The Excellence of Tawhid and Fundamental Acts of Worship

This noble hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), transmitted by Imam Ahmad and recorded in Mishkat al-Masabih 47, establishes three foundational pillars that guarantee divine forgiveness and entry into Paradise. The Messenger of God addresses Mu'adh ibn Jabal, one of the foremost scholars among the Companions, indicating the importance of this teaching.

The Three Conditions for Forgiveness

First condition: "He who meets his Lord having associated nothing with Him" - This establishes the absolute primacy of Tawhid (Divine Unity). The scholar Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali explains that this condition negates all forms of shirk (polytheism), both major and minor, ensuring the worshipper's deeds are accepted by God.

Second condition: "Observed the five times of prayer" - The five daily prayers constitute the pillar of Islam after the testimony of faith. Imam al-Nawawi comments that this includes performing them with their proper conditions, pillars, and obligations at their prescribed times with congregation where required.

Third condition: "Fasted during Ramadan" - This refers to the complete observance of the Ramadan fast with sincerity, abstaining from all that breaks the fast while maintaining proper conduct. Scholars note this includes both the physical fast and the spiritual fast of restraining one's limbs from sin.

The Wisdom in Withholding the Good News

When Mu'adh requested permission to give people this glad tiding, the Prophet instructed him to "let them go on doing works." Classical commentators like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain this profound wisdom: had people been given this assurance, they might have become complacent, neglecting other obligatory and recommended acts of worship. This teaching encourages continuous striving in righteousness rather than minimal compliance.

Scholarly Perspectives on the Hadith

The great hadith master al-Mundhiri notes that this hadith demonstrates how these three acts - maintaining pure monotheism, establishing prayer, and fasting Ramadan - serve as the foundation upon which other good deeds are built. The Hanbali jurist Ibn Qudamah emphasizes that these conditions presume the individual's avoidance of major sins, as major sins can nullify the reward of these fundamental acts.

This teaching does not negate the obligation of other Islamic duties like zakah and hajj for those capable, but rather highlights these three as the primary means to divine forgiveness when performed with sincerity and correctness.