate of each individual will be decided based on one's deeds in the earthly world and directed as a reward to the Paradise or thrown into hell as punishment for not adhering to the Divine Commandments which have been conveyed to  them by the messengers and prophets of Allah and contained in the four Divine Scriptures, that is Psalms, Torah, Gospel and Qur'an.

Here a question arises why the raising of the dead from the graves is equated with the locust and not any other species? It must be understood that in Qur'an, the mention of various insects like fly or mosquito and other animals have been given for a specific reason. We will talk with reference to these insects and animals and birds in some other post. But now let us talk of the raising of the dead with the locust.

It is mentioned in the 6-8 verses of Surah 54 Al-Qamar - The Moon:

"So, O Prophet, turn away from them.5 The Day the Caller shall call them to a most terrifying event, the people shall rise out of their graves with awestruck looks as though they were scattered locusts. They will be rushing towards the Caller and the same disbelievers (who denied it in the world) shall say, "This indeed is a hard day!"

These verses paint a scene of that day which is fierce and grim, consistent with the ambience of the surah. They also warn of the closeness of the Last Hour, highlighted by the splitting of the moon in two. All of this fits perfectly with the rhythm maintained throughout the surah.

It is a scene full of quick movement, yet it is also prominent, with clear lines and features: multitudes of people are rising from their graves, like swarming locusts, yet their eyes are downcast, humble, fearful. They rush towards the one who calls them forward, but they do not know what they are called to, and they cannot be reassured. As this gathering continues to take place, and amidst all this humility, the unbelievers say in a tone of distress that reflects their dawning awareness of the hardship ahead of them: "Hard indeed is this day." (Verse 8) 

The dead so arisen will be reflecting disgrace and humiliation, for as soon as they arise out of their graves they would realize that it was indeed the same second life which they had been denying, for which they had made no preparation, and in which they would have to present themselves before their God as culprits.

The metaphor of locusts is used here to describe the chaotic and overwhelming nature of resurrection. Locusts often move in swarms, which can be both awe-inspiring and fearsome, symbolizing the mass resurrection where individuals rise from their graves in a hurried and spread-out manner, similar to a swarm of locusts.

The comparison to locusts serves to convey the visual impact and scale of resurrection, emphasizing the multitude and the rapid, uncontrollable nature of this event. The imagery evokes a scene of countless individuals rising simultaneously, underscoring the magnitude and the inescapability of the Day of Judgment.

Let us understand the magnitude of locust when they swarm in billions and destroy everything that come their way. The raising of the dead is equated with locust to tell those who say how would we and our ancestors who had been in billions could gather in a short time and get assembled at one place?

A massive swarm of locust (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Author: CSIRO , Source) 

Recent research benefiting from micro cameras conducted by a systematic observation of insects have given us an idea about the reason for the selection of locusts as an example. A large swarm can consist of billions of locusts spread out over an area of thousands of square kilometres, with a population of up to 80 million per square kilometre (200 million per square mile). When desert locusts meet, their nervous systems release serotonin, which causes them to become mutually attracted, a prerequisite for swarming. 

The enormity of locust swarm is indicative of rising of the billions of dead who lived since Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and Eve. This in fact is the reply to the infidels of the times of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who when listening to such parables raised eyebrows and said:

"When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?' and 'Our forefathers as well?' Say, 'Indeed, the former and the later [peoples] are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day.'" Surah Al-Waqi'ah (56:47-50) 

"Does man think that We will not assemble his bones? Yes. We are Able even to proportion his fingertips." Surah Al-Qiyamah (75:3-4) - This verse emphasizes the completeness of resurrection, indicating that even the smallest parts of the human body will be reassembled. 

And for those who question the raising alive of the dead, it is clarified to them that in Surah Ya-Sin (36:78-79) - verses that highlight the power of Allah in resurrecting the dead, as He is the one who created life initially.:

"And he presents for us an example and forgets his own creation. He says, 'Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?' Say, 'He will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all creation, Knowing.'" 

As can be seen each the above referred references highlights different aspects of the concept of resurrection, from the physical reassembly of the body to the power of Allah in bringing the dead back to life, to the chaotic and overwhelming nature of the event, depicted through the metaphor of locusts.

Readers would now be able to correlate the raising of the dead and the comparison with the swarms of locust. The Resurrection will thus be a day of utter confusion as billions and billions of bodies will be rising from their graves and heading to wards the parade ground of the Divine Justice. None would know what is in store for them and they will stand perplexed, confused and vey uncertain of their fate. May Allah help us to live a live in this earthly life as commanded by Him, so that we do not have to be ashamed of standing in front of our Lord on that fateful day.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q and A for more questions and answers. 

