7th Hadith - The Religion is Sincere Advice [Muslim 55: (a)]

الحديثُ السابعُ

عَنْ أَبِي رُقَيَّةَ تَمِيْم الدَّارِي رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ   وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : الدِّيْنُ النَّصِيْحَةُ . قُلْنَا لِمَنْ ؟ قَالَ : لِلَّهِ, وَلِكِتَابِهِ, وَلِرَسُوْلِهِ, وَلأَئِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَعَامَّتِهِمْ

[رواه البخاري ومسلم]

7th Hadith Translation

On the authority of Tameem-Ibn-Aus-Ad-Daree (R.A.): The Prophet (S.A.W.) said,

“The Deen (religion) is Nasihah (advice, sincerity).”

We said, “To whom?”

Prophet (S.A.W.) said, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” [Muslim 55 (a)]

Brief Narration

This hadith is a profound statement as Sheikh Jamaal Al-Din Zarabozo says that in this one brief statement, the Prophet (S.A.W.) described as the essence of Islam. “Nasihah” (advice, sincerity) hence forms the bulk and the most important pillar of Islam since it encompasses Islam, Iman and Ihsan.

The “Nasihah” should be to Allah first. This includes the fulfillment of the obligations in the best way possible (“Ihsan”).This should be the goal for every Muslim. This also includes striving to get as close to Allah as possible by doing not only the obligations but also the preferable good deeds, by forbidding the forbidden and avoiding the disliked acts.

(Reference: Commentary of Forty Hadiths of An-Nawawi by Dr. Jamal Ahmed Badi