Introduction (cont.)

5 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was asked to state something that would be sufficient for the person, such that he would not have to ask anyone afterwards, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave this reply to him. If a person adheres to this hadith properly, he will be applying his Islam m a proper manner. 1 The wording ൈI s seems to be the correct wording. Indeed, it is the wording that is mentioned in the commentaries to the hadith, such as those by al-Nawawi, al-Ubayy and al-Sanoosi. 2 According to ibn Hajr, Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahmaan ibn Maaiz is maqbool. (lbn Hajr records him under Abdul Rahmaan ibn Maaiz, as that is one report as to his name.) In other words, if there is supporting evidence for his narration, it is accepted; otherwise, it is not. [See ibn Hajr, Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb, p. 597.] It is important to mention this here because he is the narrator who narrated the additional words that shall be noted below. However, he has corroborating evidence for that narration in the narration from Abdullah ibn Sufyaan. 3 Cf., ibn Muhammad, pp. 149-150. 4 In their narratives, they also stated, "Allah is my Lord," instead of, "I have believed in Allah." 5 Al-Haitami, Fath, p. 1 80; al-Qaari, vol. 1, p. 84. Hadith #21 : Say, "I believe in Allah and Remain Steadfast" About the Narrator: Sufyaan ibn Abdullah Sufyaan ibn Abdullah al-Thaqafi was a Companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who came from Taif. He embraced Islam with the delegation from Thaqeef. Umar ibn al-Khattaab put him in charge of collecting the zakah from the people of Taif. Five hadith have been recorded on his authority. This is the only narration from him found in Sahih Muslim. "O Messenger of Allah, tell me a statement about Islam such that I will not have to ask anyone other than you." In this hadith, the person asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) to tell him something concise about Islam. It was to be such a comprehensive statement that the person would not have to ask anyone after he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) this question. In addition, the statement must be so clear that the person would not be in need of getting any further explanation after getting the response from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). 1 In other words, both its comprehensiveness and its clarity should be such that the person would not be in need of asking anyone other than or after the Prophet (peace be upon him).2 Obviously, he was not asking about all of the rules and principles of Islam. Such cannot be condensed into one statement. However, he was asking him for a general principle that could guide him in his Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told him a statement that was so comprehensive that it summarized his mission of twenty-three years. 3 He answered, "Say, 'I believe in Allah' . . . " In his comprehensive response, the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him to, "Say . . . " Here, the point is not simply a statement upon the tongue. It can be proven through other evidences4 that a mere statement with the tongue without belief in the heart does not avail a person in any way. Hence, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was telling the person, "Say, with true conviction and belief in your heart . . . " The Prophet (peace be upon him) told him to say, "I believe in Allah." In other reports, the wording is, "My Lord is Allah." In other words, the first principle or foundation is to have correct belief in Allah, known as tauheed. This implies the correct and true belief in Allah. The expression "belief in Allah" is one of those expressions that the shareeah has given its own unique 1 Al-Sindi, Sharh al-Arbaeen, p. 74. 2 Al-Ubayy, vol. 1, p. 1 34. 3 Al-Ubayy, vol. 1 , p. 134. 4 This other evidence was discussed under the conditions of the testimony of faith, in the commentary to Hadith Number 3. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi and particular meaning to. 1 The meaning of it is not the same as when, for example, the polytheistic Arabs at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say, "We believe in Allah." Nor is its meaning the same as what many people today mean when they say, "We believe in God." "and then stand firm and steadfast to that." After having the correct belief in Allah, one must remain steadfast in that belief. This means, as stated by al-Qaadhi Iyaadh, that one must not swerve from that proper belief in any form whatsoever. One must adhere to that belief by fulfilling what it obligates and remaining away from what it forbids. One must continue in this path until death comes.