Sahih Muslim 1401
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that some of the Companions of Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) asked his (the Prophet’s) wives about the acts that he performed in private. Someone among them (among his Companions) said: I will not marry women; someone among them said: I will not eat meat; and someone among them said: I will not lie down in bed. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah and glorified Him, and said: What has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me.
From this hadith, we can learn several things:
- The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had a deep love and respect for him, and they were curious to learn about his private acts of worship and personal habits.
- Some of the Companions made statements indicating extreme devotion, such as not getting married, abstaining from eating meat, or refraining from sleeping in comfortable beds. They believed that by doing so, they would attain a higher level of piety and closeness to Allah.
- When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) heard about these statements, he expressed his gratitude and glorified Allah. He then clarified that despite his own high level of devotion and worship, he still engaged in normal activities such as praying, sleeping, fasting, and getting married. This demonstrated that a balanced approach to life is encouraged in Islam, and extreme acts of devotion are not necessary to gain closeness to Allah.
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of following his Sunnah, which refers to his teachings, actions, and way of life. He stated that anyone who turns away from his Sunnah severs their relationship with him. This highlights the significance of adhering to the Prophet’s example as a means of maintaining a strong connection with him and with Allah.
Overall, this hadith teaches us about the balanced approach to worship in Islam, the importance of following the Prophet Muhammad’s example, and the rejection of extreme or unnecessary acts of piety.
