The Teachings of the Prophet ﷺ
📿 The Teachings of the Prophet ﷺ: A Complete Guide to Life
📜 Introduction: Prophetic Wisdom
The Prophet ﷺ is not only a model through his actions — he left us a treasure of teachings covering every aspect of human existence.
﴾ And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from ﴿
— [Al-Hashr: 7]
His sayings (hadiths) are the second source of legislation in Islam, after the Quran.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"I was sent to perfect noble character."
— Source: Al-Muwatta by Imam Malik
🕌 PART 1: WORSHIP ('IBADA)
1.1 — Prayer (As-Salat)
Prayer is the pillar of the religion and the first act judged on the Day of Judgment.
📜 Scene:
Bilal enters upon the Prophet ﷺ at dawn.
The Prophet ﷺ says to him:
"O Bilal, call the prayer! Give us rest through it!"
— Source: Sunan Abu Dawud
Teachings on Prayer
| Hadith | Source |
|---|---|
| "Prayer is light." | Sahih Muslim |
| "Pray as you have seen me pray." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
| "The first thing the servant will be judged for is prayer." | Sunan al-Tirmidhi |
| "Between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer." | Sahih Muslim |
| "Prayer in congregation is 27 times superior to praying alone." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
Concentration in Prayer (Al-Khushu')
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Pray the prayer of one bidding farewell, as if you see Him. For if you do not see Him, He sees you."
— Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
1.2 — Fasting (As-Siyam)
📜 Scene:
A man comes asking the Prophet ﷺ for advice.
The Prophet ﷺ responds:
"I advise you to fast, for there is nothing like it."
— Source: Sunan al-Nasa'i
Teachings on Fasting
| Hadith | Source |
|---|---|
| "Fasting is a shield [from the Fire]." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
| "Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and expectation will have their past sins forgiven." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
| "Every deed of the son of Adam belongs to him, except fasting: it is for Me and I shall reward it." | Hadith Qudsi, Sahih al-Bukhari |
| "The fasting person has two joys: when breaking the fast, and when meeting his Lord." | Sahih Muslim |
Voluntary Fasting
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah, Muharram. And the best prayer after the obligatory is the night prayer."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
1.3 — Charity (Az-Zakat / Sadaqa)
📜 Scene:
The Prophet ﷺ climbs the pulpit and says:
"The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand is the giving one, and the lower hand is the receiving one."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
Teachings on Charity
| Hadith | Source |
|---|---|
| "Charity has never decreased wealth." | Sahih Muslim |
| "Protect yourself from the Fire, even with half a date." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
| "Your smile to your brother is charity." | Sunan al-Tirmidhi |
| "Every joint has a charity due each day." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
| "The left hand should not know what the right hand gives." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
Forms of Charity
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every good deed is charity: smiling, a good word, removing harm from the road, guiding the lost, helping the weak."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
1.4 — Supplication (Ad-Du'a) and Remembrance (Adh-Dhikr)
📜 Scene:
The Prophet ﷺ says:
"Supplication (du'a) is worship itself."
— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi
Teachings on Dhikr
| Hadith | Source |
|---|---|
| "Two words light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, beloved to the Most Merciful: 'SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahi-l-'Adhim'" | Sahih al-Bukhari |
| "Whoever says 'La ilaha illa-Allah' 100 times a day will have the equivalent of freeing 10 slaves." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
| "The difference between one who remembers Allah and one who doesn't is like the difference between the living and the dead." | Sahih al-Bukhari |
Daily Invocations
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever says morning and evening: 'SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi' 100 times, no one will come on the Day of Judgment with better than him, except one who said the same or more."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
💎 PART 2: MORALITY (AL-AKHLAQ)
2.1 — Honesty (As-Sidq)
📜 Scene:
The Prophet ﷺ teaches:
"Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to speak truth until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful one (Siddiq).
And lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A man continues to lie until he is recorded with Allah as a liar."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim
Signs of the Hypocrite
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; when he is trusted, he betrays."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
2.2 — Respect and Kindness
Towards Parents
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The pleasure of Allah is in the pleasure of the parents, and the anger of Allah is in the anger of the parents."
— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi
📜 Scene:
A man comes to the Prophet ﷺ:
— "O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my good companionship?"
— "Your mother."
— "Then who?"
— "Your mother."
— "Then who?"
— "Your mother."
— "Then who?"
— "Your father."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
Towards Elders and Youth
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"He is not one of us who does not have mercy on our young and does not recognize the right of our elders."
— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi
2.3 — Forgiveness (Al-'Afw)
📜 Scene:
On the day of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet ﷺ says to Quraysh — who had persecuted him for 20 years:
"Go, you are free!"
— Source: Sirat Ibn Hisham
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Forgiveness only increases a servant in honor. Be humble, and Allah will raise you."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
2.4 — Anger Control
📜 Scene:
A man asks the Prophet ﷺ: "Give me advice."
The Prophet ﷺ says: "Do not get angry."
The man repeats his request several times. Each time, the Prophet ﷺ answers:
"Do not get angry."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The strong one is not the one who wrestles people down, but the strong one is the one who controls himself in anger."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
2.5 — Modesty (Al-Haya')
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Modesty is part of faith."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Modesty only brings good."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
👨👩👧👦 PART 3: RELATIONSHIPS
3.1 — Family
Marriage
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Marriage is part of my Sunnah. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not one of me."
— Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, her lineage, her beauty, and her religion. Choose the one with religion, may your hands be dusty!"
