Ahadith
of Peace, Human Rights and Good Manners Are Universal and Applicable In All
Contexts
Main
Points
1. Everyone
should be aware that certain passages in the Qur'an and Hadith are only
applicable to war situations.
2. We are in
desperate need of moral and human precepts of the Quran and Sunnah.
3. Putting
things right between people is more excellent in degree than fasting, prayer,
and almsgiving
4. He is not
one of us [Muslim Ummah] who does not have mercy upon our young, nor knows the
honour of our elders
5. Richness
does not lie in the abundance of (worldly) goods but richness is the richness
of the soul (heart, self)
6. Islam placed
a high value on land cultivation, better animal treatment, and specific concern
for the preservation of water, plants, and birds.
.....
By
New Age Islam Staff Writer
28 October
2021
In a
country, environment, and law that guarantee peace, security, and tolerance
today, some people are busy quoting war-related verses of the Quran and Ahadith,
which is a tremendous tragedy. This is being done not only by radical Muslim
groups but also by a segment of non-Muslims who have been misled by extremist
ideologies and consequently distrust peace-loving Muslims too. Even
peace-loving Muslims are being accused of terrorism, and some people, despite
knowing the facts, are striving to display their inner enmity by accusing
Muslims of terrorism.
Everyone
should be aware that certain passages in the Qur'an and Hadith are only
applicable to war situations. When the situation is peaceful and secure, or
there is a peace treaty in effect, the rules applicable to war situations are
not enforced. Every educated person understands that when a country is at war
with another country, the norms of the time are different, and when the same
countries are at peace with each other, the situation is different. Even
knowing this, what should be done if someone forcefully portrays a lie as truth
and truth as a lie? Silence, in my opinion, is preferable.
In this
write-up, we will discuss the magnificent hadiths that serve as a guide for us
in our century and country. Another tragedy is that we have neglected to follow
the moral and human precepts of the Qur'an and Sunnah. We are in desperate need
of such great teachings. The following are some of the hadiths that must be
enlightened in one's heart and mind, and these lessons must be passed down from
generation to generation.
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) is reported to have said,
“He is not
one of us who does not have mercy upon our young, nor knows the honour of our
elders.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1920)
The Quran
and Hadith are very clear about how one should treat and respect one's elders.
According to one hadith, a crowd of listeners gathered around the Prophet
Muhammad failed to make place for an elderly man to approach him. The Prophet
noted this shortcoming and said, “Whoever fails to honour our elders is not one
of us”. According to another hadith, assisting the elderly is the same as
serving Allah. In fact, mistreating or showing disrespect to elders might
result in being refused admittance to paradise, according to the Quran, which
instructs eleven times to be nice to elderly parents in particular.
According
to a hadith mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, seven persons will attain the divine
shade on the Day when there will be no other shade: 1) a just ruler, 2) a youth
who worships Allah sincerely from childhood, 3) a man whose heart is attached
to the mosques, that is who performs compulsory prayers in the mosque in the
congregation, 4) any two-person who love each other only for the sake of Allah
and they meet and part only for His sake, 5) a man who refuses the call of a
charming woman for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah,
6) a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left-hand does not
know what his right hand has given, and 7) a person who remembers Allah in
seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears. (Sahih al-Bukhari 660)
According
to the narration of Sahl ibn al-Hanzaliyyah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) came upon an emaciated camel and said: “Fear Allah regarding these
dumb animals. Ride them when they are in good condition and feed them when they
are in good condition.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 2548)
The
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “There are two
blessings in which many people incur loss. (They are) health and leisure (i.e.
free time for doing good)”. (Riyad as-Salihin 97)
The
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “Every good
deed is charity”. (Sahih Muslim 1005, Grade: Sahih)
In another
narration, the Prophet said:
Every good
deed is charity. It is a good act to greet your brother with a smile and to
pour whatever remains from your bucket into your brother's vessel. (Sunan
At-Tirmidhi 1970, Grade: Sahih)
As stated
in the hadith above, charity is not limited to giving away money; rather, it
encompasses all good deeds. As a sign of gratitude for Allah's gifts, Muslims
are expected to donate charity from their riches, time, and effort. Allah has
blessed us with health, riches, time, and energy, and we must return the favour
by serving others.
