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Whose Islam is good?
It is narrated by A’bdullah bin A’mr (Radiallahu a’nhu), A man asked the Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) Whose Islam is good? (What qualities of Islam are good?). The Prophet replied, “ To Feed Food and greet with salam (to muslims) whom you know and whom you do not know.”
[Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, The Book Of Belief, Chapter 6, Hadith 12]
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَيْرِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الإِسْلاَمِ خَيْرٌ قَالَ ” تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ، وَتَقْرَأُ السَّلاَمَ عَلَى مَنْ عَرَفْتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ
What qualities of Islam are good? – Commentary
Feed Food: “ تُطْعِمُ” needs two objects. The hidden object is meant for ‘common’.
Means feed everyone, whether the person is rich or poor, whether you know him or know him not, whether he is a human or an animal.
Greet with salam: It is usually a habit that a person says “Assalamu a’laikum” to only those whom he knows. He does not greet stranger men. It was alerted on this to greet every muslim with salam whether you know him or do not know him. Whereas, it is not required to greet non-muslims and rejectors of Islamic faith with salam nor it is necessary to send reply of salam.
Which Quality is obligatory and which is not?
In this hadith, To feed (others) and greet everyone with salam is considered a good characteristic. So, whoever fulfills obligatory, necessary deeds, stays away from forbidden deeds, and adopts this attribute, then for him this is the best attribute. It does not mean that someone who does not obey obligatory and necessary commands neither stays away from forbidden deeds for him it is the only best quality.
It is narrated by Hazrat A’mr bin A’bsa (May ALLAH be pleased with) that he asked the Messenger (peace be upon him) What is Islam? The Prophet replied, “To speak softly and feed”. He asked which is the best quality of Islam? The Messenger replied, “From whose tongue and hands other muslims remain secured.”
It is good to act on the first command of this hadith, but not obligatory. It is meant for good conduct towards others. Whereas, it is necessary to avoid harming other muslims with tongue and hands unlawfully. If it is in return of someone’s harm than, it is better to forgive. It is said in The Holy Quran:
And those who control their anger and are forgiving towards mankind; and the righteous are the beloved of Allah. (Aal e Imran, verse 134)
Difference between Hadith 11 and 12
In the previous hadith, it was said that, the best quality of Islam is to secure other muslims from harming with one’s tongue and hands. And in this hadith, it is said that feeding others and greeting (muslims) with salam is good. There is no ambiguity between both of the hadiths. The answers are as follows:
- There is a difference between the word “Afzal” and “Khair”. “Afzal” is for abundant rewards and it is in opposition to scarcity. And the meaning of “khair” is benefit / goodness and it is in opposition to evil. “Afzal” belongs to the family of value and “khair” belongs to feeling.
- Based on the questioners and listeners whichever was necessary was mentioned. For example, if someone was dominated by anger, and was harming other muslims with his hands, when he asked, which quality of Islam is best? Then the Prophet (peace be upon) replied, To secure other muslims from harming with your tongue and hands. And to the one who does not used to feed others, nor send greetings to muslims, when he asked, which is the good quality of Islam? Then the Prophet said, To feed others and greet everyone (muslims) with salam.
Khana khilana aur salam karna Khissaal e Islam mein se hai
Imam Bukhari riwayat karte hain keh A’mr bin Khalid ne kaha, hamein Laith ne hadith bayan ki az Yazeed az Abi khair az A’bdullah bin A’mr radiallahu a’nhu woh bayan karte hain keh ek shaks ne Nabi (ﷺ) se suwal kiya keh Islam ki kaunsi khaslat achi hai? Aap ne farmaya, “Tum khana khilao aur har ek (musalman) ko salam karo jinko tum pehchante ho aur jinko tum nahi pehchante.”
[Sahih Bukhari, Jild 1, Kitab 2, Kitab Al Iman, Baab 6, Hadith 12]
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَيْرِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الإِسْلاَمِ خَيْرٌ قَالَ ” تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ، وَتَقْرَأُ السَّلاَمَ عَلَى مَنْ عَرَفْتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ
Tashreeh
Khana Khilao:
“تُطْعِمُ” do mafo’ol chahta hai. Maf’ool e awwal ka hazaf umoom ke liye hai, yani sab makhlooq ko khana khilao khwa woh maaldar ho, khwa ghareeb ho, khwa pehchante ho, khwa na pehchante hon, insaan ho haiwaan ho sabko.
