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See Ezzedin Ibrahim and Denys Johnson-Davis, Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadith (Beirut: Dar al-Quran al-Kareem, 1976), Commentary on Al-Nawawi's Introduction as the religion of Islam is tolerant and accepting of disobedience to Allah or the religion is tolerant of other religions to the point that it accepts their members as brethren in the faith. Al-Bukhari has the following chapter title in his Sahih, J , ਛ\ "Chapter: The religion is easy. And the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him), 'The Haneefiyah (true monotheism with devotion to Allah alone) and easy way is the most beloved religion to Allah.' 1" In discussing the meaning to this hadith, ibn Hajr stated that samha means the simple, easy religion, as opposed to the hardship and difficulties that were placed on the peoples before Islam.2 In a narration by Ahmad, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "I have not been sent with Judaism or Christianity but I have been sent with the true monotheism and easy religion." The one who is most characterized as being Haneef was the Prophet Abrahim (peace be upon him). Hence, this hadith is stating almost exactly the same thing as what Allah said in the Quran, i:::.,.. J ,,,. ;ii Ò ঍ ,., J ,,,. ('" I "' - er: V:.,, ( - ৛ ') ,, ')-- ,, ,, "He has not laid down upon you in religion any hardship, it is the religion of your father Abraham" (Hajj 78). This concept is also to be found in the following verse, p. 18; Muhammad Muhsin Khan, trans., Sahih al-Bukhari (Beirut: Dar al-Arabia, 1985), vol. 1, f· 34. As can be seen in the text, al-Bukhari recorded this hadith in mualaq form (that is, without its complete chain). This is because the hadith does not meet his standards for the Sahih. Al-Bukhari did record it in his work al-Adah al-Mufrad. Ibn Rajab simply records narrations of this hadith while pointing out that their chains are all weak. The hadith, however, is hasan due to its supporting evidence, as is the conclusion of ibn Hajr and al-Albaani. See Abdul Rahmaan ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, Fath al-Baari Sharh sahih al-Bukhaari (Madina: Maktaba al-Ghuraba al­ Athariya, 1996), vol. 1, pp. 148-149; ibn Hajr, Fath, vol. I, p. 130; Muhammad Naasir al-Deen al-Albaani, sahih al-Adah al-Mufrad (al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia: Daar al-Sideeq, 1994), p. 122. 2 Ibn Hajr, Fath, vol. 1, p. 130. For the same interpretation, see al-Haitami, Fath, pp. 26-27; Muhammad al-Khidr al-Shanqeeti, Kauthar al-Maani al-Daraari ft Kash/ Khahaaya sahih al­ Bukhaari (Beirut: Muassasat al-Risaalah, 1995), vol. 2»P· 216. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi ;:i:j ,.,,, / /.., / ,,,.,,, / ,, ,., J. / ,,. ,J sI j!L>-•')lj FGH r-+c Kj ఐ .Tౌ;J I ਓ r਒j ƕ,ਏ .. )tJI / / / / / / e;v\ )ս\ r;;Ylj u_,v;;/;j u_,owj ఎఏ 1ਗ1; JvLiվ&-;lc ਎tS-- ,, / / J ") J / J xJ " J J , I Tl . . } / / J i -:...>ਘ\ ਔਕJI 3.ut..A 3j "Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they find written about in their Torah and the Gospelhe commands them what is good and forbids them from evil; he allows that as lawful all that is pure and prohibits them as unlawful all that is evil. He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the fetters that were upon them. So those who believe in him, honor him, help him and follow the light which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful" (al-Araaf 1 57). However, this concept also must be understood properly. It means that the laws of Islam have already taken into consideration the abilities of mankind and have not laid down any hardship upon mankind. Hence, the five daily prayers and all of the other aspects are not "hardship". Allah has, in the Quran, denied that they can be considered hardship. Hardship is not a goal in Islam. Allah's religion has also taken into consideration special circumstances that one may face and these fall under the law of necessity. Hence, the entire religion is simple and easy to practice. Allah has not burdened any soul beyond what it can bear. Also, in general, the religion is within the means of the people without any undue hardships. Al-Nawawi stated, "May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, the other prophets and messengers, all of their families and the rest of righteous." In this passage, al-Nawawi invokes both blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is what the believers have been ordered to do in the Quran, / 0 ( y,., / (._ y ,.,,, / ( ,,. . ࣣ1 -:. \.(- \ y /\/ ৘ • 1 \ 1". z.h/ " ·I\ 1::0. I . . 1 /-J. }// // """1 { \ ਙ r-+' Y"""° i:. i:f..