According
to a hadith, the companions once complained to the Prophet that the wealthy had
received all of the rewards because of their ability to give in charity. The
Prophet, on the other hand, informed them that even the poorest of Muslims
might earn huge rewards by doing good deeds like thanking Allah and lawfully
following lawful manner. (See the hadith in Sahih Muslim 1006, Grade: Sahih)
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “O people! Indeed, Allah is pure;
He only accepts pure” (Sahih Muslim, 1015)
According
to Imam Nawawi [Sharh Muslim lil Nawavi, vol. 7, p. 100], the Arabic term ‘Tayyib’
mentioned in the hadith implies purity, but when ascribed to Allah, it
signifies “He is free of all flaws.” This Hadith constitutes one of the most
fundamental principles in Islam. As a result, we have been commanded to respect
the pure things that Allah Almighty cherishes. The Lord, who is devoid of all
flaws, adores that which is equally devoid of flaws. The beliefs that are free
of polytheism (Shirk), disbelief (Kufr) and heresy are approved by Allah
Almighty. In His court, the activities of the creation that are free of
showing-off are accepted. He prefers our clothing that is devoid of filth. He
loves a heart that is free of inner impurities like jealously, arrogance,
hatred, and malice. In other words, Allah's affection for every stage of life
is conditional on ‘purity’. Even the magnificent Quran declares that “Allah
[Almighty] loves pure people.” (9:108)
Ibn 'Umar
reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"The believer who mixes with people and endures their injury is better
than the person who does not mix with people nor endure their injury."
(Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 388)
Abu Huraira
reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had said, “Richness
does not lie in the abundance of (worldly) goods but richness is the richness
of the soul (heart, self).” (Sahih Muslim 1051)
Hazrat Abu
Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Look
at those who are lower than you (financially) but do not look at those who are
higher than you, lest you belittle the favours Allah conferred upon you.”
(Kitab al-Jami, Book 16, Hadith 1482/ Sunan Ibn Majah 4142/ Jami` at-Tirmidhi
2513/ Sahih Muslim 2963)
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “There is no gift that a father
gives his child more virtuous than good manners.” (Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith:
1952). Though this hadith is considered weak due to its chain of narration, it
is applicable in the virtues (Fazail).
It has been
stated on several occasions that the Prophet placed a high value on land cultivation,
better animal treatment, and specific concern for the preservation of water,
plants, and birds. According to a hadith, “Whoever brings the dead land to
life; that is, whoever cultivates wasteland, he will get reward therein.
(Mishkat al-Masabih)
Abu Huraira
reported, The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “You shall not enter
Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the
articles of faith) and you will not believe as long as you do not love one
another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love
amongst you: (i. e.) give currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one
another by saying) As-Salamu Alaikum.” (Sahih Muslim: Book 1, Hadith 101)
Ibn Abbas
reported: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He is not a believer whose
stomach is filled while the neighbor to his side goes hungry.” (Al-Sunan
al-Kubrá 19049)
Wages are
an earned right, not a charity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had said, “Pay
the worker his dues before his perspiration has dried up”.
It
emphasizes the early disbursement of all dues to the worker upon completion of
his or her obligations, and it addresses the rightful dues of those in others'
employment. How difficult is it to comprehend, and how many of us who claim to
be good Muslims follow such edicts?
Ibn ‘Abbas
reported God’s messenger as saying, “One faqih (learned man) has more power
over the devil than a thousand devout men.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted
it. (Mishkat al-Masabih 217)
Abu Darda'
narrated that The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Shall I not inform you of
something more excellent in degree than fasting, prayer, and almsgiving
(Sadaqah)? The people replied: Yes, Prophet of Allah! He said: It is putting
things right between people, spoiling them is the shaver (destructive).” (Sunan
Abi Dawud 4919)
“Allah does
not have pity on a person who does not have mercy on human beings,” the Prophet
(peace be upon him) remarked, according to Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah. (Sahih
Muslim and Sahih Bukhari)
“The
Messenger of Allah said to me: 'Have Taqwa of Allah wherever you are, and
follow a bad deed with a good deed to wipe it out, and treat people with decent
behaviour," Abu Dharr remarked. [Jami at-Tirmidhi: Hadith 93, Book 27]
According
to Abu Ad-Dardah, Allah's Messenger said: "On the Day of Judgment, nothing
weighs more heavily on the believer's Scale than good character [towards all
human beings]...” [Jami at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 108, Book 27]
Abdullah
ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “The
merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the
earth and God Almighty will have mercy upon you.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book 27,
Hadith 30]
Abdullah
Ibn Masood narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “You will never
be a believer unless you have mercy.” The narrator said, ‘O Messenger of Allah!
Every one of us has mercy, so he replied, "It does not imply the kindness
and compassion that any one of you has for the person close to him, rather it
contains the common mercy that should be for all human beings”. [Recorded by
Tabarani]
These are
only a few samples. Aside from this, there are hundreds of Ahadith that teach
us about peace, human rights and good manners. These Ahadith are universal and
applicable in all contexts and we must focus on them as much as we can.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/ahadith-peace-morality-war-/d/125659