Explanation of a Hadith from Musnad
There is a Hadith that says: “The best religion for you is the easiest one.”
After mentioning the above Hadith, Professor Sayyid Fatima Hana from Mumbai asked the following question: “Assalamu Alaikum, Shaykh. I hope you are well. Please explain this Hadith for us.”
Answer:
This Hadith is the last part of a longer Hadith (إن خير دينكم أيسره، إن خير دينكم أيسره، إن خير دينكم أيسره). It has been narrated by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad through Affan ibn Muslim: “Abu Awana told us, Abu Bishr told us, from Abdullah ibn Shuqayq, from Raja’ ibn Abi Raja’ al-Bahili, from Mihjan ibn al-Adra’.” This Hadith is classified as Hasan (good).
There is a similar Hadith: “The religion most loved by Allah is the easy and tolerant one,” which is supported by verses from the Quran: “And He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham” (Quran 22:78), and “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” (Quran 2:185), among others.
Additionally, there are many Hadiths with similar meanings, including a famous Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari: “Indeed, the religion is easy” (Book of Faith, Chapter on Religion is Easy and the Statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم “The religion most loved by Allah is the easy and tolerant one”). Another Hadith in both Sahihs narrated by Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states: “Whenever the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was given a choice between two matters, he would choose the easier one, as long as it did not involve sin.”
Some people believe that choosing a difficult path is a sign of piety. Such a belief indicates a lack of understanding of the religion. Adopting a difficult path can lead to various harms:
1. The person is ungrateful to Allah by ignoring the ease that Allah has granted, which is a divine blessing. Allah wants His servants to follow the easy path and take advantage of the concessions He has provided, as indicated by another Hadith.
2. The person falls into the trap of self-admiration, thinking they are better than others, and this arrogance leads to many other evils.
3. This arrogance can lead to pride, causing the person to look down on other Muslims, which is a major sin.
4. It fosters an extremist attitude, making the person rigid and harsh.
5. The person begins to neglect other responsibilities, and it is commonly observed that those who exaggerate in certain areas tend to neglect more important duties.
You should keep the following points in mind:
1. Practicing the religion is a lifelong endeavor. Those who adopt the ease given by Allah will gradually reach their destination.
2. The current times are challenging, and following the religion is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, it is the responsibility of those working in the path of Allah to guide people towards the easiest way to worship and obedience.
3. When explaining religious matters to others, consider their intellectual level and present the issue in a rational manner. Rational explanations are an effective way to make the religion easy for others.
4. The most important thing is to deal with everyone with gentleness and love, for even a bitter medicine feels like honey when given with kindness and affection.
May Allah make us all callers and teachers of His religion, Ameen.
