While I was a companion rider with the Prophet (ﷺ) he said, "O Mu`adh!" I replied, "Labbaik wa Sa`daik." He repeated this call three times and then said, "Do you know what Allah's Right on His slaves is?" I replied, "No." He said, Allah's Right on His slaves is that they should worship Him (Alone) and should not join partners in worship with Him." He said, "O Mu`adh!" I replied, "Labbaik wa Sa`daik." He said, "Do you know what the right of (Allah's) salves on Allah is, if they do that (worship Him Alone and join none in His worship)? It is that He will not punish them."(another chain through Mu'adh)
Asking Permission - Sahih al-Bukhari 6267
This narration from Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) contains profound wisdom regarding the fundamental rights between the Creator and His creation. The Prophet's repetition of Mu'adh's name indicates the importance of what was to follow.
Allah's Right Upon His Slaves
The first right established is Allah's right upon His servants: to worship Him alone without associating partners with Him. This is the essence of Tawhid (monotheism) and the foundation of Islamic creed. Worship here encompasses all acts of obedience - both inward and outward - performed sincerely for Allah's sake.
The Servants' Right Upon Allah
The magnificent promise follows: if servants fulfill Allah's right by maintaining pure monotheism, Allah's right upon Himself is that He will not punish them. This demonstrates Allah's immense mercy and justice. The fulfillment of this promise is conditional upon avoiding shirk (associating partners with Allah), which is the only unforgivable sin if not repented from before death.
Scholarly Commentary
Scholars explain that this hadith establishes the mutual rights between Allah and His creation. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali notes that the Prophet's teaching method - asking questions to engage the listener - demonstrates effective pedagogy. The response "Labbaik wa Sa'daik" shows Mu'adh's readiness and reverence. This narration serves as a concise summary of the entire Islamic message: pure monotheism guarantees salvation from eternal punishment.