Part I: Religious Literature (continued)

B. Religious Literature: Hadith - Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad

The religious zeal (enthusiasm) of the early Muslims also inspired the collection of the hadith, the record of the sayings and deeds and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. After the sudden death of the spiritual and political leader, it was necessary to preserve all of Muhammad's words since they were believed to have been inspired. By the 9th century, the hadith had been solidified into a body of material to which no new traditions were added. Today the hadith is revered (respected, honored) as a major source of religious law and moral guidance, second only to the Qur'an. They are used to guide Muslims in their everyday lives.

After each quotation, there is the name of the person who reported having heard it. When all of the quotations were gathered, only those that were from honorable people were included in the final book. The quotations are from those closest to the Prophet Muhammad - his friends, relatives, wives, and close followers. They are organized by topics, such as those below:

(Sayings of Muhammad. by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad).

MANNERS OF EATING

92. Mention God's name, eat with your right hand and eat from what is next to you.

(Bukhari, Muslim).

 

94. I do not eat reclining (lying down, not sitting up).

(Bukhari).

 

 

MANNERS OF DRINKING

 

96. God's messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to breathe three times in the course of a drink.

(Bukhari, Muslim).

 

97. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade that a man should drink standing.

(Muslim).

 

98. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade breathing or blowing into a vessel.

(Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah).

 

 

VISITING THE SICK

 

100. Feed the hungry, visit the sick and free the captive.

(Bukhari).

 

101. When you visit an invalid tell him to make a supplication for you, for his supplication is like of the angels.

(Ibn Majah).

 

 

SALUTATIONS (Greetings)

 

103. There are six good qualities which one believer should display to another; he should visit him when he is ill, be present when he dies, accept his invitation when he gives one, salute him when he meets him, say 'God have mercy on you' when he sneezes and act sincerely towards him whether he is absent or present.

(Nasai).

 

106. Those who are nearest to God are they who are first to give a salutation.

(Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).

 

The hadith are still used as a source for decision-making by Muslims today. Read further examples and explanations of the hadith.

C. Shi'a Muslim Religious Writings: The Sayings, Sermons, and Letters of Ali

(Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law, and the fourth caliph of Islam)

"The Peak of Eloquence - Nahjul Balagha" compiled by Al-Radi (970-1015 C.E.) is a collection of sayings, letters and sermons of Ali, Muhamammad's son-in-law and the fourth caliph. His followers later established a major division in Islam, Shi'a (Shiite). It is a masterpiece of Arabic prose that has inspired numerous imitations in other languages. It is second only to the Qur'an for Shi'a Muslims. It is not an important work to Sunni Muslims.

 

D. Shi'a Muslim Religious Drama (a Passion Play)

Drama (meaning presenting plays in a theater) is not very common in most Islamic countries. However, there is one religious drama that is found in countries with mostly Shi'a Muslim populations, such as Persia and Pakistan. This "play" reenacts the death of Hosein (also spelled Hussein), the son of Ali and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Shi'a Muslims believed that the leader of the Islamic Empire (the caliph, or successors to Muhammad) should be related to Muhammad. They believed he should be spiritual leader, not only a political leaders. But Yazid opposed him. He was the son of Muawiuya, the fifth caliph and founder of the Umayyad Dynasty. His capital city was in Damascus, Syria.

Hosein and his followers battled with the army of Yazid to see who would be the next leader of Islam. Yazid's army was victorious. Hosein was cruelly murdered and Hosein's head was taken back to Yazid as a war trophy. Hosein was considered a martyr. Most Muslims were shocked at the brutal way Hosein and the family of the Prophet were treated by Yazid's soldiers.

Every year the drama of Ashura commemorates the sacrifice of Hosein for Shi'a Muslims.

Above, the annual drama of Ashura reenacts the death of Hosein (son of Ali and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad) in 680 AD. It tells of the battle between the army of Yezid (of the Umayyad dynasty) and Hosein's forces. - Photos courtesy of Soleiman M. Kiasatpour, U.C. Riverside, trip of 1995.	Shi'a Muslims believe that only relatives of Muhammad should be the caliph, or leader of Islam. Sunni Muslims believe the leader can be elected and not related to the Prophet Muhammad. Above is a boy who is playing the role of Hosein's son who was also killed.
Part of the Ashura ritual in Pakistan involves beating oneself on the back with a whip with nails or blades. This ritual commemorates the suffering and death of Hosein. -Photos above and to the right are courtesy of Ayse and Jan's Travelspot: On the Road in Pakistan, 1993	The plays and pageants of Ashura reinforce the Shi'a Muslims' beliefs about their history, give them fresh insights into their religious experiences, and strengthen their religious commitments.

For a fuller explanation of the story of Hosein, click [here].

For poetry that was inspired by the martyrdom of Hosein, click [here]

Go back to Page One: Religious Literature - The Qur'an

You are here at Page Two: More Religious Literature

Go to Page Three: Religious Literature, Drama, Poetry

Go to Page Four: Poetry

Go to Page Five: Stories and Tales

Go to Page Six: Other Types of Literature (Sayings, Travel Books, Puppet Theater)

 

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