THE COMMANDMENTS OF ISLAM

Dear brother or sister, seek a path in your relationship with society and others that is guided by the sayings of the Prophet (s): “Avoid the prohibited and you will be the best worshipper, be pleased with the sustenance Allah has provided for you and you will be the richest of people, be good to your neighbor and you will be a true believer, desire for others what you desire for yourself and you will be a true Muslim, and do not laugh much, for indeed laughing much causes the heart to die.” (Tirmidhi #2305 & ibn Maajah #8081) And he (s) said: “A true Muslim is he from whom Muslims are safe from his tongue and his hand, and a true emigrant (muhaajir) is one who abandons what Allah has forbidden.” (Bukhari #10)

Islam aims to form a well-knit society, in which individuals show mutual mercy and love and exemplify the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah by ordering them to do certain things and to abstain from other things. “The Believers in their love, mercy and feelings for each other are like one body: if one part feels pain, all the other parts feel pain by fever and sleeplessness.” (Bukhari #5665 & Muslim #2586)

Islam has guided man to every good and warned them of every evil. Islam commands the following things:

  • It commands one to believe in the Tawheed (oneness of Allah) of Allah and forbids associating partners with Him (Shirk). Allah (y) says: Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and He forgives what is besides this to whom He pleases; and whoever associates anything with Allah, and he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray. [4:116]

    The Prophet (s) said: “Avoid the seven destructive sins.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?’ He replied, “Associating partners (shirk) with Allah, sorcery, killing someone who Allah has forbidden without right, consuming usury, consuming the wealth of orphans, fleeing upon confronting the enemy in battle, and accusing chaste women who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers.” (Bukhari #2615 & Muslim #89)

  • It commands treating others well and forbids false consumption of wealth, such as interest, theft, deception, usurpation of property, and the like. Allah (y) says: O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful. [4:29]
  • It commands justice and equity and forbids all types of oppression and transgression against others. Allah (y) says: Verily, orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. [16:90]
  • It commands that people cooperate in righteousness, and it forbids that they cooperate in evil. Allah (y) says: Help you one another in righteousness and piety; and do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment. [5:2]
  • It commands the preservation of life, and forbids killing and participating in it, except with due right. Allah (y) says: Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors. [5:32] Allah (y) also says: And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him. [4:93]
  • It commands well-treatment of one’s parents and forbids disobedience toward them. Allah (y) says: And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them the slightest word of disrespect, nor abuse them but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small’. [17:23-24]
  • It commands joining the family ties and forbids severing them. Allah (y) says: Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight. [47:22-23]

    The Prophet (s) said: “One who severs ties of kinship will not enter Jannah.” (Bukhari #5638 & Muslim #2556)

  • It commands and encourages marriage. The Prophet (s) said: “O youth! Whoever of you is able to get married let him do so, for it lowers one’s gaze and keeps one chaste. Whoever is not able (to marry), then let him fast, for indeed it acts like a shield for him.” (Bukhari #1806 & Muslim #1400)

    It forbids fornication and homosexuality and all things which lead to it. Allah (y) says: Say (O Muhammad): “My Lord has only forbidden immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed – and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know”. [7:33]

  • It orders the protection of the wealth of orphans and to treat them well, and it forbids consuming their wealth without right. Allah (y) says: Verily, those who unjustly devour the property of orphans, they devour only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire. [4:10]

    It forbids grieving and treating them badly. Allah (y) says: So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him]. [93:9]

  • It orders that one be truthful in his testimony and forbids that one lie in them (shahaadat-uz-zoor). The Prophet (s) said: “Shall I not tell you the three greatest sins?” They said. “Indeed O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Associating partners with Allah (shirk) and mistreating your parents.” He was leaning [when he mentioned that], and then he sat up straight (as if he was alarmed) and said, “And bearing false witness.” [The narrator] said, “He continued to repeat this until we said (to ourselves), “If only he would stop.” (Bukhari #2511 & Muslim #87)
  • It commands that one fulfill his oaths and forbids that one lie about it, especially al-yameen al ghamoos, which means that one intentionally lies in his oath in order to deprive another of his right. Allah (y) says: Verily, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment. [3:77]
  • It commands humans to take care of themselves and forbids suicide, whether directly or indirectly, such as dealing with intoxicants, cigarettes, and other things which modern medicine has proven to be causes of harmful diseases. Allah (y) says: And do not kill yourselves [nor kill one another]. Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah. [4:29-30]
  • It commands truthfulness, trustworthiness, and the fulfilling of oaths; and it forbids lying, deception and treachery. Allah (y) says: O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray your trusts while you know [the consequence]. [8:27]
  • 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 (s) 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.”(Bukhari #5718 & Muslim #2558)
  • It commands generosity and forbids greed and miserliness. Allah (y) says: And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent. [17:29]
  • It commands one to be frugal in all matters and forbids wastefulness and the squandering of money uselessly. Allah (y) says: And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful. [17:26-27]
  • It commands moderateness and forbids fanaticism and extremism in religion. Allah (y) says: Allah intends for you ease and He does not want to make things difficult for you... [2:185]

