The Book of Faith

كتاب الإيمان

Chapter 21: Encouragement to honor one's neighbor and guest, and the obligation to remain silent unless one has something good to say, and the fact that all of that is part of faith

It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should either utter good words or better keep silence; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbour with kindness and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest.

It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day does not harm is neighbour, and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day shows hospitality to his guest and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day speaks good or remains silent.

Another hadith similar to one narrated (above) by Abu Husain is also reported by Abu Huraira with the exception of these words

He (the Prophet) said: He should do good to the neighbour.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Shuraih al-Khuzai' that the Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should do good to his neighbour and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to the guest and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should either speak good or better remain silent.

Chapter 22: Clarifying that forbidding evil is part of faith, faith increases and decreases; Enjoying what is good and forbidding what is evil are obligatory

It is narrated on the authority of Tariq b. Shihab

It was Marwan who initiated (the practice) of delivering khutbah (address) before the prayer on the 'Id day. A man stood up and said: Prayer should precede khutbah. He (Marwan) remarked, This (practice) has been done away with. Upon this Abu Sa'id remarked: This man has performed (his duty) laid on him. I heard the Messenger of Allah as saying: He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.

The same hadith of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) has been reported by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri in connection with the story of Marwan.

It is narrated on the authority 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed

Never a Prophet had been sent before me by Allah towards his nation who had not among his people (his) disciples and companions who followed his ways and obeyed his command. Then there came after them their successors who said whatever they did not practise, and practised whatever they were not commanded to do. He who strove against them with his hand was a believer: he who strove against them with his tongue was a believer, and he who strove against them with his heart was a believer and beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed. Abu Rafi' said: I narrated this hadith to 'Abdullah b. 'Umar; he contradicted me. There happened to come 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud who stayed at Qanat, and 'Abdullah b 'Umar wanted me to accompany him for visiting him (as 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud was ailing), so I went along with him and as we sat (before him) I asked Ibn Mas'ud about this hadith. He narrated it in the same way as I narrated it to Ibn 'Umar.

The same hadith has been transmitted by another chain of narrators on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud who observed

Never was there one among the prophets who had had not disciples who followed his direction and followed his ways. The remaining part of the hadith is like that as narrated by Salih but the arrival of Ibn Mas'ud and the meeting of Ibn 'Umar with him is not mentioned.

Chapter 23: People excel over one another in faith, and the superiority of the people of Yemen in faith

It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) pointed towards Yemen with his hand and said

Verily Iman is towards this side, and harshness and callousness of the hearts is found amongst the rude owners of the camels who drive them behind their tails (to the direction) where emerge the two horns of Satan, they are the tribes of Rabi'a and Mudar.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah observed

There have come the people of Yemen; they are tender of hearts, the belief is that of the Yemenites, the understanding (of the faith) is that of the Yemenites and sagacity is that of the Yemenites.

Abu Huraira reported the same hadith which is transmitted to us by another chain of transmitters, e. g. Muhammad b. al-Muthanna, Ishaq b. Yusuf Azraq, Ibn 'Aun, etc.

Abu Huraira reported

The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed: There came to you the people from Yemen; they are tender of hearts and mild of feelings, the understanding is Yemenite, the sagacity is Yemenite.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) remarked

The summit of unbelief is towards the East and the pride and conceitedness is found among the owners of horses and camels who are rude and uncivil, people of the tents, and tranquillity is found among those who rear goats and sheep.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed

The belief is among the Yemenites, and the unbelief is towards the East, and tranquillity is among those who rear goats and sheep, and pride and simulation is among the uncivil and rude owners of horses and camels.

It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira

I heard the Messenger of Allah saying this: Pride and conceitedness is found among the uncivil owners of the camels and tranquillity is found among the owners of sheep and goats.

The same hadith has been narrated by Zuhri with the same chain of authorities with the addition

The belief is among the Yemenites, the sagacity is that of the Yemenites.

Abu Huraira said

I heard the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) saying: There came the people of Yemen, they are tender of feelings and meek of hearts. The belief is that of the Yemenites, the sagacity is that of the Yemenites, the tranquillity is among the owners of goats and sheep, and pride and conceitedness is among the uncivil owners of the camels, the people of the tents in the direction of sunrise.

It is reporter on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) observed

There came the people of Yemen who are soft of hearts, tender in feelings: the belief is that of the Yemenites, the sagacity is that of the Yemenites and the summit of unbelief is towards the East.

Qutaiba b. Sa'id and Zubair b. Harb say

Jarir narrated this on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of narrators (as mentioned above).

Shu'ba narrated the hadith as reported by Jarir with the same chain of narrators with this addition

Pride and conceitedness is among the owners of the camels and tranquillity and sobriety is found amongst the owners of sheep.