Belief in Allah the Mighty and Majestic

The Hadīth of Abu Shurayh al-Khuzā‘i (may Allah be pleased with him) highlights the principle of honoring and serving the guest. He reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day let him honor his guest." And this is meant to encourage and urge honoring the guest, and it means that honoring the guest is a sign of belief in Allah and the Last Day and perfect faith in Allah and the Last Day. Some of the ways one can honor guests: meeting him with a cheerful face, saying good words to him, and offering him food for three days. On the first day, he should be generous to him as much as he can, and on the remaining days he serves him from what he can afford without going beyond what is normal, so that he does not burden the guest or himself. After the three days, it is considered charity. If he wishes to (continue) he may, and if not he may desist. Regarding his statement: "Let him honor his guest with his due reward for a day and a night, and hospitality is three days", the scholars said that 'reward' means giving much care to the guest for a day and a night and present to him as much kindness and goodness as he can. As for the second and third days, he feeds him what is available with him, and he does not exceed what is customary. What is beyond three days is charity and favor. If he wishes he may do so and if he wishes he may desist. In the version of Muslim: "And it is not lawful for him to stay at his home to the point that he causes him to sin", meaning it is not permissible for the guest to stay at the host's home more than three days until he causes him to fall into sin, as he may backbite him for overstaying, say indirect speech that may offense him, or have unlawful suspicions of him. All this applies in case the guest stays beyond three days without an invitation from the host. The standard of honoring the guest differs depending on the condition of the guest; a noble person should be honored with what is befitting for him, a middle-class person should be honored with what is befitting for him, and there are others who are below that.

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415هـ. تطريز رياض الصالحين، للشيخ فيصل المبارك، ط1، تحقيق: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله آل حمد، دار العاصمة، الرياض، 1423 هـ. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لمحمد علي بن محمد بن علان، ط4، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة، بيروت، 1425هـ. رياض الصالحين، للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428هـ. رياض الصالحين، ط4، تحقيق: عصام هادي، وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية القطرية، دار الريان، بيروت، 1428هـ. فتح رب البرية بتلخيص الحموية، لمحمد بن صالح بن محمد العثيمين، دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض. كنوز رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين برئاسة حمد بن ناصر العمار، ط1، كنوز إشبيليا، الرياض، 1430هـ. شرح رياض الصالحين، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، 1426هـ. صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة، (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين، ط14، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1407هـ.

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) informs us in this reported citation that the seven heavens and the seven earths with all their greatness are, in proportion to Allah's palm, like the little mustard seed in the palm of one of us. This is a comparison of proportion, not a comparison of Allah's palm to the human palm, as the attributes of Allah do not resemble any of the attributes of His creation and He resembles none in His essence.

1- فتح المجيد شرح كتاب التوحيد، مطبعة السنة المحمدية، القاهرة، مصر، الطبعة: السابعة، 1377هـ - 1957م. 2- القول المفيد على كتاب التوحيد، دار ابن الجوزي، المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة: الثانية, محرم، 1424ه. 3- الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، دار العاصمة الرياض، الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ - 2001م. 4- الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، مكتبة السوادي، جدة، المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة: الخامسة، 1424هـ - 2003م. 5- التمهيد لشرح كتاب التوحيد، دار التوحيد، تاريخ النشر: 1424هـ. 6- جامع البيان في تأويل القرآن، المؤلف: محمد بن جرير أبو جعفر الطبري، المحقق: أحمد محمد شاكر، الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1420هـ - 2000م.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs us that whoever utters the word of Tawhīd (monotheism), knows its meaning and acts accordingly, and bears witness that Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is the slave and Messenger of Allah, acknowledges the fact that Jesus is a slave of Allah and a messenger from Him, whom Allah created by saying: "Be" and he was, and that he was one of the souls created by Allah, and declares his mother (Mary) innocent of the Jews' accusations, and believes that Paradise is true and Hellfire is true while believing in their existence and in their being bliss and punishment from Allah, and dies in this state, he will be admitted to Paradise even if he has been negligent in performing acts of obedience and has committed sins.

1. Allah Almighty created Jesus, son of Mary, by the word (Be) without a father.
2. Combining the two facts that Jesus and Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon them both) are both slaves of Allah as well as His messengers. So they are Allah's messengers, thus, they must not be rejected; and they are Allah's slaves, thus, they must not be worshipped.
3. The merit of Tawhīd and how it expiates sins, and the fact that the monotheist will be eventually admitted to Paradise, even if he commits some sins.

صحيح البخاري (4/ 165) (3435). صحيح مسلم (1/ 57) (28). الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص25). الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد القرعاوي (ص36).

The Prophet (ﷺ) informs that Allah has pardoned his Ummah in three situations: First: Mistake. It is what a person does unintentionally by mistake. It is when a Muslim does something with a certain intention, but he happens to do something other than what he intended. Second: Forgetfulness. A Muslim remembers something, but he forgets it at the time of doing it. In such a case, he incurs no sin. Third: Coercion. A person may be coerced into doing something, and he is unable to ward off the coercion. In such a case, there is no sin or blame on him. It should be noted that the subject of the Hadīth is related to what is between the servant and his Lord regarding the commission of what is prohibited. As for neglecting an obligation out of forgetfulness, it is not waived. And if a prohibited act results in harm to another person, the right of that person is not waived—for example, if someone kills by mistake, he is liable for the blood money; or if he damages a car by mistake, he is liable for compensation.