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Resource References: | 1 |  2  | 3 | 4 | 5 | 

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Etiquettes of visiting (and making) graves - Collection of Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Graveyards are places where our near and dear ones who took their Heavenly flights earlier are buried. In our extreme love for them and wanting their graves do not get obliterated due to weather hazards and rains, many of us cement the graves. Some even go much beyond and even erect structures and domes, elaborate marble structures, virtually indistinguishable from those of typical Christian graves.

Visiting graves is encouraged in Islam to remind individuals of death and the hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad said, "Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter" Yet due to love for those buried in the graves, many a Muslim forget the Islamic teachings about making and visiting graves. In fact many Muslim graves are more reflective of the wealth of the family rather than an act in humility. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in many a Hadith has strictly prohibited erection of structures, arranging festivities and making graves of saints as sanctuaries for people whose business thrive because of the graves.

In order to provide a clear direction of maintaining and visiting graves, herein under we share some of the Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to educate Muslims about the code of conduct with respect to visiting (and making) graves:

Plastering of graves:

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ forbade the building of structures over graves. He emphasized that graves should not be plastered or used as places of worship to avoid falling into practices that could lead to idolatry.. This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book 12 The Book Of Prayer - Funerals / Chapter Janaze Ke Ehkaam O Masail as Hadith number # 2245as under: [Reference 2]

Jabir said: Allah's Messenger ( ‌صلی ‌اللہ ‌علیہ ‌وسلم ‌ ) forbade that the graves should be plastered or they be used as sitting places (for the people), or a building should be built over them.

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ عَنْ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُجَصَّصَ الْقَبْرُ وَأَنْ يُقْعَدَ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْ يُبْنَى عَلَيْهِ 

Making graves a place of festivity:

This Hadith is mentioned in Sunan Abi Dawud (Book # 11  The Rites of Hajj (Kitab Al-Manasik Wa'l-Hajj) / كتاب  المناسك / Chapter # 666 Visiting Graves / باب زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ

as Hadith number # 2042, quoted herein under: [ Reference 1]

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Do not make your houses graves, and do not make my grave a place of festivity. But invoke blessings on me, for your blessings reach me wherever you may be.

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَرَأْتُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نَافِعٍ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قُبُورًا وَلاَ تَجْعَلُوا قَبْرِي عِيدًا وَصَلُّوا عَلَىَّ فَإِنَّ صَلاَتَكُمْ تَبْلُغُنِي حَيْثُ كُنْتُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Making graves as places of worship:

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ expressed his disapproval of Jews and Christians building places of worship at the graves of their prophets. He intended to warn Muslims against such practices.

This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī  (Book 23 Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz) /  كتاب الجنائز / Chapter 61:  What is disliked of establishing places of worship (mosques) over the graves / باب مَا يُكْرَهُ مِنِ اتِّخَاذِ الْمَسَاجِدِ عَلَى الْقُبُورِ ) as Hadith 1330, given herein under: [Reference 3]

Narrated by`Urwa:

Aisha said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) in his fatal illness said, 'Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their Prophets as places for praying."' Aisha added, "Had it not been for that, the grave of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) would have been made prominent but I am afraid it might be taken (as a) place for praying.

Arabic Text: حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ هِلاَلٍ ـ هُوَ الْوَزَّانُ ـ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ ‏ "‏ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى، اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسْجِدًا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ وَلَوْلاَ ذَلِكَ لأَبْرَزُوا قَبْرَهُ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يُتَّخَذَ مَسْجِدًا‏.‏ 

Sitting and loitering between the graves:

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the importance of treating graves with respect. He instructed his followers not to sit or walk over graves, reflecting a deep respect for the deceased. 

This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book 12 The Book Of Prayer - Funerals / Chapter Janaze Ke Ehkaam O Masail as Hadith number # 2250 as under: [Reference 4]

Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi reported Allah's messenger ( ‌صلی ‌اللہ ‌علیہ ‌وسلم ‌ ) as saying: Do not sit on the graves and do not pray facing towards them.

Arabic Text:

و حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ ابْنِ جَابِرٍ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ وَاثِلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مَرْثَدٍ الْغَنَوِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَجْلِسُوا عَلَى الْقُبُورِ وَلَا تُصَلُّوا إِلَيْهَا

Weeping by the graves:

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged visiting graves as a means of reflection and learning patience, and not a place for weeping and wailing specially by women.

