No prophet had been sent before me by Allah except that he had disciples and companions fr…

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Hadith narrated by Narrated by Muslim

Authenticity grade : Authentic

Hadith text: No prophet had been sent before me by Allah except that…

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ بَعَثَهُ اللهُ فِي أُمَّةٍ قَبْلِي إِلَّا كَانَ لَهُ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ حَوَارِيُّونَ، وَأَصْحَابٌ يَأْخُذُونَ بِسُنَّتِهِ وَيَقْتَدُونَ بِأَمْرِهِ، ثُمَّ إِنَّهَا تَخْلُفُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خُلُوفٌ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ، وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا لَا يُؤْمَرُونَ، فَمَنْ جَاهَدَهُمْ بِيَدِهِ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ، وَمَنْ جَاهَدَهُمْ بِلِسَانِهِ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ، وَمَنْ جَاهَدَهُمْ بِقَلْبِهِ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلَيْسَ وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ حَبَّةُ خَرْدَلٍ».

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No prophet had been sent before me by Allah except that he had disciples and companions from his nation who adhered to his way and followed his command. They were, then, succeeded by successors who would say what they did not do and do what they were not commanded to do. Whoever strives against them with his hand is a believer; whoever strives against them with his tongue is a believer; whoever strives against them with his heart is a believer; and beyond that, there is no mustard seed's weight of faith."

Explanation of the hadith: No prophet had been sent before me by Allah except that…

Lessons: No prophet had been sent before me by Allah except that…

• Encouraging the struggle against those who violate the Shariah with their words and deeds.
• The heart's failure to disapprove of evil indicates the weakness or loss of faith.
• Allah Almighty facilitates for the prophets those who convey their message after them.
• Whoever seeks salvation must follow the prophets' methodology because every way other than theirs leads to destruction and misguidance.
• As the time gap separating people from the time of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and that of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) grows bigger, people become more liable to abandoning the Sunnah, following their whims, and introducing religious innovations.
• Clarifying the levels of Jihad and how it should be carried out with the hand for whoever is capable of change, like the guardians, rulers, and leaders; with the words through demonstrating and advocating the right; and with the heart through disapproving evil, refraining from loving it or being content with it.
• It is obligatory to enjoin good and forbid evil.

Categories : Increase and Decrease of Faith · Categories of Jihad