How to be Among the Best of the Best in Islam

You (true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Maroof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fasiqoon (disobedient to Allah — and rebellious against Allah's Command). — Qur’an 3[Al-’Imran];110

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The religion is easy, and whosoever makes it difficult for himself will find it hard to continue. These are words of the blessed prophet Muhammad — peace be upon him. The Muslims of these days are well known to be talkative; they talk more and do less. Unlike the Muslims of yore who were proactive. The companions of the Messenger leaned Islam, understood it, practiced it and then shared the goodwill message. This was evident to a point that when they called upon Allah He responded. They showcased the beauty of Islam through character rather than speeches. The sahabah -companions- were the best of the best and this was what led to supreme success for them.

We can’t keep complaining about the situation of Muslims if we do not change what’s in our heart and act accordingly in line with the teachings of the blessed prophet SAW. Muhammad was known as an upright man of good mannerisms even before he proclaimed the message of the Islamic faith. Allah described him with excellent characters. His beautiful wordings through the Hadith serve as blueprints to guide us in becoming the best of the best. It’s not about just reading these words, it’s about putting them into practice and that’s the creme de la creme.

Following these traditions with sincerity will not only earn you rewards, but it will also make you a better Muslim who is distinctive from the crowd. These ahadith have been categorized by subjects removing the narrators while leaving the collectors and classification for ease. Follow these injunctions and I hope it benefits you in sha Allah…

1. The best of the People:

• “The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.” (Muslim, Sahih)
• “The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best to my family.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
• “The best of people are those with the most excellent character.” (Tabarani, Sahih)
• “The best of people are those that bring the most benefit to the rest of mankind.” (Daraqutni, Hasan)
• “The best of people are those who live longest and excel in their deeds. Whereas, the worst of people are those who live longest and corrupt their deeds.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
• “The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling rights.” (Ibn Majah, Sahih)
• “The best of you are those who are best to women.” (Mustadrak, Sahih)
• “The best of you are those who are best in paying off their debts.” (Tahawi, Sahih)
• “The best among you during the ‘Period of Ignorance’ are the best of you in Islam as long as they deeply understand the religion.” (Bukhari, Sahih)
• “The best of you is he from whom good is anticipated and safety from his evil is assured; the worst of you is he from whom nothing good is expected and one is not safe from his evil.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)

2. The best for the women:

• “The best of women are those that please their husbands when they see them, obey them when commanded, and who safeguard themselves and husband’s wealth in his absence.” (Tabarani, Sahih)
• “The best of you are those who are best to their wives, and I am the best to my wives.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
• “The best of women among the people of Paradise are Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint ‘Imran, and ‘Asiyah bint Muzahim, the wife of Pharaoh.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
• “The best prayers for women are those performed in the most secluded parts of their houses.” (Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahih)
• “The best of marriages are the easiest ones.” (Abu Dawud, Sahih)
• “The world is but an enjoyment, and the best enjoyment of the world is a pious and virtuous woman.” (Muslim, Sahih)

3. The best of legacies:

• “The best of which a man can leave behind for himself are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, an ongoing charity whose reward continues to reach him and knowledge which others benefit from after him.” (Ibn Hibban, Hasan)
• “The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” (Darimi, Sahih)
• “The best wealth is to acquire a grateful heart, a tongue of remembrance, and a believing wife to help you in the matters of the Hereafter.” (Ibn Majah, Sahih)

4. The best of your religion:

• “Allah Almighty said: The most beloved act with which my servant worships me is sincerity for my sake.” (Ahmad, Hasan)
• “The most beloved of deeds according to Allah is the prayer in its right time, then to treat the parents in an excellent manner, and then Jihad in the path of Allah.” (Agreed upon)
• “The most beloved of religions according to Allah the Most-High is the ‘easy and flexible religion.’’ (Ahmad, Hasan)
• “The most beloved of deeds according to Allah are the continuous ones, even if they are little.” (Agreed upon)
• “The best prayer is that with the longest standing.” (Muslim, Sahih)
• “The best of faith is patience and magnanimity.” (Ahmad, Sahih)

