Textual Studies of the Hadith - National Open University of Nigeria

ISL222 TEXTUAL STUDIES OF THE HADITH
Commentary
This is in continuation of the previous tradition. It encourages
brotherhood among the Muslims. Muslims must ever be ready to help
one another in times of difficulties. A Muslim must not forsake his
Muslim counterpart in his trial periods. He must be ready to help as
much as he can. In return for this, Allah has promised great rewards and
assistance. This tradition also emphasises the act of seeking for
knowledge: In fact, there is a hadith that recommends searching for
knowledge right from birth till death. We can also deduce from this
Hadith the need to remember God always by coming together to teach
ourselves about Allah from His book. We would see that Allah does not
want us to live in isolation of one another, and that in return for our
virtuous deeds He has promised rewards.
Lessons
The following lessons are derivable from the discussion above:
1. We are urged to be our brother’s keepers.
2. Allah is ready to help us if we help our counterparts.
3. We are mandated to seek for knowledge.
4. The significance of gathering in a mosque to remember God is
also stressed.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 3
Enumerate the teachings contained in hadith 36.
4.0 CONCLUSION
The divinely-inspired messages of the Prophet are mechanisms for
living a good life. The Prophet has, through these messages, taken
cognisance of the decadence that would definitely permeate our
generation and suggested three methods by which they could be
corrected. The same thing applies to hadiths 35 and 36 which treated
virtually the same thing.
5.0 SUMMARY
• In hadith 34, the Prophet stated three methods by which a Muslim
can correct others’ mistakes: by hand, by tongue or by mind;
although the last one is the weakest kind of faith.
• Admonition against vices is the central theme of hadith 35. In it
the Prophet preached against envy, unhealthy competition with
one another, hatred and hanky panky in trade.
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