Dars-e-Hadith by Mufti Zahid Hussain | Dars 7 | Ramadan 1445

The work presents a series of questions posed by Sayyiduna Amr ibn Abasa to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alaihi wasallam, regarding the most virtuous forms of various Islamic practices and states of being. It defines the foundational elements of faith and conduct, emphasizing the importance of character, speech, and the struggle against one's desires. The teaching centers on the idea that the most superior acts are those that align with the pleasure of Allah and demonstrate concern for others.

The text details specific hierarchies of virtue, identifying the best forms of Islam, Iman, salah, hijra, jihad, and time. It highlights the dangers of the tongue and the necessity of maintaining good character even when correcting others. The work concludes by identifying the final portion of the night as the most superior time for worship and supplication, linking this to the believer's personal Mi'raj.

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Key topics & takeaways

Definitions of faith and practice

• Definition of Islam — the work defines Islam as good speech and feeding others ▸0:00.
• Definition of Iman — the work defines Iman as patience and generosity, noting that generosity can also mean forgiveness and excusing others ▸0:00.
• Virtuous Islam — the most virtuous form of Islam is that from which other Muslims are safe from one's tongue and hand ▸0:00.
• Virtuous Iman — the most virtuous form of Iman is khuluqun hasanun, or good characteristics and habits ▸1:44.
• Faculties of Iman — Iman has many faculties, the highest being the declaration of the Shahada, and the lowest being the removal of a hazard from a pathway ▸1:44.
• Scope of removing hazards — removing a hazard from a path is a faculty of Iman regardless of whether the hazard affects Muslims, non-Muslims, men, women, or animals ▸3:21.

Conduct and character

• Danger of the tongue — the tongue is identified as a primary cause for entering Jahannam, and all body limbs seek refuge from its actions each morning ▸1:44.
• Correcting others — when correcting someone, one should first assume the best of them, such as assuming they have a valid reason for their action, and the person being corrected should similarly assume the best of the one offering advice ▸6:30.
• Avoiding ego — correcting others should be done without affecting the ego, as ego leads to the misuse of the tongue ▸6:30.

Superiority of acts

• Superiority of Salah — the most superior salah is the one in which the qunut is lengthened ▸3:21.
• Definition of Qunut — the work notes different interpretations of qunut, with the Hanafi school identifying it as the qiyam (standing) portion of prayer ▸3:21.
• Superiority of Hijra — the most virtuous form of migration is to abandon that which one's Lord dislikes, a definition that encompasses both physical migration and the abandonment of disliked habits, such as drinking water while standing ▸5:11.
• Superiority of Jihad — the most superior form of struggle is defined as when one's horse is killed and one's blood is shed, representing the ultimate sacrifice in the path of struggle ▸7:54.
• Superiority of time — the most superior time in the day and night is the final part of the night, which is the time for Tahajjud ▸7:54.
• Acceptance of prayer — the final part of the night is the time when Allah is most responsive to the supplications of His servants ▸9:36.
• Tahajjud as Mi'raj — the sijda performed during the final part of the night is described as the Mi'raj of the believer, a time of closeness to Allah ▸11:00.