Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Harith Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah Almighty commanded Yahya bin Zakariya (peace be upon him) regarding five things: that he should act upon them himself and also command the Children of Israel to act upon them. It was about to happen that Yahya (peace be upon him) delayed in this matter, so Isa (peace be upon him) said: You have been commanded regarding five things that you should act upon them yourself and command the Children of Israel to act upon them. Now, either you deliver this message yourself, otherwise I will deliver it. Yahya (peace be upon him) said: Brother! I fear that if you precede me in this, I will be punished or swallowed up by the earth. So after this, Yahya (peace be upon him) gathered the Children of Israel in Bayt al-Maqdis. When the mosque was filled, he sat on a mound, praised and glorified Allah, and said: Allah has commanded me regarding five things that I should act upon them myself and command you to act upon them as well. The first of these is that you worship Allah alone and do not associate anything with Him. Its example is like a person who buys a slave with his pure wealth, i.e., gold and silver, and that slave starts working for someone other than his master and gives his wages to him. So who among you would like his slave to do such a thing? Since Allah created you and provided for you, therefore worship Him alone and do not associate anything with Him. I also command you to pray, because Allah turns all His attention to His servant as long as he does not look here and there. Therefore, when you pray, do not look to your right or left. I also command you to fast, because its example is like a person who comes to a gathering with a bottle of musk, and everyone senses its fragrance. And with Allah, the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is better than the fragrance of musk. I also command you to give charity, because its example is like a person whom the enemy has captured, tied his hands to his neck, and then takes him to kill him. He says to them: Are you willing to accept a ransom for my life? Then he starts offering whatever he can, little or much, as ransom for his life until he frees himself. And I command you to remember Allah abundantly, because its example is like a person whom the enemy is pursuing swiftly, and he takes refuge in a strong fortress. In the same way, as long as a servant remains engaged in the remembrance of Allah, he is in a fortress protected from the attacks of Satan.

After this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I also command you regarding five things which Allah has commanded me to adopt: unity (congregation), listening to the ruler, obeying him, migration, and striving in the way of Allah (jihad). For whoever separates himself from the Muslim community even by a handspan, he throws off the collar of Islam from his neck, unless he returns to the community. And whoever calls out with the slogans of the time of ignorance, he is the fuel of Hell. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked: O Messenger of Allah! Even if he prays and fasts? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Even if he prays and fasts and considers himself a Muslim. So call the Muslims by the names by which Allah has called His Muslim servants.”