that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "Whoever is pleased with Allah as (his) Lord, and Islam as (his) religion, and Muhammad as (his) Prophet, then he has tasted the sweetness of faith."
The Book on Faith - Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2623
The Hadith Text
"Whoever is pleased with Allah as (his) Lord, and Islam as (his) religion, and Muhammad as (his) Prophet, then he has tasted the sweetness of faith."
Commentary on the Three Pillars
This hadith establishes the three fundamental pillars of faith: acceptance of Allah as Lord, Islam as religion, and Muhammad as Prophet. Being "pleased" signifies complete contentment and submission without reservation.
Accepting Allah as Lord means recognizing His exclusive right to worship and acknowledging His perfect attributes and sovereignty over all creation.
Accepting Islam as religion entails submitting to all its teachings, laws, and practices without selectivity or hesitation.
Accepting Muhammad as Prophet requires following his Sunnah completely and recognizing him as the final messenger sent to all humanity.
The Sweetness of Faith
The "sweetness of faith" (halawat al-iman) refers to the spiritual delight and inner peace that comes from complete submission to Allah. This sweetness manifests as love for what Allah loves, contentment with divine decree, and finding comfort in obedience.
This taste is not merely intellectual acceptance but a transformative experience that permeates one's entire being, making worship beloved and trials bearable.
Scholarly Insights
Imam al-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan sahih, indicating its sound authenticity. Scholars note that this hadith complements the famous "pillars of Islam" by emphasizing the internal state of contentment alongside external actions.
The condition of being "pleased" indicates that true faith requires both affirmation in the heart and satisfaction with Allah's lordship, Islamic guidance, and prophetic example.