Hadith 17 & 18 — Excellence in Everything and Consciousness of Allah

[Arabic,إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. ]

Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our wrong actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.

Part One: Excellence in All Things — The Command of Ihsan

Brothers,

Today we continue our journey through Imam Nawawi's forty hadith with two profound teachings that shape the complete Muslim personality. We begin with Hadith 17, which establishes a revolutionary principle that transforms every aspect of our lives.

On the authority of Abu Ya'la Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Muslim (1955),"Verily, Allah has prescribed excellence in all things. So if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters."]

This hadith contains a universal command that many Muslims overlook. Allah has prescribed ihsan—excellence, perfection, beautification—in everything. Not just in worship. Not just in major acts. Everything.

The Comprehensive Nature of Ihsan

When Allah prescribes something, it becomes obligatory. This hadith tells us that excellence is not optional—it's required. Allah reminds us throughout the Qur'an of this principle:

[Quran,16:90,"Indeed, Allah commands justice and excellence and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you so perhaps you will be reminded."]

Notice how Allah pairs justice with excellence. Justice is the minimum—giving everyone their rights. Excellence goes beyond—it's giving more than required, doing better than expected, perfecting what you touch.

The Prophet ﷺ defined ihsan in worship when Jibreel asked him:

[Hadith,Bukhari (50) & Muslim (8),"Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state, then know that He sees you."]

This definition reveals two levels of excellence:

The Higher Level: Acting as if you see Allah—motivated by love and longing
The Lower Level: Knowing Allah sees you—motivated by awareness and reverence

Both levels transform ordinary acts into worship. When you eat with ihsan, eating becomes worship. When you work with ihsan, labor becomes devotion. When you speak with ihsan, words become remembrance.

Why the Example of Slaughter?

The Prophet ﷺ chose a striking example—killing and slaughtering animals. Why? Because this demonstrates that even in taking life, even in what might seem harsh or violent, excellence is required.

Think about what this hadith commands:

"Sharpen his blade": Prepare properly before any task
"Spare suffering": Minimize harm even when harm is necessary
"Kill well": Do even difficult things with excellence

If excellence is required when taking life, how much more is it required in preserving life? If we must be excellent in slaughter, how much more in mercy?

The scholars explain this wisdom beautifully. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali writes in his commentary:

[Quote,Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (Jami' al-'Ulum wal-Hikam),"This hadith is evidence that Allah loves ihsan in all things. Even in killing, whether in retribution, or in prescribed punishments, or in permissible slaughter—all of it, Allah loves that it be done with ihsan."]

This teaching revolutionized how Muslims approached everything. Historical accounts tell us that 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, the righteous caliph, would inspect slaughterhouses to ensure animals were treated with excellence. He once punished a man who was sharpening his blade in front of an animal, saying, "Do you want to make it die twice? Why didn't you sharpen it before bringing the animal?"

Examples of Excellence from the Salaf

The early Muslims understood this comprehensive command. They applied ihsan to everything:

Excellence in Work: A man came to Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and said, "I write hadith. How should I write?" Imam Ahmad replied, "Write with excellence. Make your handwriting clear, your ink good, your paper clean. You are preserving the words of the Prophet ﷺ."

Excellence in Teaching: Imam Malik would bathe, wear his best clothes, apply perfume, and sit with dignity before teaching hadith. When asked why, he said, "I am about to mention the words of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. This requires excellence."

Excellence in Family Life: The Prophet ﷺ demonstrated this himself. As Aisha tells us:

[Hadith,Bukhari (676),"The Prophet ﷺ would be in the service of his family, and when the time for prayer came, he would leave for prayer."]

He didn't just help—he served. He didn't do tasks grudgingly—he did them with excellence.

The Relationship Between Ihsan and Success

Allah has made a promise in the Qur'an that many overlook:

[Quran,7:56,"Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to those who do things with excellence."]

Allah's mercy is near—not far—from those who practice ihsan. This means:

Your du'a is more likely to be answered
Your difficulties are more likely to be eased
Your provisions are more likely to be increased
Your heart is more likely to find peace

Why? Because you're following Allah's command to do everything with excellence.

Consider this profound verse:

[Quran,10:26,"For those who do things with excellence is the best reward and more. Neither darkness nor humiliation will cover their faces. They are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein forever."]

"The best reward and more"—what is the "more"? The scholars say it's seeing Allah's face in Paradise. Those who live with ihsan, acting as if they see Allah, will actually see Him in the eternal life.

