Hadith 34th and 35th, 38th and 41st of An-Nawawi’s Collection – SS2 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Hadith are the recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They are the second most important source of Islamic teachings after the Holy Quran. The word “Hadith” means “narrative” or “report” in Arabic.

Imam An-Nawawi collected 42 important Hadiths that cover the core teachings of Islam. Today, we will study four of these Hadiths: the 34th, 35th, 38th, and 41st. These Hadiths teach us about stopping wrongdoing, brotherhood in Islam, good deeds, and following the Prophet’s guidance.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the three ways of stopping wrongdoing taught in the 34th Hadith;
• list the instructions on brotherhood given in the 35th Hadith;
• explain what a Hadith Qudsi is and how a person becomes close to Allah, according to the 38th Hadith;
• explain the meaning of the 41st Hadith on following the Prophet’s guidance;
• give examples of how to apply the four Hadiths in daily life.

The 34th Hadith: stopping wrongdoing

Text of the 34th Hadith

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.”

(Reported by Muslim)

What does the 34th Hadith teach?

This Hadith teaches us about our duty to stop wrong things from happening around us. The Prophet gave us three ways to stop wrongdoing:

1. With our hands: This means taking direct action to stop something wrong. For example, if you see someone dropping trash, you can pick it up. If you see a child about to touch something hot, you can move their hand away.
2. With our tongues: If we cannot act directly, we should speak up. For example, if we see someone being unkind, we can ask them to stop. We can also teach others about right and wrong.
3. With our hearts: If we cannot act or speak up, we should at least feel in our hearts that something is wrong. We should dislike the wrong action. This is described as the “weakest of faith” because it does not help change the situation.

Lessons from the 34th Hadith

• We have a duty to stand up against wrong things.
• We should use the most effective method available to us.
• Doing nothing when we see wrong is not acceptable.
• Our actions show the strength of our faith.
• We must be brave in stopping wrongdoing.
• Each person can make a difference in their community.

The 35th Hadith: brotherhood in Islam

Text of the 35th Hadith

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Do not hate one another, do not envy one another, do not turn away from one another, do not cut off relations with one another. Be, O servants of Allah, brothers. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not wrong him, nor does he forsake him, nor does he look down upon him. Piety is here (pointing to his chest three times). It is evil enough for a Muslim to look down upon his brother Muslim. All of a Muslim is sacred to another Muslim: his blood, his property, and his honour.”

(Reported by Muslim)

What does the 35th Hadith teach?

This Hadith teaches us how Muslims should treat each other. The Prophet gives clear instructions about building a strong community:

1. Do not hate one another: We should keep our hearts free from hatred.
2. Do not envy one another: We should be happy for the blessings others receive.
3. Do not turn away from one another: We should not ignore each other or refuse to talk.
4. Do not cut off relations: We should maintain family ties and friendships.
5. Be brothers: All Muslims are like one family and should treat each other with love.
6. Do not wrong your brother: We should not harm other Muslims in any way.
7. Do not forsake him: We should help other Muslims when they need us.
8. Do not look down upon him: We should respect all Muslims regardless of their wealth or status.
9. Piety is in the heart: True goodness comes from the heart as well as from our outward actions.
10. All of a Muslim is sacred: We must respect other Muslims’ lives, property, and dignity.

Lessons from the 35th Hadith

• Brotherhood is a core value in Islam.
• Our relationships should be based on respect and kindness.
• We have a duty to help and support fellow Muslims.
• True faith is measured by how we treat others.
• A healthy community requires good relationships between its members.
• Respect for others’ rights is essential in Islam.

The 38th Hadith: hostility towards the friends of Allah

Text of the 38th Hadith

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Allah the Almighty has said: ‘Whoever shows hostility to a friend of Mine, I declare war upon him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant it to him.'”

(Reported by Bukhari)

What does the 38th Hadith teach?

This Hadith is called a Hadith Qudsi, which means it contains words of Allah as narrated by the Prophet. It teaches us about:

1. Friends of Allah: These are people who are very close to Allah because of their good deeds and pure hearts.
2. Warning against hostility: Allah warns us not to harm or disrespect those who are close to Him.
3. Religious duties: The most important way to become close to Allah is by doing what He has made required for us (like the five daily prayers).
4. Extra good deeds: After doing what is required, we can get even closer to Allah by doing extra good deeds (like optional prayers).
5. Allah’s love: When someone becomes very beloved to Allah, Allah helps them in everything they do.
6. Allah’s support: Allah answers the prayers of those who are close to Him and protects them.

Lessons from the 38th Hadith

• We should respect those who are close to Allah.
• Required acts of worship are more important than optional ones.
• We can become closer to Allah through extra good deeds.
• Allah helps and guides those who are devoted to Him.
• Allah’s love is the greatest blessing a person can receive.
• True success comes from being close to Allah.

The 41st Hadith: following the Prophet’s way

Text of the 41st Hadith

Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“None of you truly believes until his desires follow what I have brought.”

(A fine and genuine Hadith which was related by Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar)

What does the 41st Hadith teach?

This short Hadith teaches us the importance of following the Prophet’s guidance in our lives:

1. True belief: Complete faith means more than just saying we believe. It means actually following the Prophet’s teachings.
2. Controlling desires: We all have wants and wishes, but a true believer makes sure these desires match what Islam teaches.
3. The Prophet’s guidance: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) brought us Allah’s message about how to live our lives.
4. Putting faith first: When our personal desires conflict with Islamic teachings, we should choose to follow Islam.

Lessons from the 41st Hadith

• Faith must be shown through actions as well as words.
• Our personal desires should not come before Islamic teachings.
• Following the Prophet’s way leads to a good and balanced life.
• Islam guides our choices and preferences.
• True happiness comes from controlling our desires according to Islam.
• Faith grows stronger when we align our wishes with Islamic values.

How do the four Hadiths connect?

1. The 34th Hadith teaches us to take action against wrong things.
2. The 35th Hadith shows us how to build a strong community through brotherhood.
3. The 38th Hadith explains how to become close to Allah through worship and good deeds.
4. The 41st Hadith reminds us to follow the Prophet’s guidance in all aspects of life.

Together, they guide us on how to be good Muslims in our personal lives, in our communities, and in our relationship with Allah.

How can we apply these Hadiths in daily life?

1. Stand up for what is right: When you see something wrong, take appropriate action to change it.
2. Build strong relationships: Treat other Muslims with respect and kindness. Avoid fighting, jealousy, and disrespect.
3. Perform your religious duties: Make sure to complete all required acts of worship like prayer and fasting.
4. Do extra good deeds: After completing what is required, do extra acts of worship and kindness.
5. Control your desires: When you want to do something, first check if it follows Islamic teachings.
6. Respect those who are close to Allah: Be respectful to religious people who are devoted to worship.
7. Check your heart: Remember that what is in your heart matters as much as your actions.

Evaluation

1. State the three ways of stopping wrongdoing taught in the 34th Hadith.
2. List five instructions the Prophet gave Muslims in the 35th Hadith.
3. What is a Hadith Qudsi?
4. According to the 38th Hadith, what is the most important way to become close to Allah?
5. Explain the meaning of the 41st Hadith in your own words.

Assignment

1. Choose one of the four Hadiths and write out its text. Give two lessons from it.
2. Give three examples of how you can apply these Hadiths at home or in school.