1/15. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 43a — Three Qualities of Sweet Faith
Clarification of those characteristics which, if a person attains them, he will find the sweetness of faith
Sweetness of Faith Hadith: Three Qualities of Iman
Sahih Muslim : 43a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 43a
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي عُمَرَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ الثَّقَفِيِّ، - قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، - عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " ثَلاَثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ وَجَدَ بِهِنَّ حَلاَوَةَ الإِيمَانِ مَنْ كَانَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا سِوَاهُمَا وَأَنْ يُحِبَّ الْمَرْءَ لاَ يُحِبُّهُ إِلاَّ لِلَّهِ وَأَنْ يَكْرَهَ أَنْ يَعُودَ فِي الْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَنْقَذَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ كَمَا يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُقْذَفَ فِي النَّارِ " .
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: There are three qualities for which anyone who is characterised by them will relish the sweetness of faith: he to whom Allah and His Messenger are dearer than all else; he who loves a man for Allah's sake alone; and he who has as great an abhorrence of returning to unbelief after Allah has rescued him from it as he has of being cast into Hell.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 43aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 72USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 67
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 43a
This Hadith is often searched as sweetness of faith hadith or three qualities of faith. The Prophet described three qualities by which a person will relish the sweetness of faith. First, Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than all else. Second, he loves another person only for Allah’s sake. Third, after Allah has rescued him from unbelief, he hates returning to it as much as he hates being cast into Hell. The Hadith focuses on love, loyalty, and deep dislike of returning to disbelief. It shows that faith is not only words on the tongue. Faith has a taste in the heart when love and dislike are shaped by Allah and His Messenger.
What we learn from this hadith
- Faith is connected to loving Allah and His Messenger above all else.
- Loving someone for Allah’s sake is a quality linked to sweet faith.
- A believer should strongly dislike returning to unbelief after being rescued from it.
