Hadith (Sayings of Muhammad)

Two specific surprises in the survey. The first is the accent on Knowledge; the high, almost ultimate value placed upon it and its pursuit. Secondly, the strong iteration on another, unexpected virtue. Those of other, non-monotheistic faiths, might find nothing whatever remarkable about it; for those of the Judeo-Christian tradition, the emphasis on good disposition, the caution against ill-temper, comes a surprise. Neither involves a minor, passing mention. There is no mistaking the Prophet's emphasis, at least in the Hadith, the Collected Sayings.

         Not unexpectedly, there seems to be some debate about the extent and authenticity of the various records that make up the Hadith. The small volume presented to the author by Zainuddin Mohamed Ismail — Din for short — a Malay-Indian Singaporean writer and scholar — is issued by the Muslim Missionary Society of Singapore (Jamiyah), from their centre in upper Geylang.

         Just as for Christ and the Buddha, compassion stands as clearly a key characteristic of the Prophet. The feeling and concern for the poor, the orphaned, the beasts, is apparent. A short selection:

 90. Tenderness always lends beauty to one who displays it in one's relations with others. On the other hand, a lack of it lends ugliness

 93. The best form of devotion to God is to seek knowledge. (The absence of an established ecclesiastical order perhaps significant.)

 95. A moment's contemplation is better than seventy years' worship.

 99. He who feels shy or is too proud to seek knowledge, will never gain knowledge.

109. The man of good disposition certainly attains thereby the degree of the man of prayers and fasting.

146. He who lacks goodwill toward others, can never attain piety.

287. .... Truth is tranquility but falsehood is doubt.

323. A man asked the Messenger of God "What practice of Islam is the best one?" He replied "Your giving food (to the needy) and greeting those you know and those you do not know."