The Eminence of the Believer

Selections of Ahadith from a forthcoming collection called Miftah al-Ma`ani by Syed Iqbal Zaheer

1. Abu Hurayrah reported the Messenger (saws): “When a bondsman, Muslim or Believer, attempted ablution, then, as he washed his face, all the wrong things he looked at with his eyes get washed off along with the water, or with the last drop of water. When he washes his hands, every wrong thing that he held with his hands get washed off with the water, or with the last drop of water. When he washes his feet, every wrong that his feet walked up to, gets washed off with the water, or with the last drop of water – so that he emerges cleansed of sins.

(Muslim)

2. Abu Haazim says he was behind Abu Hurayra while he was making ablution for the Prayer. He would extend the washing to the arms almost up to the arm-pit. I asked Abu Hurayra, “What kind of ablution is this?” He replied, “O you of the BanuFarrukh! Are you here? Had I known you were here, I would not make an ablution of this kind. I heard my friend, peace upon him, say, ‘The ornaments of a believer shall reach upto where the ablution reached.’”

(Muslim)

3. `Abdul Rahman b. Shimaasa says he heard `Uqba b. `Aamir say on the mimber that the Prophet said, “A believer is another believer’s brother. So it is not allowable for a believer that he should offer to buy what his brother has already bought, nor propose to marry after his brother has already proposed, until he gives up.

(Muslim)

4. Haarith b. Suwayd said, “I entered upon `Abdullah (ibn Mas`ud) visiting him. He was unwell. He spoke out something of his own, and then narrated a hadith of the Prophet (saws) saying, ‘I heard the Prophet say, ‘Allah is happier at the repentance of a believing bondsman of His than a man who went into a lifeless, destructive wasteland along with his beast upon which was his food and water. He fell into a nap. When he woke up he found his beast gone. He started looking for it until thirst overtook him. He said to himself, ‘Let me return to the spot I was, sleep off until I die.’ He placed his head on his arm so as to die. He woke up, and lo, his beast was there with his provision, food and water. Allah is happier with the repentance of a believing bondsman, than this man – on account of his beast and his provisions.”

– (Muslim)

5. Abu Sa`eed al Khudri narrated of the Prophet, “Dajjal will appear. One of the believers will advance toward him. He will encounter boundary guards – Dajjal’s guards. They will ask him, ‘Where to?’ He will say, ‘I’m intending the one who has appeared.’ They will ask him, ‘Don’t you believe in our Lord God?’ He will answer, ‘Our Lord is in the Unseen (region).’ They will say (to each other), ‘Kill him.’ One of them will say, ‘Has not your Lord (i.e. Dajjal) prohibited killing anyone, except himself?’ So they will take him to Dajjal. As soon as the believer sees him he will say, ‘People. This is that Dajjal that the Prophet spoke of.’ Dajjal will instruct that he be seized saying, ‘Seize him, lay him down on the ground’ Then he will be beaten hard on his back and stomach. He will ask, ‘Will you not believe in me?’ He will answer, ‘You are the false Messiah, the liar.’ He will order that he be sawed starting from the middle of the head, until his thighs, (slitting him into two).

Then Dajjal will walk between the body pieces and say, ‘Rise.’ He will rise up, sound. He will ask, ‘Will you now believe in me?’ He will answer, ‘There has happened nothing about you except my insight.’ Then he will address the people: ‘O People! He will not be able to do any harm to anyone after me.’ Dajjal will seize him and try to slaughter him. He will place a saw beteen his neck and the neck-bone, but he will not be able to kill him. So he will seize him by his hands and legs, and toss him away. People will assume that he threw him into the Fire, but in fact he would have thrown him into Paradise.” Then the Prophet added, “This man will be the greatest of witnesses, by the Lord of the worlds.”

(Muslim)

6. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, “A believer has five rights upon him with reference to another believer: He visits him when he is sick, attends his burial when he dies, responds to him when he invites, say salam to him when he meets him, say YerhamakaAllah (may Allah show you mercy) when he sneezes and wishes him well whether away or present.”

(Tirmidhi, Sahih)

7. `Irbad b. Saariyyah said, “The Messenger of Allah delivered a sermon which brought tears to our eyes and hearts softened up. We asked him, “This (appears to be) a parting admonition, so what would you advise?” He answered, “I am leaving you on a white patch whose night is as clear as the day, no one will deflect from it after me but the he who will be destroyed. Those of you who live (after me), will witness lots of differences. Upon you therefore would be what you have known of my ways and the ways of the rightly guided Caliphs. Hold on to it with your teeth. Further, incumbent upon you is obedience even if it is an Abyssinian slave, for a believer is like a tamed camel, strides up towards where it is led.”

(Ibn Majah, Sahih: Arna’ut)