THINKING AND ACTING LIKE A MUSLIM

'Abdullah bin Umar narrated that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "A

By Dr. Antar Ibn-Stanford

Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not mistreat him, nor should he hand him over to someone who would mistreat him. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever shielded a Muslim, Allah will shield him on the Day of Resurrection" (see Sahih Volume 3, Book 43, Number 622).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “do not approach a matter until you have thought of its consequences and end-results. If it's in your best interests, go for it, otherwise abstain from it” (refer to Sunan Abi Dawud, General Behavior [Kitab Al-Adab]).

Abu Dawud recorded that Sufyan Ibn Asad al-Hadrami told that he heard Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) say, “It is a great betray of trust that you should tell your brother something and have him believe you when you are lying.”

Al-Bayhaqi recorded that Abu Dharr said: “I went in to visit Allah’s Messenger. . . . I asked him to tell me more, and he said, ‘Let what you know of yourself keep you from blaming other people.’”

Umar ibn al Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Judge yourself before you are judged, evaluate yourself before you are evaluated and be ready for the greatest evaluation.”

Allah revealed in the Qur’an 49:17, “They try to convince you that they did you a favor by embracing Islam. Say, ‘Do not consider your embracing Islam as a favor to me. On the contrary, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you are truthful and sincere.”

Malik narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Perform the salah the way you saw me perform the salah” (see Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adab, Bab 27).

According to an-Nawawi, Jabir said, “I heard the Prophet (pbuh) say that between a man, shirk (associating partners with Allah), and kufr (disbelief in and ingratitude towards Allah) is the abandoning of the salah.”

Preparing for the salah completely and performing it correctly is serous.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that “the Prophet (pbuh) saw a man who had not washed his heels while performing ablution. He said: ‘Beware of your heels because they may be in the hell-fire. Perform ablution thoroughly’” (see Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification).

Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim recorded from Abu Hurayrah (R) that,

A man entered the masjid while the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was sitting in a section of the masjid. He performed the salah. Then he came and greeted the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah said to him, 'Wa 'a-lay-kas sa-laam. Return and perform the salah. You certainly did not perform the salah.'

He returned and performed the salah. Then he came and gave the greetings. The Messenger of Allah (S) said, 'Wa 'a-lay-kas sa-laam. Return and perform the salah. You certainly did not perform the salah.'

He asked after a third time or during the time after this, 'Teach me oh Messenger of Allah?' He replied, 'When you prepare for the salah, perform the ablution properly.

Then turn toward the qiblah. Utter the takbeer. Then read the part of the Qur'an you know which is easy for you. Then bow until you come to a restful bowing. Rise up until you are standing straight. Then prostrate until you are prostrating restfully. Rise until you are sitting restfully. Then prostrate until you are prostrating restfully. Rise until you are sitting restfully.' One narrator added, 'Then rise until you are standing straight. Then do that during the remainder of your salah, all of it.'" (Mishkah, 1:246).

Compiled by Dr. Antar, Oct. 2015

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