Representations of the Believer
The following are Ahadith from a chapter called Kitab al-Iman of a forthcoming book – the Miftah al-Ma`ani – by Syed Iqbal Zaheer.
1. Anas reports that a bier passed by the Prophet (saws) and people praised him. He said, ‘It’s become imperative.’ Then another passed by and they dispraised him (or something about it). He remarked, ‘It’s become imperative.’ It was asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, you said it became imperative for this and for that?’ He replied, ‘A people’s testimony. You are Allah’s witnesses on this earth.’
– Bukhari
2. `A’isha (ra) inquired, ‘Messenger of Allah, (the Qur’an said): Whole of the earth shall be but His handful on the Day of Standing and the heavens rolled around His right hand (39: 67).Where, then, will the believers be on that Day?’ He answered, ‘On the Bridge, O `A’isha.’
– Tirmidhi
3. Abu Hurayrah said, ‘Abu Hurayrah swears by what the Messenger swore that no month arrives upon the Muslims better than that of Ramadan, nor any month arrives upon the hypocrites worse than that of Ramadan. This is because of what the believers prepare themselves for devotional acts, and what the hypocrites prepare themselves against people’s inattentiveness (to their personal affairs) and (to attack) their honors. The believer takes it as a means of benefit, while the hypocrite avails it as an opportunity (for evil deeds).’
–Ahmad
Commentary
The believers realize beforehand that Ramadan will require devotions at night, and restriction to the mosque while in i`tikaf, which would strain their personal economy, and so prepare themselves with enough funds or provisions in order to successfully attempt to observe their devotional acts. (Al-Fath al-Rabbani)
4. Abu Hurayrah reported the Prophet: ‘The example of a believer is like the small plants that the winds sway it. A believer yet continues to be attacked by hardships. On the other hand, a hypocrite is like rice plantation. It does not sway around but is uprooted.
– Ibn Hibban
5. Abu Qatadah narrated: We were sitting with the Prophet when a bier passed by. He remarked, ‘The tranquailed one, and the one dispensed of.’ We asked him about the ‘the tranquailed one, and the one dispensed of.’ He answered, ‘When a believer dies, he becomes immune to the travails of this world, its trials, and its hardships. But when an unbeliever dies, people feel relaxed, as do the land, the trees, and animals.”
– Ibn Hibban
(To be continued)
