The Commandments of Islam (3/4)

14) It commands love and unity, and it forbids disassociation and all things which lead to hate and enmity, such as bearing grudges, hatred, and envy. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

 “Do not hate each other, do not envy each other, and do not turn your backs on each other (i.e. boycott) but rather be true slaves of Allah as brothers. It is impermissible for a Muslim to boycott his brother more than three days.” (Reported by Bukhari #5718 & Muslim #2558)    

15) It commands generosity and forbids greed and miserliness. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

“And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty.” (Surah Al-Isra', 17:29)

16) It commands one to be frugal in all matters and forbids wastefulness and the squandering of money uselessly. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

“And give to the near of kin his due and (to) the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully. Surely the squanderers are the brothers of the Shaitans and the Shaitan is ever ungrateful to his Lord.” (Surah Al-Isra', 17:26-27)

17) It commands moderateness and forbids fanaticism and extremism in religion. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

“Allah intends for you ease and He does not want to make things difficult for you.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Be aware and stay away from extremism in religion, for indeed the only thing which destroyed those before you was extremism in Religion.” (Reported by Nasa'ie #3039 & ibn Maajah #3057)

18) It commands humility and forbids pride and arrogance. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:   

“And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying) of the ass.” (Surah Luqman, 31:19)

About pride, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“He who has even a mustard seed’s worth of pride in his heart will not enter Jannah.” A person asked, “O Messenger of Allah, people like to wear nice clothes and sandals.” He said, “Indeed Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance is to reject the truth and belittle others.” (Reported by Muslim #91)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said about self-conceit:

 “Whoever drags his clothes on the ground out of self- conceit, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.” (Reported by Bukhari #3465 & Muslim #2085)

19) It commands people to console others and not feel happy about others’ grief. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:  

“Do not feel happy about your brother’s grief, it might be that Allah will show mercy to him and put you through a trial.” (Reported by Tirmidhi #2508)

20) It forbids Muslims from interfering in affairs which do not concern them. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Indeed from the good traits of a true Muslim is that he leaves that which does not concern him.” (Reported by Tirmidhi #2317 & ibn Maajah #3976)

21) It commands respecting people and forbids debasing them and holding them in contempt. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: 

“O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former. And do not defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames.” (Surah Al-Hujuraat, (49:11)

22) It commands one to jealously protect and guard one’s Maharim[1] and it forbids cuckoldry (i.e. the person is not protective of his relatives and turns a blind eye to their promiscuity).  The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Three will not enter Jannah: one who maltreats his parents, a cuckold (Day’youth) and women who act like men.” (Reported by Nasa'ie #2562)

23) It prohibits resembling members of the opposite sex. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) cursed those men who imitate women and those women who imitate men.” (Reported by Bukhari #5546)

24) It commands that people exert efforts in doing good to others, and it forbids that they remind them of their favors upon them. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

“O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:264)

25) It commands thinking good about others, and it forbids suspicion and backbiting. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-Hujuraat, 49:12)

26) It commands that one guards his tongue from all evil talk, and that he use it for good and beneficial things which would benefit himself and his society; such as remembering Allah, and reconciliation between people. Likewise, it forbids the individual to use it in evil. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“May your mother lose you O Mu‘adh! Are people thrown into the Hellfire on their faces or nostrils except for what their tongues reaped?” (Reported by Tirmidhi #2616 & ibn Maajah #373)

(Continued)