The literal meaning of hadith is talk and conversation. According to Shariah, the sayings and actions related to the Prophet (s) is known as Hadith. That is, the collection of sayings, actions and speech of the Holy Prophet (i.e. any such action that was performed in the presence of the Holy Prophet (s) and he remained silent about that matter the collection of all such things is called hadiths of the Prophet.
i. The Importance and Virtue of the Prophet's Hadith
The hadiths of the Holy Prophet (s) are the major means of guidance about religious knowledge and a great basis of guidance. One of the most important purpose of the Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (s) was to present a practical example of the teachings of the Holy Quran. Prophetic hadith is an important source for understanding the teachings of the Holy Quran. As Muslims, it is necessary for us to make the hadiths of the Prophet a practical model for our lives. Our life should be according to the sayings and actions of Holy Prophet .Allah Almighty, while commanding this in the Holy Quran, said:
يَأْيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ
Translation:
"O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not nullify
your deeds, " (Surah Muhammad: 33)
وَمَا الكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَانَهُكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا
Translation:
"And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you from, abstain (from it)." (Surah Al-Hashr : 07)
These verses give us the guidance that we have the noble example, as to how we should spend our lives, from the life of the Holy Prophet and from his deeds and actions So, we should try to mold our lives according to the teachings of the Holy Prophet.
ii. Selected Hadiths
اَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيْمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا، وَخِيَارُهُمْ خِيَارُهُمْ لِيَسَاتِهِمْ -
Translation:
"The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character among them. And the best of you are those who are best to your women." (Musnad Ahmed: 9153)
مَنْ لَّمْ يَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا وَيَعْرِفُ حَقَّ كَبِيرِنَا فَلَيْسَ مِنا ۔
Translation:
"Those who do not show mercy to our young ones and do not realise the right of our elders are not from us." (Sunnan Abi-Daud: 4943)
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَأَجْمِلُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ، فَإِنَّ نَفْسًا لَنْ تَمُوْتَ حَتَّى تَسْتَوْفِي رِزْقَهَا وَإِنْ أَبْطَأَ عَنْهَا، فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَجْمِلُوا فِي القَلَبِ، خُذُوا مَا حَلَّ، وَدَعُوا مَا حَرُمَ
Translation:
"O people, fear Allah and be moderate in seeking a living, for no soul will die until it has received all its provision, even if it is slow in coming. So fear Allah and be moderate in seeking provision; take that which is permissible and leave that which is forbidden." (Sanun Ibn-e-Maja: 2144)
مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَيُنْسَأَلَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ
Translation:
"Whoever wants his sustenance to be increased and his life to be prolonged, then he should be courteous towards his relatives." (Sahih Muslim: 6524)
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْكَبَائِرِ، قَالَ
الشّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ، وَعُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ، وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ ، وَقَوْلُ الزُّوْر“
Translation:
The Holy Prophet said about the major sins:
"To associate partner with Allah, disobey the parents, comitting murder or telling a lie." (Sahih Muslim: 88)
إنَّ إخْوَانَكُمْ خَوَلُكُمْ جَعَلَهُمُ الله تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ ، فَمَنْ كَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ بَدِي فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ، مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ، وَلْيُلْبِسُهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ، وَلَا تُكَلِّفُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ، فَإِنْ كَلَّفْتُمُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ فَأَعِيْنُوهُمْ
Translation:
"Your slaves are your brothers, Allah has made them your subordinate, so whoever had his brother under him (as subordinate), he should feed him with what he eats, and dress him in the same clothes. And do not take from them the work that is beyond their strength and if you bother them with such work, lend them a helping hand." (Sahih Bukhari: 2545)
مَنْ أُفْتِي بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ إِثْمُهُ عَلَى مَنْ أَفْتَاهُ
وَمَنْ أَشَارَ عَلَى أَخِيْهِ بِأَمْرِ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الرُّشْدَ فِي غَيْرِهِ فَقَدْ خَانَهُ
Translation:
"A person who gave a fatwa without knowledge, the sin of it will be on the one who gave an advise to his brother knowingly that the good was other than that, he betrayed him." (Sunan Abi-Daud: 3657)
الْحَيَاءُ لَا يَأْتِي إِلَّا بِخَيْرٍ
Translation:
"There is always goodness in chastity." (Sahih Muslim: 37)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
Translation:
"O Allah! indeed I ask you for beneficial knowledge, lawful sustenance and acceptable actions." . (Sanun Ibn-e-Maja: 925)
كُلُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ: دَمُهُ، وَمَالُهُ، وَعِرْضُه
Translation:
"The life, property and honour of every Muslim is forbidden to another Muslim." (Sahih Muslim: 2564)