1. It demonstrates Allah's vast mercy and kindness toward His servants, as He places no sin on them if they do anything wrong under these three conditions.
2. It indicates the favor Allah Almighty bestowed upon Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Ummah.
3. Removal of sin does not mean removal of the relevant ruling or compensation. For example, if a person forgets to perform ablution and offers prayer thinking that he is in a state of ritual purity, he incurs no sin, but he is required to make ablution and repeat the prayer.
4. For the removal of sin in the case of coercion, certain requirements should be met, such as the case that the coercive person can implement his threat.

الأربعون النووية (ص127) (ح39). سنن ابن ماجه (3/ 200) (2045). السنن الكبرى للبيهقي (7/ 584) (15094). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (ص89). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص382).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) likened Islam to a well-built structure based on five pillars that carry it and the rest of its characteristics complement the structure. First pillar: The two testimonies of faith; testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. These two testimonies constitute one pillar as they are both inseparable. The slave utters the two testimonies of faith acknowledging the oneness of Allah and His exclusive worthiness of worship apart from others, acting upon their requirements, believing in the message of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and following him. Second pillar: Establishing the prayer, which refers to the five obligatory prayers that are to be observed every day and night and they are: Fajr (morning), Zhuhr (noon), ‘Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and ‘Ishā’ (night), along with observing their conditions, pillars, and obligatory acts. Third pillar: Giving the obligatory Zakah, which is an obligatory financial act of worship due on every type of property that has reached the limit prescribed by Shariah and it is to be given to those entitled to it. Fourth pillar: Performing Hajj, which is travelling to Makkah to perform the rituals as a means of worshipping Allah Almighty. Fifth pillar: Fasting Ramadān, which is abstaining from food, drink, and other invalidators from the break of dawn until sunset with the intention of worshipping Allah.

1. The two testimonies of faith are inseparable, i.e., none of them is valid without the other; hence, he considered them one pillar.
2. The two testimonies of faith are the core of the religion; hence, they are essential for the validity of any saying or deed.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 11) (8)، صحيح مسلم (1/ 45) (16)، و(1/ 88) (82)، فتح الباري لابن رجب (1/ 22)، جامع العلوم والحكم (1/147)، شرح الأربعين لابن العطّار (ص 62)، شرح الأربعين النووية لعبد الكريم الخضير (ص 87)، فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين للعباد (ص 29)، شرح الأربعين النووية لصالح آل الشيخ (ص 91 - 95)، التحفة الربانية لإسماعيل الأنصاري (ص 12).

A man asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the two traits: one that makes entering Paradise due, and one that makes entering Hellfire due. In response, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that the trait that makes entering Paradise due is that a person should die while worshiping Allah alone and associating nothing with Him; and the trait that makes entering Hellfire due is that a person should die while associating anything with Allah, by ascribing to Him a partner or equal in His divinity or lordship or His names and attributes.

1. It points out the merit of monotheistic belief and that, whoever dies as a believer, not associating anything with Allah, that person will enter Paradise.
2. It demonstrates the graveness of polytheism and that whoever dies while associating anything with Allah will enter Hellfire.
3. Muslim sinners are subject to Allah's will: if He wills, He may punish them; and if He wills, He may forgive them. Then, they will end up in Paradise.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 94) (93)، إكمال المعلم بفوائد مسلم (1/ 363)، شرح النووي على مسلم (2/96) المفهم للقرطبي (1/290)، تطريز رياض الصالحين (ص 281)، الكوكب الوهاج شرح صحيح مسلم بن الحجاج (3/63).

A group of the Prophet's Companions came and asked him about thoughts that came to their minds, and they found it too grave to utter them due to their ugliness and repulsiveness. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: This which you experienced is the clear faith and certitude that prompts you to stave off what Satan throws into your hearts and to refrain from uttering it because you consider it to be too serious. As such, Satan could not dominate your hearts, unlike others whose hearts have been overcome by Satan, and he faces no pushback and resistance from them.

1. The Hadīth highlights the weakness of Satan towards the believers, as he is unable to do anything except a whisper.
2. We should not believe or accept the bad thoughts coming to our minds, for these are whisperings from Satan.
3. Satan's whisperings do not harm the believer; however, he should seek refuge with Allah from his whisperings and desist from going too far with them.
4. A Muslim should not remain silent about things confusing to him regarding his religion. He should ask about them.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 119) (132)، معالم السنن (4/174)، المفهم للقرطبي (1/344)، شرح النووي على مسلم (2/154)، البحر المحيط الثجاج (3/622).

A man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, one of us may experience such thoughts that confuse him, but talking about them is grave, to the extent that he would prefer to turn into charcoal rather than speak about them. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) proclaimed Allah's greatness twice and praised Allah for reducing Satan's plotting to mere whispering.

1. The Hadīth demonstrates that Satan lies in wait for the believers, whispering to them in an attempt to turn them from belief to disbelief.
2. It highlights the weakness of Satan towards the believers, as he is unable to do anything but whisper.
3. A believer should turn away from the whisperings of Satan and repel them.
4. It is legitimate to proclaim Allah's greatness upon experiencing something pleasant, amazing, or the like.
5. It is legitimate for a Muslim to ask a scholar about all that he finds confusing.

سنن أبي داود (7/ 435) (5112) السنن الكبرى للنسائي (9/ 249) (10435)، شرح سنن أبي داود للعباد (580/ 28)، صحيح مسلم (1/ 119) (132)، شرح سنن أبي داود لابن رسلان (19/370)، ومرقاة الصعود (3/1301).