Hadith 54

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ ، وَوَكِيعٌ ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " لَا تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا ، وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا أَوَلَا ، أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ ، أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ بَيْنَكُمْ " .
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (may peace and blessing be upon him) observed: You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith) and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: (i. e.) give currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one another by saying) as-salamu alaikum.
Hadith Reference صحيح مسلم / كتاب الإيمان / 54
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح مسلم كلها صحيحة
Hadith Takhrij «أحاديث صحيح مسلم كلها صحيحة ، أخرجه ابن ماجه فى ((سننه)) فى المقدمة، باب: فى الايمان برقم (68) انظر ((التحفة)) برقم (12469) »
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وحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ ، أَنْبَأَنَا جَرِيرٌ ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ ، لَا تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا ، بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ ، وَوَكِيعٍ .
Zuhair bin Harb said: Jarir reported on the authority of A'mash with this chain of transmitters that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: By him in Whose hand is my life, you shall not enter Paradise unless you believe. The rest of the hadith is the same as narrated by Abd Mu'awiyah and Waki'
Hadith Reference صحيح مسلم / كتاب الإيمان / 54
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح مسلم كلها صحيحة
Hadith Takhrij «أحاديث صحيح مسلم كلها صحيحة ، انفرد به مسلم - انظر ((التحفة)) برقم (12349) »
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Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
From this hadith, it is understood that the fundamental requirement for entering Paradise is faith (iman),
and for the perfection of faith, mutual love and brotherhood are necessary,
and if one wishes to preserve these, then spread the greeting of peace (salam) widely and make it common.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2688
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
➊ Saying "As-salamu alaykum," that is, making it a habit to greet with salam at appropriate times, is an important part and symbol of Islamic social conduct.
➋ If making salam a regular practice, distances are eliminated and closeness increases, and additional reward and merit are attained. In fact, it is proof of the completion of faith (iman) and entitlement to enter Paradise.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 5193
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Commentary:
(1)
Faith (iman) is an essential condition for entry into Paradise.

(2)
Those with complete faith will enter Paradise without undergoing any punishment in Hell, whereas those with deficient faith will be taken out of Hell after receiving punishment for their sins.

(3)
Love that is based on faith, rather than on color, lineage, family, language, homeland, or emotions, is a cause for the perfection and beauty of faith.

(4)
Greeting one another with salam is a means of mutual love, because the words "as-salamu alaykum" and "wa alaykum as-salam" are both an expression of good feelings for each other and a supplication for well-being.

(5)
The Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has mentioned many things to create mutual love among Muslims, such as: giving gifts, calling each other by good names, shaking hands when greeting with salam, embracing after meeting again after a long time, keeping the rows straight in congregational prayer (salah) and standing with feet to feet and shoulder to shoulder, helping each other in times of need, participating in each other's happiness and sorrow, respecting elders, and showing kindness to the young, etc.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 3692
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Commentary:
(1)
Faith (iman) is an essential condition for entering Paradise.

(2)
Mutual love is a means for the completion of faith (iman), therefore, all those actions should be performed which generate mutual love, and those actions should be avoided from which there is a fear of mutual hatred arising.

(3)
Greeting one another with salam is an excellent means of establishing and maintaining good relations among each other.
In other ahadith, some other matters have also been mentioned, for example:
Shaking hands (musafahah), embracing (mu‘anaqah), and giving gifts. See: (Muwatta Imam Malik: 2/408, Hadith: 1731, and Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Hadith: 594)
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 68
Hafiz Abdush Shakoor Tirmidhi
Benefits and Issues
➊ From the mentioned hadith, it is understood that faith (iman) is a condition for entering Paradise; if there is no faith, Paradise will not be attained.
➋ It is also understood that mutual love is a means for the completion of faith; therefore, one should do those deeds which become a means for the completion of faith and which create mutual love. And one should avoid those deeds which cause mutual hatred, envy, and malice.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) that the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Exchange gifts with one another, for this will create mutual love.” [ادب المفرد للبخاري، رقم : 594]
➌ In the aforementioned hadith, the importance of saying “as-salamu alaykum” to one another is also established, as it creates mutual love. If there is mutual love, then one will become a true Muslim.
Source: Musnad Ishaq bin Rahwayh, Page: 23