His Sayings and Example

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has set the best example of how to live according to Islam. Narratives of the life, deeds, sayings and instructions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ have been recorded in numerous traditions. These are referred to in Islamic scholarship as hadith.

Below are a number of famous hadiths. The source is always mentioned after the hadith. In addition to the hadith, another key source is amal, the practice of the first generations of Muslims who followed the Prophet ﷺ.

On Islam, Iman and Ihsan

Once the Prophet ﷺ was sitting down with his companions. A man, unknown to the companions, dressed in very fine white clothes with very fine black hair came and sat near to the Prophet ﷺ. The man began asking questions.

“Tell me about Islam”, the man asked. He ﷺ replied:

“Islam is testifying that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger; establishing prayer and paying Zakat; fasting during the month of Ramadan; and performing the Hajj pilgrimage if one is able to do so.”

“You have spoken the truth.” said the man and went onto ask: “Tell me about Iman (belief)”

He ﷺ replied:

“Iman is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, to the Last Day, and to believe in Divine destiny, its good and evil.”

“You have spoken the truth.” said the man and went onto ask: “Tell me about Ihsan (perfection)”

He ﷺ replied:

“Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and even if you cannot do so, He truly sees you.”

After the man had gone the Prophet ﷺ stayed silent for a while. He ﷺ then asked his companions: “Do you know who the questioner was?”

“He was Jibril (Archangel Gabriel); he came to teach you your religion.” –Sahih Muslim

On giving charity and good deeds

“Son of Adam: spend in charity and I will spend on you.”
–Bukhara

“Charity does not diminish wealth.”
–Muslim

“”The best of you are those who live the longest and do the most good deeds.”
–Hakim

When a person dies, his deeds cease, except in three cases: if he leaves behind a charity that produces; if he leaves behind knowledge that benefits other people; and if he leaves behind a good child who prays for him.”
–Muslim

A man asked the Prophet, “What are the good deeds in Islam ?” The Prophet replied, “Feeding the poor and greeting those you know and those you do not know.”
–Bukhari

On seeking knowledge

“Seeking knowledge is the duty of every Muslim.”
–Al-Tirmithi

“Whoever sets out in search of knowledge, God will make easy for him the path to Paradise.”
–Riyadh us-Saleheen

“He who decides to emigrate solely to study sacred knowledge receives forgiveness even before he leaves.”
–Al-Tirmithi

On beauty

“Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty.”
–Muslim

On the middle path

“Religion is very easy and whoever burns himself to the end in his religion will not be able to continue in the same way. So you should not be an extreme person, but try to be close to perfection and accept good things for which you will be rewarded, and gain strength through acts of worship in the mornings, at night.”

–Bukhari

“Be moderate. Exercise faith in proportion to your physical resources. Pray morning and evening, and part morning and part evening. Follow the middle path and you will reach your goal.”
–Bukhari

On forgiveness

“Allah, the Exalted, has said: O son of Adam! I will always forgive you as long as you pray to Me and seek My forgiveness, no matter what your sins may be. O son of Adam! I do not care if your sins reach up to the heavens, for if you ask My forgiveness, I will forgive you. O son of Adam! If you come to Me with an earth full of sins and meet Me without associating anyone with Me in worship, I will surely grant you My forgiveness equal to the whole earth.”

–At-Tirmidhi

On speech and good character

“Most of a man’s sins originate from his tongue.”
–Al-Tabarani

“God will cover the faults of the one who covers the faults of another in this life on the Day of Judgment.”
–Muslim

“The best of believers are those with the best character – and the best of you are those who are best to their wives.”
–Tirmidhi

“Hearts naturally love those who are kind to them and oppose those who are cruel.”
–Al-Bayhaqi

On friendship

“A man follows the way (deen) of his close friend, so let one of you look carefully at whom he befriends.”
–Abu Hurayrah

On equality

“All mankind comes from Adam and Eve. An Arab is not better than another, nor is another better than an Arab; nor is a light-skinned person better than a dark-skinned person, nor is a dark-skinned person better than a light-skinned person, except in piety and good deeds.”
–Final Sermon of the Prophet ﷺ

On family relations

“He who pleases his parents pleases Allah, and he who angers his parents has angered Allah.”
–at-Tirmidhi

“Anyone who wants to see their income increase and their life span lengthen should maintain family relationships.”
–Bukhari

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