Hadith: Muslim manual of life.

Hadith is a collection of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) saying and actions. The way of the Prophet is usually referred as the “Sunnah”. Hadith is an important source for practicing Muslims, because it describes Sunnah for various situations. It is an obligation for every Muslim to follow the Prophet’s actions, because it is mentioned many times in the holy Qur’an. For example : “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger...” [4:59], or “He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah...” [4:80]. Thus, the Hadith plays a vital role in shaping the Muslim community’s behavior to this day.

Salih Bukhari preserved a large collection of Hadith, that was organized into volumes according to the topic. Book 31 has a collection of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) sayings regarding fasting during Ramadan and book 32 has sayings about praying at night in Ramadan, the “taraweeh”. In each separate Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) uses different techniques to teach people the Muslim way of life.

Hadeeth 118 ( book 31 ) teaches about a number of things that should be avoided

while a person is fasting. It teaches patience and tolerance, even if one is being treated

unjustly by another individual. This might seem very difficult for an average person,

because it requires many sacrifices. A person that is weak in his faith might even get discouraged from practicing the fast. However, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) concludes the Hadith with comforting information, that “ the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk”. So, a fasting person would feel good about himself, because he is doing it to please God, and then God will be happy because of his action. In return for person’s sacrifice of himself for the sake of God, a person is promised to have a reward: all his good deeds will be multiplied times ten. Also, Hadith 128 shows that a person can draw a pleasure from the fast in this life and in the afterlife. In this life, after complete abstinence from food and drink for a long period of time, one’s bodily senses are extremely alert, so more pleasure can be experienced. It is the same concept as in the saying “ you don’t miss your water till the well runs dry”, and you get extremely happy when you get it back. In the afterlife, a fasting Muslims would be pleased when he or she meets God, because God would be pleased with them. The promise of reward, especially the reward in the afterlife, encourages Muslims to fast the right way, even though it is not that easy.

Then, Hadeeth 120 and 121 (book 31) promise even more reward to fasting Muslims. These Hadith put fasting Muslims in a very special position in the eyes of God in the afterlife. Fasting Muslims are so exceptional, that they will even have a separate

door to enter the Paradise, a door for those who fasted. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also adds that it is important not to pick and choose what you want to do in your religion. He points out that if a person fulfills his duties such as praying, giving charity and more, then he may even choose any door to enter Paradise. Moreover, in Hadith 127 (book 31), Prophet warns Muslims that fasting has to be done in the right way with the right intention, otherwise it would not be accepted by God. So, one can not pick and choose how he or she wants to fast either. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the role model of how the fast is done, and if Muslims want a reward, then they should follow the Prophet.

Book number 32 is a relatively short volume that contains Hadith about praying at night during the month of Ramadan. The main technique for persuasion is the message that the Prophet used to do it ( n. 128 ). Praying at night, or the taraweeh, usually consists of 8 or 20 rakats. During the taraweeh, the holy Qur’an is recited in order as it is. Ideally, the goal is to finish the whole Qur’an by the end of the Ramadan. People can pray the taraweeh at the Mosque or at home. Sometimes it takes several hours of praying in order to finish the Qur’an on time. Praying at night is not an easy task, so it takes a very special effort. So, in Hadith 226, 231, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) promises that if a person is praying at night with the right intention, then God will forgive his sins. That sounds like a very good deal so many Muslims get encourages despite the difficulties.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is an authority figure in Islam. He is the one who received holy revelations from God so he knows best what kind of actions does God expect from humans. He is the teacher and the role model for the Muslim community. Sometimes the holy Qur’an does not go deep into details for everyday earthly issues. That is when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) comes in and makes “the rules of life” clear to people through his actions and sayings (Sunnah). Hadith contains explanations for any possible question or concern one may have about how humans should act in a Muslim way, the way God wants to see humans act. It also contains the consequences for people’s actions, such as specific rewards and punishments. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encourages people to act like proper Muslims and he warns people from making common mistakes. The Hadith suggest that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a well respected figure in a Muslim society, because without his Sunnah many issues would not have an answer. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a favor from God to all Muslims, because his words and actions show people the right path in pleasing the Creator.