Explanation of the Hadith: Religion is Sincerity and Spreading Knowledge
An explanation of the seventh hadith of Imam al-Nawawi, where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated that religion is sincerity. The speaker outlines the two aspects of sincerity: towards Allah ﷻ, His Book, and His Messenger ﷺ, and towards the leaders and common Muslims. It also highlights the virtue of spreading knowledge to preserve the Ummah.
He (RH) said:
The seventh Hadith: On the authority of Abu Ruqayyah Tamim ibn Aws al-Dari (RA),
that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Religion is sincerity.”
We said, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah,
His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.”
Narrated by Muslim.
Yes, this hadith is a foundational principle of the religion from two aspects.
The first aspect: sincerity to Allah, His Book, and His Messenger through compliance
and truthfulness in complying with the command of Allah ﷻ and the command of His Messenger ﷺ
and what has come in the Book of Allah ﷻ.
The second type is sincerity to the leaders and common folk of the Muslims, by offering it.
Among the greatest acts of worship after fulfilling obligations is spreading knowledge,
as the Commander of the Faithful in hadith, Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak — whom the author
and mentioned that he was the first to compile the Forty Hadith.
He mentioned Ibn al-Mubarak (RH),
who said, "I do not know of any worship, after Islam, better than spreading knowledge."
So a person spreads knowledge and teaches people, young and old, far and near,
for it is one of the best ways to draw close to Allah ﷻ.
And this is one of the signs of the goodness of this Ummah,
for in this Ummah, the predecessor teaches the successor,
the earlier teaches the later, and the first teaches the second.
And this Ummah will remain in a good state
as long as knowledge is widespread, manifest, and clear among them,
and it will remain manifest until the Hour begins, as the Prophet ﷺ said:
"A group of my Ummah will continue to be upon the truth, dominant."
So knowledge, religion, the Sunnah, and truth will remain manifest until the Hour.
This was said by the one who does not speak from his own desire,
Muhammad ibn Abdullah ﷺ.
So, the point is that this hadith was one of the comprehensive principles,
because of its encouragement to teach and clarify to the general public,
young and old, elite and commoners.
Yes. Peace be upon you.