5. The best of days:

• “The best of all days in the world are the ten days [of Dhul Hijjah].” (Bazzar, Sahih)
• “The best day on which the Sun has risen is Friday; on it, Adam was created, on it, Adam was made to enter Paradise and on it, he was expelled. The Hour will not be established except on Friday.” (Muslim, Sahih)
• “The best of all prayers according to Allah is the Friday morning prayer in congregation.” (Ibn Nu’aym, Sahih)

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6. The best of words:

• “The most beloved words according to Allah the Most-High are four: Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar; there is no problem with which one you start with.” (Muslim, Sahih)
• “There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy on the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim [Glory be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection].” (Agreed Upon)
• “The most beloved of speech according to Allah is when the servant says, ‘Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi’ (Glory be to Allah and we praise him).” (Muslim, sahih)
• “The best word of remembrance is: La ilaha illallah and the best supplication is: Al-hamdu lillah.” (Tirmidhi, Hasan)

7. The best of provision:

• “The best of the provision is that which suffices.” (Ahmad, Hasan)
• “The best of earnings is a blessed sale and that which a man earns with his hands.”(Ahmad, Sahih)
• “The best of earnings is that of the laborer as long as he tries his best.” (Ahmad, Hasan)
• “The best of dinars are the dinar spent by a man upon his dependents, the dinar spent by a man upon his horse in the path of Allah and the dinar spent by a man upon his companions in the path of Allah, the Mighty, the Magnificent.” (Muslim, Sahih)

8. The best form of charity:

• “The best of charity is that which still leaves you self-sufficient for the upper hand is better than the lower hand; start with those you are responsible for.” (Tabarani, Sahih)
• “The best charity is to provide water.” (Ibn Majah, Hasan)
• “The best of all charity is when the one with little strives to give; start with those you are responsible for.” (Hakim, Sahih)
• “The best of all charity is that which is given to the relative that harbors enmity against you.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
• “The best of all charity is that you give it while you are healthy and desirous (of that money), hoping to become wealthy but fearing poverty. Don’t delay until you are about to breathe your last and then you say, ‘This is for ‘so and so’ and this is for ‘so and so’’, for indeed, it has already been written that ‘so and so’ would receive that.” (Abu Dawud, Sahih)

9. The best of deeds:

• “The best of deeds is that done regularly, even if it is small.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
• “The most beloved deed according to Allah is to have faith in Allah, then to maintain the ties of kinship, and then to command good and forbid wrong. The most abhorrent of deeds according to Allah is to associate partners with Him, then to cut the ties of kinship.” (Abu Ya’la, Hasan)
• “The most beloved Jihad according to Allah is that a word of truth is spoken to a tyrant ruler.” (Tabarani, Hasan)
• “The most beloved word according to me is that which is most truthful.” (Bukhari, Sahih)
• “The most beloved fast according to Allah is the fast of Dawud; he would fast every alternate day. The most beloved prayer according to Allah is the prayer of Dawud; he would sleep half the night, stand a third and then sleep for a sixth.” (Agreed upon)
• “The best of all deeds is to have faith in Allah alone, then Jihad and then an accepted Hajj; they surpass all other deeds like the distance between the rising and setting of the Sun.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
• “The best of all deeds is the Prayer in its right time, to treat the Parents honorably and Jihad in the path of Allah.” (al-Khatib, Sahih)

10. The best of treatments:

• “The best water on the face of the earth is Zamzam water. In it is food for nourishment and healing for illness.” (Mu’jam Al-Kabeer, Sahih)
• “Verily, the best practice with which you treat yourselves is cupping and sea incense. Do not torture your children by treating tonsillitis by pressing the tonsils, but rather you should use incense.” (Bukhari, Sahih)
• “Verily, the best of the kohl that you use is antimony, for it brightens the eyes and grows the hair.” (An-Nasa’i, Sahih)

Beloved brethren, it’s up to you to be different. Follow the path of the Messenger PBUH and be the best of you!!! 😊

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