This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī  (Book 23 Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz) /  كتاب الجنائز / Chapter 31:  Visiting the graves / باب زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ ) as Hadith 1283, given herein under: [Reference 5]

Narrated by Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a woman who was weeping beside a grave. He told her to fear Allah and be patient. She said to him, "Go away, for you have not been afflicted with a calamity like mine." And she did not recognize him. Then she was informed that he was the Prophet (ﷺ) . so she went to the house of the Prophet (ﷺ) and there she did not find any guard. Then she said to him, "I did not recognize you." He said, "Verily, the patience is at the first stroke of a calamity."

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِامْرَأَةٍ تَبْكِي عِنْدَ قَبْرٍ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ اتَّقِي اللَّهَ وَاصْبِرِي ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ إِلَيْكَ عَنِّي، فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَبْ بِمُصِيبَتِي، وَلَمْ تَعْرِفْهُ‏.‏ فَقِيلَ لَهَا إِنَّهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ فَأَتَتْ باب النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ تَجِدْ عِنْدَهُ بَوَّابِينَ فَقَالَتْ لَمْ أَعْرِفْكَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَةِ الأُولَى ‏"‏‏.‏

These are some of the many Hadiths about the code of conduct of visiting and making graves. and if we sincerely review each of the Hadith, we will find ourselves at tangent to the teachings and hadiths of  Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Let us demonstrate practical manifestation of above quoted Hadiths and make our lives simpler as required by tenets of Islam and let us not visit graves and construct structures over them as means of show off.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  for more Hadiths on the General Subjects, and Etiquettes taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 

For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo: BBC | Sources of Hadiths: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Three important advices of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Qur'an is full of divine guidance for the mankind and the basic message that is conveyed is that of peace and looking after the others, besides being constantly in communication with Allah through As Salat, the prayers. Therefore, it has been the endeavour of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to continue to encourage his companions to abide by the guidance that Qur'an provides us. 

When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated from Makkah to Medinah, upon his reception he spelt out three advices to people of Medinah who had by then had no direction interaction with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and teachings of Qur'an. These three advices are very important in understanding the basic concept of Islam of spreading peace and feeding the poor, besides worshipping Allah in later part of the night, called Tahajjud.

These advices are mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi  (37 -  Chapters on the description of the Day of Judgement, Ar-Riqaq, and Al-Wara' / كتاب صفة القيامة والرقائق والورع عن رسول الله صلى الله / Chapter # 42 The Hadith: "Spread the Salam" / باب  ) as Hadith number # 2485:

'Abdullah bin Salam said:

"When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) arrived- meaning in Al-Madinah – the people came out to meet him. It was said that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) had arrived, so I went among the people to get a look at him. When I gazed upon the face of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), I knew that this face was not the face of a liar. The first thing that he spoke about was that he said: 'O you people! Spread the Salam, feed(others), and perform Salat while the people are sleeping; you will enter Paradise with (the greeting of) Salam.'” (Sahih)

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَوْفِ بْنِ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ الأَعْرَابِيِّ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ انْجَفَلَ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ وَقِيلَ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجِئْتُ فِي النَّاسِ لأَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَبَنْتُ وَجْهَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ وَجْهَهُ لَيْسَ بِوَجْهِ كَذَّابٍ وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ شَيْءٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ أَنْ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصَلُّوا وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.

The first and foremost thing that a Muslim should do when meeting anyone, even the non Muslims, to greet with Salam (peace). This is generally done by uttering of he Muslim form of greeting in Arabic. The usual usage of "Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh (‏اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ‎" - meaning Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you. This is a wholesome Dua / prayer to wish someone with peace and also for blessings and mercy of Allah. This wholesome greeting is far better than using the usual greeting worldwide of saying Good Morning (afternoon or evening).

This greeting is often answered by saying waalaikumsalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh would translate to “May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be Upon You Also. By uttering just the Islamic greetings, we spread the message of peace to everyone we come across. Remember, you will enter Paradise with (the greeting of) Salam

The second advice is to feed others, specially the poor and the needy. This is a great blessing that one can extend to others who cannot afford even one time decent meal. 

The third advice is to perform Salat while the people are sleeping, that is the Salat of Tahajjud. the later part of the night is the most peaceful time from the entire day when all else are asleep and a believer finds time to communicate to his Creator in utter silence of the night. He is in no hurry and can take his time to open his heart to his Lord and say whatever he wants his Creator to listen to. And Allah does listens to His servants for He is As-Sami (السميع) - The Hearer of invocation.

* Read more about Tahajjad from links given in our reference pages:

• Reference Page: As Salt - Prayers
• Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺabout As Salat - Prayers    

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.

For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Source of Hadith

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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