Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Āmantu billāh (I have believed in Allah):
This is a pledge and covenant, the meaning of which is:
I have wholeheartedly accepted every command and every guidance of Allah Ta'ala, and I have accepted the responsibility to act upon the religion of Islam.

Istiqaamah (steadfastness):
Firmness, solidity, and strength;
to become established;
to stand firm;
to show perseverance and steadfastness.
Therefore, the requirement of istiqaamah is that a person, without deviating from this declaration and covenant, should adhere to and observe the commands of Islam throughout his life.
In every kind of circumstance,
whether hot or cold,
in the most severe and difficult situations,
there should be no weakness or dissolution in his steadfastness, and at no stage should his feet falter.

For this reason, Imam Abu al-Qasim Qushayri has written:
That istiqaamah is a rank,
as a result of which all actions
are performed in a perfect manner,
all good deeds and virtues come into existence.
A person who does not possess steadfastness and perseverance, all his efforts go in vain.
(Sharh Muslim Nawawi: 1/48)

Faith in Allah and Steadfastness

«وعن سفيان بن عبدالله الثقفي، قال: قلت: يارسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ! قل لي فى الإسلام قولاً لا أسال عنه أحداً بعدك، وفي رواية: غيرك . قال: قل آمنت بالله، ثم استقم .» [رواه مسلم]

It is narrated from (Sayyiduna) Sufyan bin Abdullah ath-Thaqafi (radi Allahu anhu) that I said: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me such a (comprehensive) statement about Islam that after you, I will not need to ask anyone else. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Say, “I have believed in Allah,” then remain steadfast upon it. [مسلم: 63/38]

From this hadith and other evidences, it is established that the essence and fundamental pillar of the religion of Islam is faith in Allah. Allah alone is the true deity, the remover of difficulties, fulfiller of needs, responder to supplications, the Supreme Ruler, and Lawgiver. No one shares in His attributes; this is the very creed of tawhid (monotheism) for which Allah sent the Prophets and Messengers.

In some chains of this hadith, there is this addition:
Sayyiduna Sufyan bin Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu) said: O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most for me? So the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) held his tongue and said: “This”—that is, the greatest fear is of this tongue. [سنن الترمذي: 2410 وقال: هذا حديث حسن صحيح، شعب الايمان للبيهقي: 4919 والزهري صرح بالسماع عنده]

It should be remembered that the meaning of tawhid is absolutely not that a person should begin to show disrespect to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), or liken his knowledge to that of animals, madmen, or children. Ma’adh Allah (Allah forbid), such a person is not a monotheist (muwahhid) but rather an atheist and heretic (zindiq).

A necessary consequence and pillar of tawhid is that a person should have correct faith in the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) without excess or deficiency, love and adore him passionately, and flee far away even from the thought or imagination of disrespecting him. Neither should he make him a deity, nor should he diminish his rank, virtue, or status in any way. In short, after Allah Ta’ala, the rank belongs to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). May we all be sacrificed for him (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Ameen.

Published in: Monthly Al-Hadith, Issue 14, Page 3 to 4

Benefits and Issues:

➊
Remaining steadfast upon faith is necessary because salvation from Hell can only occur if a person dies in a state of faith.

➋
More sins are committed by the tongue than by any other limbs.
The sins of the tongue are committed easily.

➍
In society, the sins of the tongue are not given as much importance as other sins.

➎
The effects of the sins of the tongue are more severe, resulting in many other sins, for example:
murder, bloodshed, etc. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to exercise caution regarding the tongue.

Hadith Authentication (Takhrij al-Hadith):
[صحيح مسلم 159]

Jurisprudence of the Hadith (Fiqh al-Hadith)
➊ From this hadith and other evidences, it is established that the essence and fundamental pillar of the religion of Islam is faith in Allah. Allah alone is the true deity, the remover of difficulties, fulfiller of needs, responder to supplications, the Supreme Ruler, and the Lawgiver. No one shares in His attributes; this is the very creed of monotheism (tawhid) for which Allah sent prophets and messengers.
The statement of Allah, the Exalted, is:
«وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّـهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ»
“And indeed, We sent to every nation a messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allah and avoid the Taghut (false gods).’” [سورة النحل : 36]
Taghut refers to every devil, soothsayer, magician, and any false deity who is pleased with being worshipped.
Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab al-Tamimi rahimahullah (d. 1206 AH) says:
The leaders of the Taghuts are five:
① Satan.
② An unjust ruler who alters the commands of Allah.
③ The one who rules and judges without what Allah has revealed.
④ The one who claims knowledge of the unseen besides Allah.
⑤ The one who is worshipped besides Allah and is pleased with that worship. [رساله معنى الطاغوت وأنواعه/مولفات الامام محمد بن عبدالوهاب ج1 ص377]
It should be remembered that the meaning of tawhid is absolutely not that a person begins to disrespect the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, or likens his knowledge to that of animals, madmen, or children. Allah forbid! Such a person is not a monotheist (muwahhid) but rather an atheist and heretic (zindiq).

➋ This hadith is in accordance with the noble verse in which it is stated:
«إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّـهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ»
“Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then remained steadfast, the angels descend upon them, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.’” [حم سجده : 30]
See also: [سورة الاحقاف : 13]

➌ From this hadith, it is understood that faith (iman) is the name of heartfelt affirmation, verbal declaration, and physical action. Therefore, this hadith is also a refutation of the innovating sect of the Murji’ah, who believe that actions are not part of faith. According to these innovators, faith is only verbal affirmation and heartfelt belief.

➍ Here, steadfastness and firmness mean complete avoidance of polytheism (shirk), disbelief (kufr), and all prohibitions, and adherence to all outward and inward acts of obedience (righteous deeds).
◈ Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq radi Allahu anhu said:
«ثم استقاموا فلم يلتفتوا إلى إله غيره» “Then they remained steadfast, so they did not even look towards any deity (object of worship) besides Allah.” [تفسير طبري، ج24، ص73 وسنده صحيح]
◈ The Qur’anic exegete Qatadah bin Di‘amah (Tabi‘i) rahimahullah said:
«استقاموا على طاعة الله» “They remained steadfast upon obedience to Allah.” [تفسير عبدالرزاق : 2706 وسنده صحيح]

➎ In some chains of this hadith, there is the addition that Sufyan bin Abdullah radi Allahu anhu said: “O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most for me?” So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam took hold of his tongue and said: “This”—meaning, the greatest fear is of this tongue. [سنن الترمذي : 2410 وقال : هذا حديث حسن صحيح، شعب الايمان للبيهقي : 4919 والزهري صرح بالسماع عنده]
It is established in the principles of hadith that the addition of a trustworthy narrator is accepted. If some words are not present in one authentic narration but are present in another authentic narration, then both narrations should be combined to understand the issue and both are considered as proof.