Hadith 2 - The Religion (Islam) Is to act with sincerity.

اسلام عليكم و رحمة الله وبركات

Hadeeth 2:

الدين النصيحة

"The religion (Islam) is to act with sincerity" or " Religion is advice"

Tarkeeb:-
الدين – Mubtada
النصيحة – Khabar

Mubtada and khabar makes a Jumlah Ismiyyah Khabariyah (Nominal sentence)

The Arabic word Al-Nasihah is difficult to translate into English.

Allama Ibn Daqeeq al Eid رحمة الله عليه states that “In Arabic there is no similar for the word Al-Nasihah also”

Other meanings could be – giving good advice, directing towards good, acting with sincerity or honesty, or being compassionate and desiring good.

The hadith makes clear that one of the core aspects of true faith is to give good counsel, to wish well, and to act towards everything with honesty and sincerity.

[Provisions For The seekers - Abdur Rahman Ibn Yusuf Mangera]

Imam Nawawi رحمة الله عليه states that:

“This hadith is an explanation for the entire religion as nasihah means sincerity, and sincerity is the root of all actions. Without it (sincerity) all actions are rejected”

[Sharah Muslim – Fathul Bari]

In the rest of the hadith, the sahabah asked Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم, in regards to what must this naseehah (sincerity) be?

Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم answered;

In regards to Allah;

In regards to the Book of Allah (Quran);

In regards to the Imam’s of the Muslimeen; and

In regards to the Muslim’s as a whole.

To have sincerity in regards to Allah means to believe in Allah with all his sifaat (attributes), and believe firmly in His oneness.

Not to associate anything or anyone else with the attributes of Allah. To do all worship with utmost sincerity. To act upon all that Allah has commanded and be thankful for all the blessings Allah has blessed us with. To love all those who love Allah.

To have sincerity in regards to the Quran means to believe firmly that the Quran has been revealed from Allah. To act upon whatever it says in all states. To recite it with tajweed and to contemplate in what the ayah’s say. To respect it at all times.

Inclusive in regards to Allah and His book are the sincere belief we must have in regards to Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم, To believe firmly that Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم is the messenger of Allah, to bring Imaan in his Prophet hood, to believe in all the commands He صلي الله عليه وسلم has given and to follow what He صلي الله عليه وسلم has taught. To love Him صلي الله عليه وسلم more than one’s own family and children, and to have love for His صلي الله عليه وسلم sahabah (companions).

In regards to Muslim Imam’s, it constitutes to those who are running the country as well the ulema (people of knowledge). To be sincere in dealing with these people means to stay loyal to them, not to go against them in order to cause them difficulty in their rule.

To follow them in good matters and to refrain from following in bad.

If it is felt that they are doing some wrong then they must be advised in a good way and the people should not plot against them.

To respect the people of knowledge, to accept all they say about the deen and to follow them in all the good they say about the deen, and in their actions.

In terms of the general muslmeen it means to always want good for them in terms of both worlds, and to call them to good so that they may benefit in all walks of life. To never harm them, to reply to their salaam, to visit them if they are ill, not betray anybody’s trust, to respect the elders and have mercy on the young, not to backbite etc.

In this manner all things in regards to this world and the hereafter are included.

This hadith shows how Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم was blessed as being Jawaamiul Qalam, meaning He صلي الله عليه وسلم could say so less and it would have a very deep and profound meaning, this was indeed a miracle of the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم that he could convey so much with such a short sentence.