For Muslims there is no source of guidance more Supreme and more Authentic than the Holy Quran. By learning the Holy Quran a Muslim can find the instructions that Allah Almighty has sent for the guidance of mankind. However, when Muslims are either not able to find some solution in Quran or they are not able to understand it, there is a secondary source towards which they turn for guidance; it is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).
The Sunnah or traditions of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was recorded by His Companions in the form of hadith. There are books of Hadith that comprise of the narrations regarding to what Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said or did. Like there are verses of Quran that can change the life of a person, the hadiths of Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) are also no less than a pearl and by incorporating them in life a Muslim can experience an evident change in life.
The lines below discuss a few hadith that can help a Muslim change his or her life for better.
MODERATION IN RELIGION:
Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said in a hadith:
“Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights.” [Bukhari]
The message cannot be more clear than in this hadith. The problem with Muslims at present is that either we are too far from the religion or we tend to go on extreme which makes us radical and fundamentalist. Both these extremes are wrong and one of the major reason behind the failure of Muslims as an Ummah. The ayah tells that one should be moderate in religion and should never pursue extremism in it, however, this moderation is not to be taken for negligence where one does not try to follow the religion at all, rather, a Muslim must try to be perfect but not overburden oneself in doing so. Thus, if one follows and adopts religion with a moderate approach, his or her life will definitely change and that change will be most closest to Islam guaranteeing success in this world and in the world hereafter.
NOR ABUSING:
One of the evils that is most commonly observed which apparently is ignored by people or which people of today do not consider even as an evil is abusing others. People abuse others for fun or in the time of anger. Abusing someone or cursing someone shows the kind of hatred and aggression one possesses towards the other, which is definitely not a preaching of Islam or what a human should have in his or her life. Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said in a hadith:
“It is one of the greatest sins that a man should curse his parents.” It was asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! How does a man curse his parents?” The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied, “The man abuses the father of another man and the latter abuses the father of the former and abuses his mother.” [Bukhari]
Those Muslims who do not consider abusing another person as an evil can take heed from this hadith. If they do not stop it for the sake of it being an evil, then they should consider not doing it because the hadith mentions it as a sin and that too one of the greatest sins. Therefore, a Muslim must change life for better by eliminating cursing and abusing from it.
BE MERCIFUL:
Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Those people who show no mercy will receive no mercy from Allah.” [Muslim]
People in the materialistic world of today have become so harsh and unforgiving that we do not forgive even the slightest mistake of others and never show our affection towards them. This hadith shows that no matter how pious a Muslim becomes and performs all the obligations of Islam in the diligent manner, however, if he or she does not show mercy towards other people, then they will not be liable for mercy from the Lord as well. A Muslim must realize that if Allah being the Supreme can show mercy on the gravest of sinners, then why can they forgive the mistakes of people and deal with them gently and with kindness. Therefore, by being merciful a Muslim can change the way he or she behaves in life and the whole perspective in life might also change.
BE A MEANS:
Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Those who are the means of good deeds are the same as those who perform good deeds.” [Tirmidhi]
We live life by the principle of developing relations with others so that they can help us achieve whatever goals and objectives we have in life. We continue with a relation as long as it helps us achieve our goals and those who do not prove useful in achieving our goals or those who want something from us, we avoid them. The hadith shows that helping someone in a good deed is as good as performing the good deed. It shows the importance of being a means, if someone has the power and chance of being the means, then being means will be as good as doing the good deed. Therefore, one should opt for selflessness and be a means of bringing good in the life of others, which will automatically make the life of a person good as well.
GOOD MANNERS:
Good manners and ethics is another major constituent of Islam. The life of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) is the best example of the best of manners. He never lied, He had dignity, He treated others with respect, showed kindness, was merciful, said Salam first, and so on. Therefore good manners are an essence of Islam that if incorporated in life, totally transform the life of a Muslim. Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said in a hadith:
“No father has ever given a child a gift that is superior to good manners.”[Tirmidhi]
QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE:
The hadith says:
“Wisdom and knowledge are things that the believer lacks. He should take them wherever he finds them.” [Tirmidhi]
This hadith is perhaps the most important hadith which a Muslim can understand and implement its essence in life. It is only by wisdom and knowledge that the life of a person changes, however, in order to do that a Muslim needs develop that quest for knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, Muslim of today in particular need to adopt this attitude of striving for learning, so that they could change their life for better.
In short, the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) are the pearls of wisdom which if understood and applied in life can definitely change the life of a Muslim. Moreover, them being the examples from the life of Prophet (PBUH) it provides the Muslims a greater chance to relate with them and thus easily apply them in life.