Practical Applications of Ihsan

In Your Prayer: Don't just complete the motions. Feel every word, perfect every position, focus every thought. The Prophet ﷺ told a man who prayed carelessly:

[Hadith,Bukhari (757) & Muslim (397),"Go back and pray, for you have not prayed."]

The man had done the actions, but without excellence, it didn't count as prayer.

In Your Conversations: Don't just avoid lying—speak with wisdom, kindness, and benefit. Choose your words carefully, time them properly, deliver them beautifully. Allah tells us:

[Quran,17:53,"And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces dissension among them."]

Not just "that which is good"—but "that which is best." This is ihsan in speech.

In Your Work: Whether it's cleaning your cell, doing a job assignment, or helping someone with a task—do it with excellence. The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Bayhaqi (Shu'ab al-Iman 4886),"Allah loves, when one of you does a job, that he does it with excellence."]

Allah loves it. Not just accepts it, not just rewards it—He loves it.

In Your Relationships: Don't just fulfill obligations—exceed them. Don't just avoid harm—actively benefit others. Don't just maintain ties—strengthen them.

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ, "My mother's sister made an oath to perform Hajj, but she died before doing so. Should I perform Hajj on her behalf?" The Prophet ﷺ replied:

[Hadith,Bukhari (1852) & Muslim (1149),"Yes, perform Hajj on her behalf. If your mother had a debt, wouldn't you pay it? Pay Allah's debt, for Allah has more right to be paid."]

But notice—the man was asking about his aunt, not his mother. Yet he wanted to show ihsan even to extended family. This is excellence in maintaining family ties.

The Fruits of Living with Ihsan

When you commit to excellence in everything:

Your Actions Gain Weight: A small deed done with excellence outweighs a large deed done carelessly
You Find Peace: Excellence eliminates the anxiety of half-done work and the guilt of mediocrity
People Trust You: When you do everything with excellence, you become trustworthy in all matters
Doors Open: Excellence attracts opportunity, respect, and success
You Draw Near to Allah: Because you're fulfilling His command and embodying His names (Al-Muhsin - The One Who Does Everything with Excellence)

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim explains this beautifully:

[Quote,Ibn al-Qayyim (Madarij al-Salikin),"Ihsan is the spirit of actions, their beautification, and their completion. An action without ihsan is like a body without a soul."]

The Warning Against Mediocrity

The opposite of ihsan is doing things carelessly, half-heartedly, "good enough." This attitude is dangerous because:

It violates Allah's command
It wastes the opportunities of this life
It reflects poorly on Islam
It corrupts your character
It leads to regret

Allah warns us:

[Quran,18:103-104,"Say, 'Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in their deeds? Those whose efforts in worldly life are misguided, while they think they are doing good.'"]

They thought "good enough" was good enough. But without ihsan, their deeds were lost.

Brothers, excellence is not perfectionism—it's doing your sincere best with the resources you have. In this environment, with limited resources, ihsan might mean:

Making wudu carefully despite cold water
Praying with focus despite distractions
Keeping your area clean despite challenges
Speaking kindly despite frustrations
Helping others despite your own struggles

The key is intention and effort, not perfect outcomes. Allah judges ihsan by sincerity, not by worldly standards.

Part Two: The Three Principles of Success — Taqwa, Repentance, and Character

Brothers,

Now we turn to Hadith 18, which gives us three principles that guarantee success in this life and the next. On the authority of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari and Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with them), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (1987),"Fear Allah wherever you are, follow up a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it out, and behave well towards people."]

This is comprehensive advice—wasiyyah jami'ah. In just a few words, the Prophet ﷺ gave us a complete program for life. These three commands cover your relationship with Allah, yourself, and others.

First Principle: "Fear Allah Wherever You Are"

This is taqwa—the foundation of all good. But what exactly is taqwa?

'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz explained it perfectly: "Taqwa is not praying long prayers or fasting all day. Taqwa is leaving what Allah has forbidden and doing what He has commanded. Whatever good comes after that is grace upon grace."

The command says "wherever you are"—this has profound implications:

In Public and Private: Many people fear Allah in public but sin in private. They pray in the mosque but watch haram alone. They speak righteously with others but harbor evil thoughts. Allah tells us:

[Quran,3:29,"Say, 'Whether you conceal what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it. And He knows what is in the heavens and what is on earth. And Allah is capable of all things.'"]

