What is the status, translation and explanation of the following Hadith Sharif:
ثلاث لا يغل عليهن قلب مسلم: إخلاص العمل لله، والنصح لأئمة المسلمين، ولزوم جماعتهم
Answer
These particular words appear at the end of a well-known Hadith. The entire Hadith is as follows:
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said; “Allah Ta’ala looks kindly upon that person who hears something that I have said, memorises it, and then conveys it to someone else. There is many a bearer of knowledge who passes that knowledge on to someone who understands it better than him, and there is many a bearer of knowledge who possesses no understanding. Enmity/animosity will never enter a believer’s heart as long as that heart contains three things; sincerity of action, well-wishing for the Muslim Leaders and sticking to [the way of] the majority Muslims…
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3056)
Explanation
1. Maintaining these three qualities in one’s heart guarantees that one’s actions will always be in the best interest of the ummah and that these actions will be done solely for the pleasure of Allah, by virtue of the heart being free from animosity.
2. It could also be understood as an exhortation for every Muslim to ensure that he/she acquires these qualities.
(Injahul Hajah with Sunan Ibn Majah pg.219. Also see An-Nihayah, vol.2 pg. 317 and Mirqat, Hadith: 228)
This manifests in the complete absence of enmity and animosity. If all goes well, the Believer is pleased and expectant of reward. If there is a problem, or things do not go according to plan, these three qualities in their essence will discourage the Believer from incessant complaint and the harbouring of ill-feelings. It will actually encourage actions that will rectify the situation peacefully and graciously.
Reference and authentication
This Hadith is reported by several Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum). Among them are:
1. Sayyiduna Jubayr ibn Mut’im (radiyallahu’anhu) in: Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3056, Sunan Darimi, Hadith: 233, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4 pg. 80, Al-Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 1541-1544 and Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg. 87.
2. Sayyiduna Zayd ibn Thabit (radiyallahu’anhu) in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 230 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al-Ihsan, Hadith: 680.
3. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu’anhu) in Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2658
This Hadith is authentic (sahih) and is reported with various chains.
(Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 1 pg. 139 and Misbahuz Zujajah, Hadith: 86, 87 and 1060)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar