Lecture Notes: Hadith 17 - Perfection in All Things

Introduction

• Source: Hadith narrated by Abu Yahya.
• Key Message: Allah has prescribed perfection (Ihsan) in all things.
  • If you kill, do it well.
  • If you slaughter, do it well.
  • Sharpen your blade to spare suffering to the animal.

The Concept of Ihsan

• Ihsan in Worship:

  • To worship Allah as though you see Him.
  • Even if you don't see Him, know that He sees you.

• Ihsan in Daily Life:

  • Dealing with creation with full reliance on and focus on the Creator.
  • Feeling watched by and receiving from Allah.

Example of Slaughter

• Significance of the Example:

  • Illustrates Ihsan in seemingly mundane tasks like slaughtering animals for food.
  • Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advises sharpening the blade to minimize animal suffering.
  • This practice aligns with modern humane treatment of animals.

• Scientific Insight:

  • Terrified animals release hormones that affect meat quality.
  • Animals slaughtered peacefully don't release these hormones, benefiting consumers.

Broad Application of Ihsan

• Ihsan Benefits:

  • Benefits the practitioner; improves quality of life and spiritual state.

• Comprehensive Nature of Islam:

  • Islam covers all aspects of life, not just religious rituals.
  • Muslims need to focus on pleasing Allah in all life aspects.

Practical Applications

• Eco-Friendly Practices:

  • Consider environmental impact, especially during Ramadan.
  • Reduce waste and practice Ihsan in daily activities.

• Spiritual Practice of the Heart:

  • Ihsan involves effort to prevent needless suffering.
  • Trust in Allah’s blessing in time management.

Quality Over Quantity

• Focus on Quality:

  • Better to do fewer things well than many things poorly.
  • Quality is recognized by Allah, not just task completion.

• Outcome of Quality vs. Quantity:

  • Choosing quality often results in achieving both quality and quantity.
  • Focusing on quantity can lead to losing both quality and quantity.

Conclusion

• Reminder for Ramadan:
  • Ihsan is crucial in everything we do.
  • Take time to perform tasks with Ihsan, especially during Ramadan.