True taqwa means your private worship exceeds your public worship. Why? Because private worship is purely for Allah, untainted by showing off.

In Ease and Hardship: It's easy to fear Allah when life is good. But what about when tested? What about in this place, with these challenges? Allah tells us:

[Quran,64:16,"So fear Allah as much as you are able, and listen and obey and spend in charity; it is better for yourselves. And whoever is protected from the greed of his soul—it is they who will be successful."]

"As much as you are able"—Allah knows your circumstances. Taqwa here might look different than taqwa outside, but the principle remains.

In Thought and Action: Taqwa begins in the heart before manifesting in actions. The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Muslim (2564),"Taqwa is here," and he pointed to his chest three times."]

Your thoughts, intentions, and feelings—all must be guarded with taqwa.

The Reality of Taqwa

Ali ibn Abi Talib was asked about taqwa. He said: "It is fear of the Majestic, acting upon revelation, contentment with little, and preparing for the day of departure."

Let's understand each element:

Fear of the Majestic: Recognizing Allah's power and your accountability
Acting upon revelation: Following Qur'an and Sunnah, not desires
Contentment with little: Not letting dunya distract from akhirah
Preparing for departure: Living ready to meet Allah

The fruit of taqwa is incredible. Allah promises:

[Quran,65:2-3,"And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him."]

A way out of every difficulty. Provision from unexpected sources. This is the guarantee for those with taqwa.

Second Principle: "Follow Up a Bad Deed with a Good Deed"

This is Allah's mercy manifest. We all sin—it's human nature. The Prophet ﷺ told us:

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2499) & Ibn Majah (4251),"Every son of Adam sins, and the best of sinners are those who repent."]

But Allah gave us a way to erase our mistakes—follow them immediately with good deeds. Why immediately? Because:

The Heart Hardens: The longer you wait, the harder repentance becomes
Sins Accumulate: One sin leads to another if not quickly addressed
Death May Come: You don't know if you'll have tomorrow
Good Deeds Are Easier: Right after sinning, your heart is soft with regret

Allah confirms this principle:

[Quran,11:114,"Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds remove bad deeds. That is a reminder for those who remember."]

The story behind this verse is beautiful. A man came to the Prophet ﷺ, extremely distressed. He had kissed a woman who wasn't his wife. He asked, "O Messenger of Allah, I have committed a sin. Is there repentance for me?" The Prophet ﷺ asked, "Did you pray with us?" He said yes. Then this verse was revealed. The man asked, "Is this for me specifically?" The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Muslim (2763),"It is for all of my ummah, whoever acts upon it."]

What Good Deeds Erase Bad Deeds?

The scholars mention specific good deeds that are particularly effective:

1. Sincere Repentance (Tawbah): This is the most important. The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Ibn Majah (4250),"The one who repents from sin is like one who has no sin."]

True tawbah requires:

Regret for what you did
Seeking Allah's forgiveness
Resolving never to return
Making amends if you wronged someone

2. Prayer: Especially the five daily prayers. Allah says:

[Quran,29:45,"Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater."]

The Prophet ﷺ gave a beautiful analogy:

[Hadith,Muslim (244),"If there was a river at your door and you bathed in it five times a day, would any dirt remain on you?" They said no. He said, "That is like the five prayers; Allah erases sins with them."]

3. Charity: Even if you have little. The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2035),"Charity extinguishes sin just as water extinguishes fire."]

In this environment, charity might mean:

Sharing commissary items
Teaching someone to read
Helping with legal work
Just a kind word or smile

4. Dhikr (Remembrance): Especially seeking forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ said:

[Hadith,Bukhari (6307),"Whoever says 'Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi' 100 times a day, his sins will be forgiven even if they were as much as the foam of the sea."]

Third Principle: "Behave Well Towards People"

This completes the triangle. After taqwa (your relationship with Allah) and repentance (your relationship with yourself), comes good character (your relationship with others).

The Prophet ﷺ emphasized this constantly:

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (2003),"The heaviest thing to be placed on the believer's scale on the Day of Judgment is good character. And Allah hates the one who is obscene and vulgar."]

Good character isn't optional—it's the heaviest thing on your scale! The Prophet ﷺ also said:

[Hadith,Abu Dawud (4800),"The believer with the most complete faith is the one with the best character."]

Your faith is incomplete without good character. You can pray all night and fast all day, but without good character, your faith is deficient.