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

  • It commands humility and forbids pride and arrogance. Allah (y) says: And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the braying of donkeys. [31:19] About arrogance, the Prophet (s) said: “He who has even a mustard seed’s worth of arrogance in his heart will not enter Jannah.” A person asked, “O Messenger of Allah, a person likes to wear nice clothes and sandals (is this arrogance?).” He said, “Indeed Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance is to reject the truth and to belittle others.” (Muslim #91) The Prophet (s) 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.” (Bukhari #3465 & Muslim #2085)
  • It commands people to console others and not feel happy about others’ grief. The Prophet (s) 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.” (Tirmidhi #2508)
  • It forbids Muslims from interfering in affairs which do not concern them. The Prophet (s) said: “Indeed from the good traits of a true Muslim is that he leaves that which does not concern him.” (Tirmidhi #2317 & ibn Maajah #3976)
  • It commands respecting people and forbids debasing them and holding them in contempt. Allah (y) says: O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers. [49:11]
  • It commands one to jealously protect and guard one’s maharim, and it forbids that the person is not protective of his relatives and turns a blind eye to their promiscuity. The Prophet (s) said: “Three will not enter Jannah: one who maltreats his parents, a cuckold (Day’youth) and women who act like men.” (Nasa'ie #2562)
  • It prohibits resembling members of the opposite sex. Ibn ‘Abbaas d said: “The Messenger of Allah (y) cursed those men who imitate women and those women who imitate men.” (Bukhari #5546)
  • It commands that people exert efforts in doing good to others, and it forbids that they remind them of their favors upon them. Allah (y) says: O you who believe! Do not render in vain your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury. [2:264]
  • It commands thinking good about others, and it forbids suspicion and backbiting. Allah (y) says: O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful. [49:12]
  • 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 (s) said: “Are people thrown into the Hellfire on their faces or nostrils except for what their tongues have reaped?” (Tirmidhi #2616 & ibn Maajah #373)
  • It commands with well-treatment of the neighbor and forbids harming them. The Prophet (s) said: “By Allah, he is not a true believer! By Allah, he is not a true believer! By Allah, he is not a true believer!” It was said, “Who is that, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “He whose neighbor is not safe from his evil.” (Bukhari #5670)
  • It commands that one seek righteous companions and forbids that one seek evil companions. The Prophet (s) said: “The example of a righteous and evil companion is like one who carries perfume and another who is a blacksmith. As for the one who carries perfume, he will either give you some perfume, you might buy some, or [at least] you will find a pleasing scent whilst with him. As for the blacksmith, either he will burn your clothes, or you will find a hideous odor from him.” (Bukhari #1995 & Muslim #2628)
  • It orders people to settle their disputes and prohibits anything which leads to enmity and hatred. Allah (y) says: No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allah – then We are going to give him a great reward. [4:114]
  • It orders that people be sincere to each other [by giving good advice] and forbids that advice be withheld when it is sought. The Prophet (s) said: “The religion is sincerity and advice.” We asked, “To whom?” He replied, “[Sincerity] to Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, and [sincere advice] to the leaders of the Muslims and their general folk.” (Muslim #55)
  • It orders people to help relieve the worries of others around them, to give them respite (in paying back debts) and to conceal their faults. The Prophet (s) said: “Whoever relieves some worry of a believer, Allah will relieve a worry of his on the Day of Judgment. Whoever makes things easy for one in times of hardship [by giving respite to one who is not able to pay back a debt] Allah will make things easy upon him in this life and the next. And whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this life and in the Hereafter. Allah helps his slave as long as he helps his brother.” (Muslim #2699)
  • It orders that one have patience and fortitude in times of hardships, and forbids that one become worried and discontent. Allah (y) says: And certainly, We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return." Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. [2:155-157]
  • It orders one to forgive, pardon, and turn away from one who does evil to him, and forbids that one seek revenge and retribution. Allah (y) says: And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous. Who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good. [3:133-134]
  • It commands mercy and it forbids cold-heartedness. The Prophet (s) said: “Allah shows mercy to those who show mercy. Show mercy to those on earth, and Allah will be merciful to you.” (Abu Dawood #4941 & Tirmidhi #1924)
  • It commands people to be kind and lenient to each other, and it forbids harshness. The Prophet (s) said: “Nothing is done with kindness except that it is beautified, and nothing is devoid of kindness except that it is flawed.” (Muslim #2594)
  • It commands that one return evil with good, and forbids that one reciprocate evil with evil. Allah (s) says: Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend. [41:34]
  • It commands the spreading of knowledge and forbids concealing it. The Prophet (s) said: “Whoever was asked about knowledge but conceals it, he will be brought on the Day of Resurrection muzzled with the leashes of Hellfire.” (Abu Dawood #3658 & Tirmidhi #2649 )
  • It commands that Muslims enjoin virtue and righteousness and prevent evil and vice, each according to his ability. The Prophet (s) said: “Whoever of you sees an evil act, let him change it with his hand, if he is not able, then with his tongue, and if he is not able, then with his heart, and that is the lowest degree of faith.” (Muslim #49)