Sahih Muslim (Volume 1)

With the Full Commentary by Imam Nawawi

Abul-Husain Muslim, Adil Salahi

• Editore: The Islamic Foundation
• Anno: 2019
• ISBN:
  9780860377917
• Argomento: Theology & Religion
• Categoria: Islamic Theology

Imam Nawawi's commentary on Sahih Muslim is one of the most highly regarded works in Islamic thought and literature.

Accepted by every sunni school of thought, and foundational in the Shaafi school, this text, available for the first time in English, is famed throughout the Muslim world.

After the Qur'an, the prophetic traditions are the most recognised source of wisdom in Islam. Amongst the collected Hadith, Sahih Muslim is second only to the the collection of Imam Bukhari.

With a commentary by Imam Nawawi, whose other works are amongst the most widely-read books on Islam, and translated by Adil Salahi, a modern scholar of great acclaim, this immense work, finally available to English readers, is an essential addition to every Muslim library, and for anybody with an interest in Islamic thought.

CHAPTER 1

EXPLANATION OF IMAN, ISLAM AND IHSAN

The Requirement of Believing in God’s Decree; Evidence of Dissociation from those Who do not Believe in the Divine Decree and Confronting them Squarely

Abu al-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Qushayi (may God bestow mercy on his soul) said: We start with God’s help and we need nothing other than that. None can guide us to success other than God, the Most-Glorious.⁸⁹

89. The most important thing to mention under this heading is the different views of scholars concerning iman, or faith, and Islam: what is universal or peculiar in each? Does faith increase or decrease? Are man’s actions a part of faith. Scholars of early and more recent times have spoken at length on all these issues. I will confine myself to the quotation of short parts of what they have said to illustrate both what I have already mentioned as also to add plenty more.

In his book, Ma[alim al-Sunan, Imam Abu Sulayman Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Khattabi al-Bisti, a scrupulous fiqh scholar of the Shafi[i School, said:

This is a question that has troubled many people, causing them to err. Al-Zuhri said that Islam is the word [i.e. the verbal utterance], while iman is the action. In support of his view he cited the Qur’anic verse: ‘The bedouins say: “We have attained to faith”. Say [to them]: “Believers you are not. Rather say: ‘We have submitted ourselves’,” for true faith has not entered your hearts’. (49: 14) Others state that iman and Islam are one and the same thing. They cite the two verses that say: ‘We brought out such believers as were there; but We did not find there any who had surrendered themselvesⁱ to Us apart from a single house’. (51: 35–36) Two of the most eminent scholars have spoken about this, and have made their conclusions on the basis of these two views. The one who discussed it later replied to his predecessor, writing a book on the subject running into hundreds of pages.

The right thing of all this is that it should not be general-ized, but rather qualified. A Muslim is a believer in certain situations but not in others, while a believer is a Muslim in all situations. Every believer is a Muslim, but not every Muslim is a believer. When you put the question in this way, you realize that the verses are all consistent and harmonious, displaying no difference or conflict. The essential point of faith is ‘to believe’ and the essential point of Islam is ‘submission and self-surrender’. A person may superficially appear to have surrendered but has not genuinely submitted himself. He may be true in his innermost soul, but does not show himself to be in submission.

Al-Khattabi said about the Prophet’s hadith:

‘Faith consists of 70 odd parts’: This hadith tells us that iman is a noun that means a whole that has parts and constituents, and has a highest point and a lowest one. The noun refers to some of these as it refers to them all. When it truly exists, it comprises all its parts and includes all its constituents. It is like Islamic prayer, which has parts and constituents but its name refers to its parts as well while its reality requires that it includes all its constituents. This is evidenced by the Prophet’s statement: ‘Modesty is a part of faith’. The hadith confirms that some people are better than others in faith and that believers have different grades of faith.

Imam Abu Muhammad al-Husayn ibn Mas[ud al-Baghawi of the Shafi[i School referred to the hadith which mentions Gabriel questioning the Prophet about iman and Islam and the Prophet’s answers. He said:

The Prophet defined Islam as a noun referring to apparent actions and defined iman as a noun referring to beliefs. This does not mean that actions are not part of iman or that beliefs are not part of Islam. This is merely giving details of a complete whole, which is a single totality that makes up religion. Hence, the Prophet said at the end of the ...

Indice dei contenuti

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Transliteration Table
• Before You Read
• Introduction by Imam al-Nawawī: Ḥadīth Methodology
• Introduction by Imam Muslim
• Chapter 1: Explanation of Imān, Islām and Iḥsān
• Chapter 2: What is īmān? An Outline of its Characteristics
• Chapter 3: Prayer: A Pillar of Islam
• Chapter 4: Enquiring about the Pillars of Islam
• Chapter 5: Explanation of īmān that Ensures Admittance into Heaven and that Whoever Fulfils what they are Commanded will be in Heaven
• Chapter 6: Defining the Pillars of Islam and its Great Essentials
• Chapter 7: The Command to Believe in God and His Messenger and Islamic Fundamentals
• Chapter 8: Calling on People to Say the Declaration and to Implement Islamic Teachings
• Chapter 9: The Command to Fight People unless they Say ‘There is No Deity other than God, Muhammad is God’s Messenger’, Attend Regularly to Prayer, Pay Zakat and Believe in all that is Stated by the Prophet (peace be upon him)
• Chapter 10: Evidence of the Validity of the Acceptance of Islam by One Who is about to Die, as Long as He is Not in the Throes of Death
• Chapter 11: Evidence Confirming that Whoever Dies Believing in God’s Oneness will Certainly Enter Heaven
• Chapter 12: Whoever Accepts that God is his Lord, Islam is his Faith and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is God’s Messenger is a Believer, Even Though he may Commit Major Sins
• Chapter 13: The Number of the Branches of Faith
• Chapter 14: The Full Description of Islam
• Chapter 15: Grades of Islam and Which of its Teachings are Best
• Chapter 16: Certain Qualities Ensure Experiencing the Sweetness of Faith
• Chapter 17: The Duty of Loving the Prophet More than One’s Family, Children, Parents and all Mankind; Whoever does not Love him so is Not a Believer
• Chapter 18: A Characteristic of Faith is to Love for One’s Muslim Brother all the Good one Loves for Oneself
• Chapter 19: The Prohibition of Causing Harm to Neighbours
• Chapter 20: Urging Kindness to Neighbours and Guests; Saying Only What is Good as all this is Part of Faith