What Is Good Character?

The Prophet ﷺ was asked about good character. He recited:

[Quran,7:199,"Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant."]

This verse contains three elements:

"Take what is given freely": Accept people as they are, don't demand perfection
"Enjoin what is good": Encourage good gently, don't force it
"Turn away from the ignorant": Don't engage with those who want to argue

Aisha described the Prophet's character:

[Hadith,Muslim (746),"His character was the Qur'an."]

He embodied what he taught. When the Qur'an commanded patience, he was patient. When it commanded forgiveness, he forgave. When it commanded kindness, he was kind.

Practical Good Character in This Environment

With Your Cellmate:

Give him privacy when needed
Share what you have
Be patient with his habits
Don't expose his faults
Help him maintain family ties

With Officers:

Be respectful even if they're not
Follow rules even when others don't
Don't give them reason to make things harder
Remember they're human beings with families

With Other Inmates:

Don't join in backbiting
Don't spread rumors
Help new arrivals adjust
Share knowledge and skills
Be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker

The Prophet ﷺ gave us a golden rule:

[Hadith,Muslim (2585),"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."]

In this place, ask yourself:

Would I want someone talking about me like this?
Would I want someone treating me like this?
Would I want someone ignoring me when I need help?

The Connection Between the Three Principles

These three commands work together:

Taqwa prevents sins: When you fear Allah, you're less likely to sin
Good deeds erase sins: When you do sin, you quickly erase it
Good character prevents conflicts: When you treat people well, you avoid many sins

Together, they create a complete system for success.

Imam Ibn Rajab explains:

[Quote,Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (Jami' al-'Ulum wal-Hikam),"These three principles encompass all of good. The first fixes what is between you and Allah. The second fixes what you've corrupted. The third fixes what is between you and creation."]

Living These Principles Daily

Morning Routine:

Start with taqwa: Remember Allah is watching
Make intention: "Today I will fear Allah wherever I am"
Seek forgiveness: For last night's mistakes
Plan good deeds: What good can I do today?
Resolve: "I will treat everyone well today"

Throughout the Day:

Before any action: "Does this please Allah?"
After any mistake: Immediately say "Astaghfirullah" and do good
With every person: "How would I want to be treated?"
In privacy: "Allah sees me"

Evening Routine:

Review: Where did I fail in taqwa today?
Repent: For all mistakes, known and unknown
Good deeds: Extra prayer, dhikr, or charity
Forgive: Anyone who wronged you
Plan: How can I be better tomorrow?

The Promise for Those Who Follow This Advice

When you implement these three principles, Allah promises amazing things:

[Quran,16:97,"Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward according to the best of what they used to do."]

A good life—even in difficult circumstances. Peace in your heart even in chaos around you. This is the fruit of following the Prophet's comprehensive advice.

The Prophet ﷺ also promised:

[Hadith,Tirmidhi (1987) - continuation,"I guarantee a house in the middle of Paradise for one who abandons lying even when joking, a house in the highest part of Paradise for one who has good character."]

Brothers, these two hadiths we've studied today—excellence in everything and the three principles—they work together. When you have taqwa, you naturally want to do everything with ihsan. When you do things with excellence, you naturally develop good character. When you have good character, you naturally fear Allah more.

This is the path to success in both worlds.

O Allah, grant us excellence in our worship, our work, and our relationships.

O Allah, make us among those who fear You in public and private.

O Allah, when we sin, inspire us to quickly follow with good deeds.

O Allah, beautify our character as You have beautified our creation.

O Allah, make us among those who do everything with ihsan.

O Allah, grant us taqwa that leads to Your pleasure.

O Allah, accept our repentance and multiply our good deeds.

O Allah, make us beloved to You through our good character.

O Allah, help us implement these teachings in our daily lives.

O Allah, make us true followers of Your Messenger's comprehensive advice.

Wa ākhiru da'wānā an al-hamdu lillāhi rabbi'l-'ālamīn

We ask Allah to make us firm upon His straight path, to guide us and not let us go astray, to have mercy on us and forgive us.

Whatever good was said in this khutbah is from Allah alone, and whatever mistakes or errors are from myself and from Shaytan. I ask Allah to forgive me and you for any shortcomings.

I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you all. Seek His forgiveness—indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

[Arabic,أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ. ]

Wa sallallāhu 'alā nabiyyinā Muhammadin wa 'alā ālihī wa sahbihī ajma'īn