- Tamim al-Dari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Religion is sincere counsel”—he repeated this three times. We asked, “To whom, O Messenger of Allah?” He answered, “To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims, and to their ordinary folk.” Muslim recorded it. (1)
Vocabulary of the ḥadith
• al-dīn (religion): Ibn Faris states that the root letters d-y-n revolve around a single basic meaning—submission and humility—so al-dīn signifies obedience.
• al-naṣīḥa (sincere counsel): Al-Qāmūs explains: naṣaḥahu/naṣaḥa lahu, nuṣḥan/naṣāḥatan; the person is nāṣiḥ or naṣīḥ; the noun is naṣīḥa. Naṣaḥa means “to purify.” The nāṣiḥ is a righteous deed, and tawba naṣūḥ is genuine repentance. Ibn Faris remarks that naṣaḥtuhu and naṣaḥtu lahu are synonymous; naṣīḥa is the opposite of ghish (deception). Al-Nihāya adds: naṣīḥa is a term that expresses the wish for good on behalf of the one advised.
• “al-dīnu al-naṣīḥa”: This clause conveys exclusivity; hence it has come to stand for what constitutes the very backbone of the religion.
• “thalāthan” (three times): The Prophet repeated this concise, comprehensive statement three times to stress its importance and to show the great concern attached to it.