Guidance and Devotion in Islamic Practices: Selections from the Hadith, Part 1 of 2

We now present selections from the Hadith on the importance of communal worship, seeking Allah’s guidance, and fasting etiquette in Islam.

“Ibn ‘Umar reported that The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘Prayer said in congregation excels the prayer said alone by twenty-seven degrees.’”

“O Allāh! I desire Thy blessing by Thy knowledge, and I beg of Thee to give me power to do it by Thy power, and I ask of Thee Thy great grace, for Thou have the power while I have not the power, and Thou know while I do not know, and Thou are the Great Knower of the unseen things. O Allāh! If Thou know that this affair is good for me in the matter of my religion and my living and the result of my affair then ordain it for me and make it easy for me and bless me therein; and if Thou know that this affair is evil for me in the matter of my religion and my living and the result of my affair then turn it away from me and turn me away from it and ordain what is good for me wheresoever it is, and make me contented with it.”

“Abū Hurairah reported, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘Fasting is an armor with which one protects oneself; so let not him who fasts utter immodest or foul speech, nor let him act in an ignorant manner; and if a man quarrels with him or abuses him, he should say twice, “I am fasting.” And by Him in Whose hand is my soul, the odor of the mouth of one fasting is sweeter in the estimation of Allāh than the odor of musk – gives up his food and his drink and his sexual desire for MY sake; fasting is for Me and I will grant its reward; and a virtue brings reward ten times like it.’

Abū Hurairah said, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘He who does not give up uttering falsehood and acting according to it, Allāh has no need of his giving up his food and his drink.’”