Author: Sheikh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Al-Hammad (حفظه الله)
"The religion is sincere advice (naseehah)."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman: 196)
"O Messenger of Allah, for whom should we show sincerity?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"For Allah, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and the general public."
"I pledged allegiance to the Prophet (ﷺ) to perform Salah, give Zakat, and be sincere to every Muslim."
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman: 57)
In Arabic, the term naseehah can mean mending torn clothes or separating wax from honey. In an Islamic context, it refers to sincerely advising someone regarding their faults without intending to expose or humiliate them. If sincerity is absent, it may be considered deception, which is disliked by Allah.
"The womb is tied to the Throne of Allah and says: Whoever maintains ties with me, Allah will maintain ties with him. Whoever severs ties with me, Allah will sever ties with him."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Birr wa al-Silah wa al-Adab: 6519)
The Importance of Well-Wishing in Islam
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:"The religion is sincere advice (naseehah)."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman: 196)
Key Points:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned this hadith, the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) asked:"O Messenger of Allah, for whom should we show sincerity?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"For Allah, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and the general public."
- Well-wishing for Allah:
- Worship Him alone without associating partners with Him.
- Obey His commands and avoid His prohibitions.
- Well-wishing for the Messenger (ﷺ):
- Show utmost respect and veneration for him.
- Consider his teachings as the final authority.
- Well-wishing for Muslim leaders:
- Obey them within the limits of Shari'ah.
- Refrain from rebellion except in cases of explicit disbelief.
- Well-wishing for the general public:
- Educate them about Islam.
- Promote good (amr bil ma'ruf) and forbid evil (nahi anil munkar).
- Care for their needs and well-being.
A Practical Example:
Jarir bin Abdullah Bajali (رضي الله عنه) narrated:"I pledged allegiance to the Prophet (ﷺ) to perform Salah, give Zakat, and be sincere to every Muslim."
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman: 57)
In Arabic, the term naseehah can mean mending torn clothes or separating wax from honey. In an Islamic context, it refers to sincerely advising someone regarding their faults without intending to expose or humiliate them. If sincerity is absent, it may be considered deception, which is disliked by Allah.
Maintaining Family Ties (Silat ar-Rahim)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:"The womb is tied to the Throne of Allah and says: Whoever maintains ties with me, Allah will maintain ties with him. Whoever severs ties with me, Allah will sever ties with him."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Birr wa al-Silah wa al-Adab: 6519)
Key Points:
Islam emphasizes fulfilling the rights of relatives and treating them kindly, known as Silat ar-Rahim.- Prophetic Example:
Khadijah (رضي الله عنها) described the Prophet (ﷺ) as someone who maintained family ties. (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad' al-Wahy: 3) - Worldly Benefits:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Whoever wishes for an increase in his provision and a long life should maintain ties of kinship."
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Adab: 5986) - Forms of Silat ar-Rahim:
- Financially supporting relatives.
- Dedicating time and effort to assist them.
- Severing Ties Is a Grave Sin:
The Prophet (ﷺ) warned:
"The one who severs ties of kinship will not enter Paradise."
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Adab: 5989) - Excellence in Maintaining Ties:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Maintaining ties of kinship is not (merely) reciprocating kindness, but it is maintaining ties even when the other severs them."
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Adab: 5991)