By Shaykh Sajid Umar
8 November 2024

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In this week’s Friday Khutbah, I shared with the congregation one of the most illuminating hadiths about the essence of our faith. Through the narration of Tamim Al-Dari, our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us:

Religion is naseehah.

When the companions asked, “To whom?” He ﷺ replied, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and to their common people.”

The beauty of this hadith lies in how a brief exchange between the Prophet ﷺ and his companions unveils a framework for living our faith with true sincerity. The Arabic term naseehah, while often translated simply as ‘sincere advice’, carries a much richer and deeper meaning.

In classical usage of the word in Arabic, when honey was purified from impurities, they would use a word derived from the same root as naseehah, recognising the careful process of returning something to its pure state. Similarly, when a skilled tailor mended a garment, they would describe their work as naseehah – taking meticulous care to match the exact material, colour, and quality of the original fabric, ensuring the repair was seamless and true to the original. These everyday examples reveal that naseehah embodies the qualities of purity, appropriateness, and perfection through careful attention to detail.

Let me share with you how I explained to my congregation the five dimensions of naseehah that emerged from this hadith, each one building upon the other to create a complete framework of faith.

The foundation begins with naseehah to Allah. This means living our lives so Allah finds us where He wants us to be and never where He doesn’t want us to be. It’s about punctuality in prayer, diligence in zakah, and unwavering consistency in following His commands. Yet here I must warn of a subtle danger – what I call ‘excessive practice’. Sometimes, when Satan fails to stop us from doing good, he pushes us to go beyond the boundaries set by the Prophet ﷺ. We think we’re excelling in worship while actually we are at risk of straying away from the straight path.

From this foundation flows naseehah to His Messenger ﷺ. This means implementing the Sunnah in its pure form, without innovation or alteration. In every role we play – as parents, spouses, neighbours, or community leaders - we should ask ourselves: “How would the Prophet ﷺ handle this situation?”

To illustrate this depth of devotion, I shared the moving account of ‘Umar (RA), who once said he loved the Prophet ﷺ more than everything except himself. Only when the Prophet ﷺ corrected him did ‘Umar realise that true faith meant loving the Prophet ﷺ more than even his own self.

This devotion naturally extends to naseehah to His Book. We must be mindful to not develop a superficial relationship with the Qur’an – where we recite beautifully but fail to implement its teachings. Instead, we need to develop a close bond with the Book of Allah, make daily appointments with the Qur’an, not just for recitation but for deep reflection. When reading each verse, we should ask ourselves: What is the ideal Allah is describing here? How close am I to this ideal? What steps can I take to move closer to it?

The fourth dimension, naseehah to Muslim Leaders, has taken on new importance in our digital age. Social media has transformed our interaction with leaders and scholars, often not for the better. Public criticism on these platforms can undermine community trust and unity. True naseehah here means choosing appropriate times and methods for offering counsel. Moreover, caring for our scholars extends beyond seeking knowledge – it includes concern for their families and well-being, not merely expecting endless service without support.

Finally, I explained naseehah to the Muslim masses, a dimension particularly crucial in our capitalist society. This means living with genuine concern for the welfare of others, never advancing ourselves at others’ expense, acknowledging the contributions of others, and maintaining gratitude to those who’ve helped us along our journey. These principles should guide us in our workplaces, business dealings, and community relationships

To conclude, I want to stress that naseehah goes beyond mere advice or sincerity – it’s about excellence in every interaction. In today’s world, where transactions are often purely transactional and relationships increasingly superficial, this hadith shows us a better way. It reminds us that being Muslim isn’t just about fulfilling basic obligations but about bringing beauty and excellence to every aspect of our lives.

This single hadith provides us with a practical framework for living our faith fully and meaningfully. It challenges us to raise our standards in every relationship – with Allah, with His Messenger ﷺ, with the Qur’an, with our leaders, and with each other. In doing so, we don’t just improve our own lives but contribute to building a community based on genuine care and excellence.

O Allah, help us perfect our naseehah – purifying our intentions, perfecting our actions, and beautifying our dealings with all Your creation, just as the Prophet ﷺ taught us. 

Ameen.

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