Ideal Believer, Ideal Muslim According to the Prophetic Definitions
A prophetic hadith makes the following statements: The Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe and sound. The emigrant is one who leaves behind and abandons those things God has prohibited. (Bukhari, Sahih, "Iman," 4)
Lets briefly analyze this hadith:
Notice the presence of the definite article al (meaning the) before Muslim. This gives the meaning that ideal believers, entering an atmosphere of safety and security, have so immersed themselves in that atmosphere that they harm no one with their hands or tongues. This refers to true and ideal Muslims who leave their mark on all minds, not those who appear or claim to be so, or whose birth certificate reads "Muslim." We understand this from the article, which points to a specific, definite one. This is derived from the grammatical rule: "When something is described with a definite article, the item's highest and most perfect condition is indicated." So, when "the believer" is said, the first thing that comes to mind is the most perfect meaning of "believer," and that is what is meant in the hadith.
One cannot learn this fine grammatical point on their own, for it can be learned only at a school or from a teacher. Having such a lesson was out of the question for God's Messenger, because he was unlettered. Thus, he was not speaking on his own but was relaying what the Eternal Teacher was making him say. For this reason, all subtle grammatical points are found in the Prophet's expressions and declarations without any error in usage.
Let us return to the above hadith: True Muslims are people of safety and trust, so much so that other Muslims can turn their backs on them without doubt or suspicion. They can entrust a family member to such people without fear, for that person will be absolutely safe from the Muslims' hand or tongue. If they attend a gathering together, the person can leave in full confidence that no one will gossip about him or her, and neither will he or she have to listen to gossip about others. Such Muslims are as sensitive to the dignity and honor of other people as they are to their own. They do not eat; they feed others. They do not live; they enable others to live. They will even sacrifice spiritual pleasure for others. I derive all these meanings from the fact that the definite article also means hasr (a restraining, a devoting to one purpose).
- Created on .