Observation

Despite the question being popular among the candidates, their performance was below average. It tested the candidates’ knowledge on the completion, the translation and commentary of the Hadith 41. Most candidates rushed themselves by relating Hadith 13 which had the same beginning with it but different content. Candidates were expected to complete, translate and comments, thus:

Completion

Lā yu’minu ‘aḥadukum ḥattā yakūna hawāhu tabacan limā ji’tu bihi.
Ḥadīthun ṣaḥīḥun rawaynāhu fī kitāb al-ḥujjati bi isnād ṣaḥīḥ.

Translation

On the authority of Abū Muhammad cAbdullah bin cAmr bin al-cĀṣ (RaḍiyAllāhu ‘anhu) who said: The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said,

“None of you [truly] believes until his desires follow the line of that which I have brought.”

[It is an excellent Tradition which we have related it, in Kitāb al-Ḥujjah( one of the works of An-Nawawī ) with a genuine chain of narrators]

Comment

i. The Hadith was reported on the authority of Abū Muhammad Abdullahi b. cAmr b. al-cĀṣ.

ii. It teaches that it is compulsory for everybody to follow the teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W.).

iii. It teaches that anybody who does not follow the Prophet (S.A.W.) is not a believer.

iv. We understand from it that we must follow what he asks us to do and keep to it.

v. We learn from this hadith that ’Imān increases and decreases based on their compliance or otherwise with the teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W.).

vi. The desire mentioned in the hadith really means love i.e. you should love what the Prophet (S.A.W.) has brought down.

vii. We should love all the Islamic obligations brought by the Prophet (S.A.W.) which are achievable by loving Allah.

viii. The hadith urges making our desires conform to the teachings of Islam to be a condition for the completeness of ’Imān.

ix. Allah is not pleased with those who dislike what He loves, and like what He hates in many places in the Qur’an.

x. Whoever claims to love Allah, but does not keep within His limits is not a true believer.