Nawawi 40 Hadiths, The Importance of Prayer (Dua) in Islam

Nawawi and Hadith 10: The Importance of Islamic Prayer (Dua)

Nawawi's Forty Hadith — Nawawi’s collection of traditions contains revelation for Muslims.

Why study the ahadith?

A Christian interested in learning about Islam should study the ahadith because Muslims consider hadiths to be revelatory (Qur’an 2:151). Muslims believe the sayings, actions, and approvals of Muhammad (sunnah) as can be found in the hadith are like the ark of Noah, “Whoever embarks upon it achieves salvation and whoever rejects it, is drowned.”

Another reason to study the hadiths is because the hadiths evidence Jesus’ superiority to Muhammad. This is especially evident when comparing Jesus’ teaching and example to Muhammad’s teaching and example about love for one’s brother and adultery. In fact, Muhammad never emphasized the love of God as exemplified by Jesus and His selfless and sacrificial death on the cross. This is something Christians have always remembered and commemorated.

I am studying the hadiths with Ali Gomaa because I would like to learn more about Islam as a religion from a recognized Islamic scholar.

Here is the Tenth Hadith compiled by al-Nawawi, first in Arabic and then the English translation of the Arabic,

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم 🙁 إن الله تعالى طيب لا يقبل إلا طيبا ، وإن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلين فقال تعالى :{ يا أيها الرسل كلوا من الطيبات واعملوا صالحا } ، وقال تعالى : { يا أيها الذين امنوا كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم } ، ثم ذكر الرجل يطيل السفر أشعث أغبر يمد يده إلى السماء : يا رب ! يا رب ! ومطعمه حرام ومشربه حرام وملبسه حرام وغذي بالحرام فأنى يستجاب له ؟. رواه مسلم [ رقم : 1015 ]

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (radi allahu ‘anhu ¹English Translation from Arabic, May Allah be pleased with him.) who said: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam ²Arabic to English translation, May Allah bless him and grant him peace. Often abbreviated SAWS) said:

Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the Believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said:

“O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibaat [all kinds of Halaal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds.” [23:51]

and the Almighty has said:

“O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you” [2:172]

Then he mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying “O Lord! O Lord!”, while his food is Haraam (unlawful), his drink is Haraam, his clothing is Haraam, and he has been nourished with Haraam, so how can [his supplication] be answered ?!

[Narrated by Muslim.]

Sheikh Ali Gomaa’s teaching about dua (prayer)

Listen to the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Ali Gomaa teach about the importance of prayer (dua). Ali Gomaa is one of the foremost Islamic scholars in the world. My notes follow,

1:24-1:36

“This hadith shows the importance of du’aa (prayer) and that there are conditions for making du’aa. One of the essential conditions for acceptance of du’aa is that one’s food, clothes and deeds should be lawful.”

5:13-5:20

“It is not a charity that puts out the sin as water puts out fire””

I put this quote here because it highlights an essential difference between how Muslims understand God’s forgiveness of sin and how Christians understand God’s forgiveness.

6:47-7:32

Ali Gomaa discusses the portion of the hadith and the traveler, “He [Muhammad] then mentioned a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled and covered with dust.” However, “He lifts his hand toward the sky, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’he lost and missed the condition for acceptance of his duaa” “whereas his food, drink, clothes, and nourishment is unlawful.” The unlawful nourishment diffused throughout his body. How can then his du’aa (supplication) be accepted? In no way can his du’aa be fulfilled. Another hadith states, “Eat from the good so that your du’aa would be accepted.”

Christianity and the hadith

As a Christian I would explain the ahadith as the words of Muhammad whereas the Qur’an is allegedly the words of Allah. Muslims don’t believe in the Christian doctrine of inspiration. Christians believe something can be both the word of God and the word of man. For example, Christians say that God the Holy Spirit inspired King David to write almost half the Psalms (2 Samuel 23:1-2). Muslims only accept “direct words” as the “Word of God.” Muslims would accept the authority of the ahadith, but they don’t believe they are God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Christian Scritpures emphasize the importance of holiness when it comes to God hearing our prayers (Psalm 66:18). If we want God to hear our prayers then it is important for us to hear God’s Word. However, the Scriptures also emphasize the necessity of an intercessor on our behalf and our prayers, as Christians, are ultimately heard because of the obedience of Jesus Christ Whom the Bible calls our great High Priest.

Next Post in This Series: