Complete Faith

 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

لَا يُؤْمِنُ الْعَبْدُ الْإِيمَانَ كُلَّهُ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَ الْكَذِبَ فِي الْمُزَاحِ وَالْمِرَاءَ وَإِنْ كَانَ صَادِقًا

مسند أحمد، ورواه الطبراني، وقال الألباني صحيح لغيره

It is narrated from Abu Hurairah [RA] who said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

“No slave (of Allah) has complete faith until he leaves lying in jesting, and leaves disputes even if he was truthful.”

[Musnad Ahmad, At-Tabaraani, authentic according to Sh Al-Albani]

Vocabulary from the Hadith

كَذِب – lie

مُزَاح – joking, jesting. Lisaanul Arab defines this word as “the opposite of seriousness”.

مِرَاء – dispute, argument, debate. In the Qur’an, “فلا تُمارِ فيهم إِلاَّ مِراءً ظاهراً” (So debate not about them except with clear proof) [18:22].

Lessons from the Hadith

- The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم mentions two things here that prevent completion of Iman:

1) Lying while joking or jesting.

2) Leaving disputes and arguments, even if truthful.

- Arguing/disputing with lies is unacceptable. Arguing/disputing with truth is acceptable (i.e. not a sin). Yet, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم warned against it because arguing leads to situations where a person would be compelled to lie, even if that person is generally truthful.

- Arguing at certain times and places (for example, to defend Allah and His religion, to defend oneself against wrong, etc.) are acceptable exceptions to the rule. Nonetheless, this hadith presents a general warning that is to be heeded.