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How
to Attain Complete Iman (Faith)
On the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased
with him)that Allah's Messenger (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him )said: " He who believes in
Allah
and the Last Day should speak well or keep silent ;
and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day must
honor his neighbor; and he who believes in Allah and
the Last Day should treat his guest hospitably."
Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim
Guidance and Moralities
This Hadith teaches us two of the most essential
principles of Islam and its foundations:(1) 'Islam
links all its acts charity and goodness to faith in
Allah: (2) having good character and doing good to
others are natural results of having good faith .'
In the same vein, this Hadith states that al-Iman
comprises all acts of a Muslim.
Briefly, acts of al-Iman are of two kinds :
1)Those related to Allah's rights on human beings
such
as obligations (Salah,Sawm....)and giving up
forbidden
acts .
2) Those related to others' rights such as not
harming
them, being generous to guests, treating neighbors
with kindness.
Moreover,the Hadith implies that virtue of the tongue
is among the best characteristics of al-Iman.
The Beloved Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him )said : "One has no sound faith unless one
has straight heart ;one has no straight heart unless
one has straight tongue ."
As for controlling one's tongue and speech, this
Hadith urges Muslims to control their tongues, to
think before speaking and speak only good.
It is reported that one's speech should be for:
1-Remembrance of Allah .
2-Reading the Holy Qur'an .
3-Seeking information and asking for knowledge.
4-Speaking concerning some needed worldly matter.
In addition, one has to join what is good and to
forbid what is evil since he who keeps silent if
there
is some thing wrong, will be considered a dumb devil.
This Hadith teaches that to refrain from doing bad
acts is better than to do righteous deeds .
In this Hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) sends us another message
concerning
neighbors. So, the Hadith orders every Muslim to
treat
his/her neighbor well.
The Prophet said: "By Allah, he is not a perfect
Muslim. By Allah, his faith is incomplete. By Allah,
he does not believe: the Prophet was asked 'O
Messenger of Allah! Who is he?'The Prophet said: "
One
whose neighbor is not immune against his mischief."
In Imam Muslim's narration: "That person will not
enter paradise whose neighbor is not safe against his
mischief."
As you have seen, Islam gives neighborhood great
respect, and even it makes treating neighbors well as
an indication of one's complete faith.
Islam sets a number of rules concerning this subject
and grants neighbors many rights to be rendered.
Among
these rights are:
- To help the neighbor if he asks for help .
- To lend him money when in need.
- To remove his deficiency.
- To visit him when he is ill.
- To congratulate him on happy occasions.
- To offer him your condolences on unhappy occasions.
- To escort the deceased neighbor to his final
resting
place.
- To give him from your food as a present.
- To raise not your building so as to prevent him
air.
- To know that " the best neighbor is one who behaves
best towards his neighbors."
With regard to hospitality, this Hadith clearly and
strongly orders us to be generous to guests if we are
true believers.
In the sound Hadith: "Anybody who believes in Allah
and the Last Day should serve his guest generously by
giving him his reward."It was asked: 'What is his
reward, O Allah 's Messenger?'The Prophet said: "to
be
entertained generously for a day and a night with
high
quality food and the guest has the right to be
entertained for three days."
Finally,it is Islam ,only Islam ,that links behavior
and faith ,religion and society in an unequaled way. |