Document 2
Document 2
Document 2
The Ahadith of the Holy Prophet guide Muslims for individual as well as communal conduct and
matters of the Muslims. Islam declares the entire Muslim community a single body or family
where each and every member is ready to share joys as well as sorrows in the light of this
Hadith:
“The believers are like a single man’ if his eye is affected, he is affected; and if his head is
affected, he is all affected.”
This is the most fundamental and important aspect of the Muslim community and has been the
subject matter of several Ahadith of the Holy Prophet. For example, the Holy Prophet, in
another Hadith, has linked true faith with the care and consideration observed by a true
believer towards his neighbour
“He is not a true believer who eats to his fill but his neighbour sleeps hungry.”
Importance of being kind and polite towards fellow beings has been highlighted in number of
the sayings of the Holy Prophet, and he himself demonstrated it on a number of occasions. In
fact, he was an emblem of mercy, forgiveness and compassion and taught the same to his
followers. He declared in this regard
“Every kind word is a charity and removing a harmful thing from the road is also a charity.”
Similarly, the Messenger of God always wished to create and develop a society where every
member would emerge as a strong support for those in need. Through his teachings,
instructions and actions he emphasized the importance of taking care of the less privileged
people, like the orphan, widows and the poor. He remembered God’s special favour on him all
through his childhood. The favour is mentioned in the Quran as:
‘’Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter and care’? (al-Duha).
He, therefore, always encouraged an attitude of kindness towards such people and hinted
towards the importance of this by saying:
“I and the man who brings up an orphan will be in Paradise like this: and he pointed with his-
two fingers, the index finger and the middle finger.”
The Holy Prophet was mindful of other important aspects of the communal conduct. He was
aware of the human weakness of falling victim to the devices and strategies of Satan whose
mission is to entice humans towards disobedience of Divine commands and to commit sins and
spread evils and indecency. So, he alerted his followers to be ready to take timely and
appropriate action in that regard. He drew the attention of his followers by this Hadith:
“Whosoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand, and if he is not able to
do so, then with his tongue, and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart, and that is the
weakest of faith.”
He also warned about the possibility of an unjust and impious ruler ruling the Muslim
community and, in that case, he elaborated the importance of raising a voice of protest against
such a ruler. He said:
“The most excellent Jehad is uttering the truth in the presence of an unjust ruler”.
Finally, the Holy Prophet trains the Muslims community about a fair treatment of the non-
Muslims living in a Muslim community. In this regard, many instances are quoted in the Hadith
books. For example, the following incident provides sufficient guidance:
“A burial bier passed by us (the companions) and the Holy Prophet PBUH stood up for it, and we
stood up. Then we said: O Messenger of God! It is the bier of a Jew’. He said, ‘when you see a
bier stand up”.
Thus, it can be seen that the Hadith of the Prophet provides complete guidance regarding the
communal conduct of Muslims.