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
Marital Rights
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The best of you is the best to his family, and I am the best to my family."
— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Let no believing man hate a believing woman: if he dislikes one of her traits, he will like another."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
Children
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Be just among your children. Be just among your children. Be just among your children."
— Source: Sunan Abu Dawud
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the son of Adam dies, his deeds cease except for three: continuous charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
3.2 — Neighbors
📜 Scene:
The Prophet ﷺ says:
"Jibril kept advising me about the neighbor until I thought he would give him a share of inheritance!"
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!"
It was asked: "Who, O Messenger of Allah?"
He said: "The one whose neighbor is not safe from his harm."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
3.3 — Society
Muslim Brotherhood
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The example of the believers in their love, mercy, and compassion for each other is like one body: if one member suffers, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim: he does not wrong him, does not abandon him, and does not despise him. Taqwa is here."
And he pointed three times to his chest.
— Source: Sahih Muslim
Prohibition of Backbiting
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Do you know what backbiting (ghiba) is?"
They said: "Allah and His Messenger know best."
He said: "It is mentioning your brother with what he dislikes."
It was asked: "What if what I say is true?"
He said: "If it is true, you have backbitten him. And if it is false, you have slandered him (buhtan)."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
🌟 PART 4: SPIRITUALITY
4.1 — Sincerity (Al-Ikhlas)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Actions are only by intentions, and each person will have only what they intended."
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (first hadith of the collection)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Allah does not look at your bodies or your appearances, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
4.2 — Trust in Allah (At-Tawakkul)
📜 Scene:
A bedouin asks: "O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or leave it and trust in Allah?"
The Prophet ﷺ says:
"Tie it, then trust in Allah."
— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If you truly trusted in Allah as He should be trusted, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out in the morning hungry and return in the evening full."
— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi
4.3 — Patience (As-Sabr)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Patience is light."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Amazing is the affair of the believer: everything is good for him, and this is only for the believer. If something good happens to him, he is grateful, and it is good for him. And if something bad happens to him, he is patient, and it is good for him."
— Source: Sahih Muslim
4.4 — Gratitude (Ash-Shukr)
📜 Scene:
Aisha saw the Prophet ﷺ praying at night until his feet swelled.
She asked: "Why do you do this when Allah has forgiven all your sins?"
He replied:
"Should I not be a grateful servant?"
— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
4.5 — God-Consciousness (At-Taqwa)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Taqwa is here."
And he pointed to his chest three times.
— Source: Sahih Muslim
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Fear Allah wherever you are. Follow a bad deed with a good one, it will erase it. And deal with people with good character."
— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi
📊 SUMMARY TABLE: The Great Teachings
On Worship
| Theme | Key Teaching | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer | "Pray as you have seen me pray" | Bukhari |
| Fasting | "Fasting is a shield" | Bukhari |
| Charity | "Charity has never decreased wealth" | Muslim |
| Dhikr | "SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi" 100 times/day | Bukhari |
| Du'a | "Supplication is worship itself" | Tirmidhi |
On Morality
| Theme | Key Teaching | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Truthfulness | "Truthfulness leads to righteousness" | Bukhari/Muslim |
| Parents | "Your mother, your mother, your mother, then your father" | Bukhari |
| Anger | "The strong is one who controls himself" | Bukhari |
| Forgiveness | "Forgiveness only increases honor" | Muslim |
| Modesty | "Modesty is part of faith" | Bukhari |
On Relationships
| Theme | Key Teaching | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Family | "The best is the best to his family" | Tirmidhi |
| Neighbors | "Jibril kept advising me about the neighbor" | Bukhari |
| Brotherhood | "Like one body" | Bukhari/Muslim |
| Backbiting | "Mentioning your brother with what he dislikes" | Muslim |
On Spirituality
| Theme | Key Teaching | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sincerity | "Actions are only by intentions" | Bukhari |
| Tawakkul | "Tie it, then trust in Allah" | Tirmidhi |
| Patience | "Everything is good for the believer" | Muslim |
| Gratitude | "Should I not be a grateful servant?" | Bukhari |
| Taqwa | "Fear Allah wherever you are" | Tirmidhi |
💡 10 Hadiths to Memorize
| # | Hadith | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Actions are only by intentions." | Sincerity |
| 2 | "I was sent to perfect noble character." | Morality |
| 3 | "Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise." | Truth |
| 4 | "The strong is one who controls himself in anger." | Self-Control |
| 5 | "The best of you is the best to his family." | Family |
| 6 | "Your smile to your brother is charity." | Generosity |
| 7 | "Modesty is part of faith." | Modesty |
| 8 | "The believers are like one body." | Brotherhood |
| 9 | "Tie it, then trust in Allah." | Balance |
| 10 | "Fear Allah wherever you are." | Taqwa |
🎯 Practical Applications
This week, I commit to:
- Prayer: Improve my concentration (khushu')
- Fasting: Fast on Mondays and Thursdays
- Charity: Smile at every person I meet
- Dhikr: Say "SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi" 100 times/day
- Parents: Call my parents every day
- Anger: Say "A'udhu billah" before getting upset
- Neighbors: Give a gift to my neighbor
- Sincerity: Check my intention before every action
📖 Sources for This Lesson
- Sahih al-Bukhari
- Sahih Muslim
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi
- Sunan Abu Dawud
- Sunan al-Nasa'i
- Sunan Ibn Majah
- Al-Muwatta by Imam Malik
- Musnad Ahmad
May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and companions
And Allah is the One who grants success and guides to the right path