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“Ad-Deen Al-Mu‘aamalah” - not a Hadeeth

Question

How authentic is the Hadeeth that reads: “Ad-Deen Al-Mu‘aamalah (religion is good dealing)”? May Allaah reward you.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

This is a common saying which means that the essence of religion is good manners when dealing with others. Some people consider it a Hadeeth while others believe it to be a proverb, but we have not found it in any source book of Hadeeth. It seems to be a proverb that signifies the importance of good manners in Islam as confirmed by many Hadeeths of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) , who told us that he was sent to perfect high moral standards. [Maalik in Al-Muwatta’]

Also, the Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) explained that those who have the best manners will sit nearest to him on the Day of Judgment. [Imaam Ahmad. Al-Haythami: Saheeh (Authentic)]

In another Hadeeth narrated on the authority of Mu‘aawiyah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said that "the best Muslim is he who has the best manners". [Al-Bukhari]

These Hadeeths, as well as many others, show us the great importance and value of good manners in Islam. A Muslim could be a caller to Islam through his manners without uttering a single word, because actions influence people much more than words do.

Allaah Knows best.

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