Dars-e-Hadith by Mufti Zahid Hussain | Dars 4 | Ramadan 1445

This lecture provides definitions of iman (faith) and islam (submission) as taught by the Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, through his responses to the questions of the Companions. It emphasizes that iman is characterized by internal states of the heart—specifically the joy felt upon performing good deeds and the distress caused by sin—and the practice of patience and generosity. The Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, instructs believers to seek the safer path when faced with doubt and to consult their hearts when scholarly opinions on a matter are unclear and divided.

The teaching also highlights the social and ethical dimensions of the religion, identifying the core of Islam as the combination of kind speech and feeding others. It asserts that the physical act of providing food to people is a virtuous deed that should be maintained alongside other forms of religious service, such as the distribution of literature. Furthermore, the lecture defines the most excellent form of Islam as the state in which other Muslims are kept safe from one’s own tongue and hands, encompassing a prohibition against physical harm, backbiting, and the spreading of discord.

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Key topics & takeaways

Definitions of Iman

• The sign of iman — the Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, taught that a believer is one who feels joy when performing a good deed and distress when committing a sin ▸0:05
• The nature of sin — sin is defined as that which causes distress or unease in the heart, and the believer is instructed to abandon such things ▸0:05
• Following the safer option — when faced with doubt, the believer is encouraged to leave that which causes uncertainty ▸0:05
• Consulting the heart — in matters where the Qur'an and hadith are not explicit and scholarly opinions vary, one may follow the guidance of the heart, as Allah has endowed it with the ability to distinguish right from wrong ▸1:45
• Patience and forgiveness — the Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, described iman as as-sabru was-samaha, meaning patience and the willingness to excuse or forgive others ▸8:55
• Generosity as faith — samaha also encompasses generosity, reflecting tawakkul (reliance) upon Allah, as the believer gives to others knowing that Allah will provide for them again ▸10:27

The Practice of Islam

• The essence of Islam — when asked what Islam is, the Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, identified it as tibbul-kalam (good speech) and it'amut-ta'am (feeding food) ▸3:06
• The importance of speech — believers are instructed to ensure their language is soft, kind, and comforting to others rather than deterring ▸4:44
• Feeding the people — providing food is a fundamental act of the religion that should be practiced regularly ▸4:44
• Balancing deeds — the lecture maintains that feeding people and publishing religious literature are both necessary tasks and one should not be abandoned for the other ▸6:14
• The status of feeding — referencing a statement attributed to Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani, رَحِمَهُ اللهُ, the lecture notes that no deed is considered better than feeding the hungry ▸6:14
• Social impact of kindness — feeding others can serve as a means to soften hearts and create an environment where the message of Islam can be heard ▸7:32

Rights of Muslims

• The best form of Islam — the most superior practice of Islam is that other Muslims remain safe from one's tongue and hands ▸10:27
• Safety of the hand — this includes avoiding all forms of physical harm, such as pushing, striking, or using gestures to threaten or abuse others ▸10:27
• Safety of the tongue — this involves refraining from backbiting, namima (tale-bearing), and verbal abuse ▸11:56
• Avoiding discord — the believer must avoid using their tongue to cause rifts or disputes between people ▸11:56
• Digital conduct — the prohibition against using one's hands to harm others extends to modern actions, such as writing or typing harmful content ▸10:27
• Accountability — because the heart is given the ability to distinguish right from wrong, every individual is held accountable for their choices ▸1:45