Qualities of a Muslim

Total Hadiths 18

What Beautiful Qualities of a Muslim Do These Hadiths Teach Us?

In these beautiful sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), we find a powerful description of what it truly means to be a believer when facing the ups and downs of life. According to Islamic scholars, these texts use simple everyday examples from nature to teach us about resilience and faith. The Prophet (ﷺ) compares a true believer to a standing crop in a field. Just like the wind blows and shakes the crop, bending it from side to side, a Muslim is continuously tested with various trials and misfortunes. However, instead of breaking, the believer flexibly weathers the storm and always returns to a strong, upright position, firmly anchored by faith. In stark contrast, a hypocrite or non-believer is compared to a rigid cypress tree. It stands stiffly and looks completely unmoved by minor winds, but it lacks true spiritual flexibility. When a violent stroke or heavy trial finally comes, it is completely uprooted all at once.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي، حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ مَكَانَ قَوْلِهِ تُمِيلُهُ ‏ "‏ تُفِيئُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters, but with a slight variation of wording.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2809bIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 47USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6743

وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَمَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَيْرَ أَنَّ مَحْمُودًا قَالَ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ عَنْ بِشْرٍ ‏"‏ وَمَثَلُ الْكَافِرِ كَمَثَلِ الأَرْزَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَأَمَّا ابْنُ حَاتِمٍ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ كَمَا قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ ‏.‏

This hadith has been narrated through a couple of other chains of transmitters, one which says "the similitude of the disbeliever" instead and another which agrees with the wording of the previous hadith.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2810cIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 50USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6745

وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا سَيْفٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُجَاهِدًا، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ، عُمَرَ يَقُولُ أُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِجُمَّارٍ ‏.‏ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِهِمْ ‏.‏

Mujahid reported: I heard Ibn 'Umar as saying: There was brought to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) the kernel. The rest of the hadith is tile same.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2811dIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 55USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6750

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ الزَّرْعِ لاَ تَزَالُ الرِّيحُ تُمِيلُهُ وَلاَ يَزَالُ الْمُؤْمِنُ يُصِيبُهُ الْبَلاَءُ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ شَجَرَةِ الأَرْزِ لاَ تَهْتَزُّ حَتَّى تَسْتَحْصِدَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah Narrated from:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The Similitude of a believer is that of (a standing) crop which the air continues to toss from one side to another; in the same way a believer always (receives the strokes) of misfortune. The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a cypress tree which does not move until it is uprooted.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2809aIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6742

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ - عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مِنْ أَشَدِّ أُمَّتِي لِي حُبًّا نَاسٌ يَكُونُونَ بَعْدِي يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ رَآنِي بِأَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah Narrated from:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The people most loved by me from amongst my Ummah would be those who would come after me but everyone amongst them would have the keenest desire to catch a glimpse of me even at the cost of his family and wealth.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2832In-book reference : Book 53, Hadith 14USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 40, Hadith 6791

حَدَّثَنِي سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي حَفْصُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ رُبَّ أَشْعَثَ مَدْفُوعٍ بِالأَبْوَابِ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ لأَبَرَّهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah Narrated from:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Many a people with dishevelled hair are driven away from the door (but they are so pious) that if they are to swear in the name of Allah, He would definitely fulfil that.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2854In-book reference : Book 53, Hadith 59USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 40, Hadith 6836

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْغُبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَلِيلِ، الضُّبَعِيِّ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمًا لأَصْحَابِهِ ‏"‏ أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ شَجَرَةٍ مَثَلُهَا مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَجَعَلَ الْقَوْمُ يَذْكُرُونَ شَجَرًا مِنْ شَجَرِ الْبَوَادِي ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ وَأُلْقِيَ فِي نَفْسِي أَوْ رُوعِيَ أَنَّهَا النَّخْلَةُ فَجَعَلْتُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقُولَهَا فَإِذَا أَسْنَانُ الْقَوْمِ فَأَهَابُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ فَلَمَّا سَكَتُوا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ هِيَ النَّخْلَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) one day said to his Companions: Tell me about a tree which has resemblance with a believer. The people began to mention (different) trees of the forest. Ibn 'Umar said: It was instilled in my mind or in my heart and it stuck therein that it implied the date- palm tree. I made up my mind to make a mention of that but could not do that because of the presence of the elderly people there. When there was a hush amongst them (after they had expressed their views), Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: It Is the date-palm tree.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2811bIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 53USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6748

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ أَخْبِرُونِي بِشَجَرَةٍ شِبْهِ أَوْ كَالرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ لاَ يَتَحَاتُّ وَرَقُهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لَعَلَّ مُسْلِمًا قَالَ وَتُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا ‏.‏ وَكَذَا وَجَدْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِي أَيْضًا وَلاَ تُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ فَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَّهَا النَّخْلَةُ وَرَأَيْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ لاَ يَتَكَلَّمَانِ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ أَوْ أَقُولَ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ لأَنْ تَكُونَ قُلْتَهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ كَذَا وَكَذَا ‏.‏

Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:

We were in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that he said: Tell me of a tree which has resemblance to a Muslim and the leaves of which do not wither. Ibrahim said that perhaps Imam Muslim had stated like this: It constantly bears fruit but I have, however, seen [It does not bear fruit constantly]. Ibn Umar said: It crossed my mind that it could be the date-palm tree, but as I saw Aba Bakr and Umar observe silence, I did not deem it fit that I should speak or I should say something. 'Umar said: Had you said so, it would have been dearer to me than such and such thing.

[1] Ibrâhîm bin Muḥammad bin Sufyân, who reported the text from Imâm Muslim.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2811eIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 56USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6751

حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، وَهَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو صَخْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ قُسَيْطٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا صَلَّى قَامَ حَتَّى تَفَطَّرَ رِجْلاَهُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَصْنَعُ هَذَا وَقَدْ غُفِرَ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا عَائِشَةُ أَفَلاَ أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

A'isha Narrated from:

When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) occupied himself in prayer, he observed such a (long) qiyam (posture of standing in prayer) that his feet were swollen. A'isha said: Allah's Messenger you do this (in spite of the fact) that your earlier and later sins have been pardoned for you? Thereupon, he said. A'isha should I not prove myself to be a thanksgiving servant (of Allah)?

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2820In-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 79USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6774

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - يَعْنُونَ ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ - أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ، اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ شَجَرَةً لاَ يَسْقُطُ وَرَقُهَا وَإِنَّهَا مَثَلُ الْمُسْلِمِ فَحَدِّثُونِي مَا هِيَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَوَقَعَ النَّاسُ فِي شَجَرِ الْبَوَادِي ‏.‏ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَّهَا النَّخْلَةُ فَاسْتَحْيَيْتُ ثُمَّ قَالُوا حَدِّثْنَا مَا هِيَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ هِيَ النَّخْلَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعُمَرَ قَالَ لأَنْ تَكُونَ قُلْتَ هِيَ النَّخْلَةُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ كَذَا وَكَذَا ‏.‏

`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: There is a tree amongst trees, the leaves of which do not wither and that is like a Muslim; tell me which that (tree) can be? The people began to think of the trees of the forest. Abdullah said: I thought that it could be the date-palm tree, but I felt hesitant (to say that). They (the Companions) then said: Allah's Messenger, (kindly) tell us which that can be? Thereupon he said: It is the date-palm tree. I made a mention of that to 'Umar, whereupon he said: Had you said that it meant the date-palm tree, this statement of yours (would have been dearer to me) than such and such things.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 2811aIn-book reference : Book 52, Hadith 52USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 39, Hadith 6747

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