Faith and Belief

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “God forgives my people the evil promptings which arise within them so long as they do not act upon them or speak about them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that some of the companions of God’s messenger came to the Prophet to consult him saying, “We have thoughts which none of us dare to talk about.” He said, “Have you experienced that?” and when they replied that they had, he said, “That is clear faith.” Muslim transmitted it.

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “The devil comes to one of you saying, ‘Who created this? Who created that?’ even saying, ‘Who created your Lord?’ "When he gets that length the man should seek refuge in God and stop thinking about it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “People will continue to ask one another questions till someone says this, ‘God created all things, but who created God?’ Whoever comes across anything of that nature should say, ‘I believe in God and in His messengers.’ ” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, “There is none of you who does not have his partner from among the jinn and his partner from among the angels put in charge of him.” The hearers asked, “Does this also apply to you, messenger of God?” He replied, “It applies to me too, but God has helped me against him and he has accepted Islam, so he commands me to do only what is good.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “The devil flows in a man like his blood.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Except Mary and her son, no human being is born without the devil touching him, so that he raises his voice crying out because of the devil's touch” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He also reported God's messenger as saying, "The cry of an infant at the moment of birth is due to a prick from the devil.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, "Iblis sets his throne on the water, then sends forth his detachments to tempt mankind, the one who is nearest him in station being the one who can cause the severest temptation. One of them comes and says, ‘I have done such and such,’ but he replies, ‘You have done nothing.’ Then one of them comes and says; ‘I did not leave him till I separated him from his wife.’ He then brings him near to himself saying, ‘What a fine fellow you are!' ” A'mash said he thought he said, "Then he embraces him.” Muslim transmitted it.

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, "The devil has despaired of being worshipped by those who engage in prayer in Arabia, but he has hopes of setting them against one another.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Uthman b. Abul-'As said he told God’s messenger that the devil interfered with his prayer and his recitation of the Qur’an, causing confusion in his mind, and God’s messenger replied, “That is a devil called Khinzab; so when you feel his presence seek refuge from him in God and spit three times on your left side.” ‘Uthman did so and God caused him to depart from him. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. 'Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “God recorded the fates of all creatures 50,000 years before creating the heavens and the earth, and His throne was upon the water.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Everything is decreed, even backwardness and shrewdness.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud said that God’s messenger who spoke the truth and whose word was believed told them the following: The constituents of one of you are collected for forty days in his mother’s womb in the form of a drop, then they become a piece of congealed blood for a similar period, then they become a lump of flesh for a similar period. Then God sends to him an angel with four words who records his deeds, the period of his life, his provision, and whether he will be miserable or blessed: thereafter He breathes the spirit into him. By Him other than whom there is no god, one of you will do the deeds of those who go to paradise so that there will be only a cubit between him and it, then what is decreed will overcome him so that he will do the deeds of those who go to hell and will enter it; and one of you will do the deeds of those who go to hell so that there will be only a cubit between him and it, then what is decreed will overcome him so that he will do the deeds of those who go to paradise and will enter it. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Sahl b. Sa’d reported God’s messenger as saying, “One man does the deeds of those who go to hell but is one of those who go to paradise, and another does the deeds of those who go to paradise but is one of those who go to hell, for judgment is given according to one’s final actions.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “The hearts of all men are between two of the Compassionate’s fingers as if they were one heart which He turns about as He wills.” Then God’s messenger said, “O God, who turnest the hearts, turn our hearts to Thy obedience!” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu'Musa said : God’s messenger stood up among us and made five statements, saying, “God does not sleep, as it is unfitting that He should do so; He lowers the scale and raises it up; the deeds done by night are taken up to Him before the day’s deeds are done; the deeds done by day before the night’s deeds are done; His veil is light, if He were to remove it His majesty would burn up all His creation which was reached by His glance.” Muslim transmitted it.

He also reported that when God’s messenger was questioned about the offspring of polytheists he said, “God knows best about what they were doing.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you dies, his abode among the inhabitants of paradise will be shown him morning and evening if he is to be one of them; but if he is to be one of the inhabitants of hell, his abode among them will be shown him. He will be told that this is his abode to which God will finally raise him on the day of resurrection.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha told of a Jewess who visited her and mentioned the punishment in the grave adding, “May God preserve you from the punishment of the grave!” ‘A’isha asked God’s messenger about the subject and he said, “Yes, the punishment in the grave is real.” ‘A’isha said, “After that I never saw God’s messenger observing a prayer without seeking God’s protection from the punishment in the grave.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)