Salam Karo:
Aadat yeh hai keh insan umuman unhi ko salam karta hai jinhe pehchanta hai. Log ajnabi ko salam nahi karte. Ispar tanbeeh farmayi keh har musalman ko salam karo khwa isay pehchate ho khwa na pehchante ho. Albatta gair muslim ko aur jin gumraahon ki gumrahi hadd e kufr tak pohunchi ho unko salam karne ki hajat nahi na unke salam ka jawab pohunchana wajib.
Kaunsi khaslat wajib aur kaunsi mustahab?
Is hadith mein khana khilane aur har kisi ko salam karne ko Islam ki khair aur achi khaslat farmaya hai, so jo shaks Islam ke faraiz aur wajibaat ko ada karne aur haram aur makrooh e tehreemi se ijtinaab ke baad is khaslat ko apnayega toh uske liye yeh bohat umda khaslat hai, yeh matlab nahi hai keh koi shaks Islam ke arkaan aur faraiz par amal na kare aur sirf isi khaslat par amal kare toh yeh sabse achi khaslat hai.
Hazrat A’mr bin A’bsa (radiallahu a’nhu) bayan karte hain keh inhone Nabi (ﷺ) se suwal kiya keh Islam kya hai? Aap ne farmaya, narmi se baat karna aur khana khilana. Maine pucha kaunsa Islam ka wasf afzal hai? Aapne farmaya jiski zubaan aur haath se musalman mehfooz rahein.
Islam ke is pehle hukum par amal karna mustahab hai, wajib nahi hai, yeh sirf ehsaan aur husne sulook hai aur raha dosre musalmano ko apni zuban aur haath ke zarar se mehfooz rakhna toh woh wajib hai, jab keh woh zarar nahaq ho aur agar who mukaafaat e amal ho aur kisi ke pohunchaye huwe zarar ka badla ho tab muaf kardena mustahab hai. Quraan e majeed mein hai,
“Aur Gussa ko zabt karne wale aur logon ko muaf karne wale aur ALLAH ehsaan karne walon se mohabbat karta hai.” (Aal e Imraan, 134)
“Burayi ka badla usi ki misl burayi hai. Phir jisne muaf kardiya aur islaah kardi toh uska ajar ALLAH (ke zimma e karam) par hai.” (Al-Shuara, 40)
Is baab ki hadith mein salam ke saath khana khilane ko jamaa kardiya hai take qaul aur feil ke saath ehsan karna jamaa hojaye aur yeh kaamil darje ka ehsan hai.
Hadith 11 aur 12 mein ba-zahir ta’arruz ka jawab
Is se pehli hadith mein farmaya tha keh dosre musalmano ko apni zuban aur haath ke zarar se mehfooz rakhna Islam ki afzal khaslat hai aur is hadith mein farmaya hai keh logon ko khana khilana aur har kisi ko salam karna Islam ki achi khaslat hai. In donon hadithon mein ta’arruz nahi hai kyunkeh inke darj zeel jawabaat is tarah hain:
- Lafz “afzal” aur “khair” mein farq hai. “Afzal” ka mana kasrat e sawaab hai aur yeh qillat ke muqabilay mein hai. Aur “khair” ka mana hai nafa aur shar ke muqablay mein hai. Pas fazal keemat ke qabeel se hai aur khair kaifiyat ke qabeel se hai.
- Isse zahir hai keh na us hadith mein hisar maqsood hai na is hadith mein hisar maqsood hai. Balke sa-aileen aur samae’een ke lihaz se jiski zarurat zayad thi, usko bayan faramaya. Masalan koi shaks maghloobul ghazab tha aur iski zuban se aur haath se dosron ko zarar pohunchta tha, toh jab usne suwal kiya keh Islam ka afzal amal kaunsa hai? Toh apne farmaya, dosron ko apni zuban aur apne haath ke zarar se mehfooz rakhna aur jo shaks khana nahi khilata tha aur logon ko salam nahi karta tha toh jab usne pucha keh Islam ki sabse achi khaslat kaunsi hai? Toh apne farmaya, logon ko khana khilana aur har kisi ko salam karna. Isme ek daqeeq ishara is baat ki janib bhi hai keh agarche baaz aamaal fee nafsihi baaz aamaal se afzal hain. Magar kabhi khaas wajeh se koi khaas amal afzal aur behtar hojata hai. Issay un tamam ahaadith mein taTbeeq hogayi keh kisi mein jihad ko afzalul aamaal bataya kisi mein kalma tayyiba ke padhne ko waghaira waghaira.
