the authentic hadith narrated by Muslim in his Sahīh on the authority of Abū Hurayrah:

“Allah is pleased with three things for you: that you worship Him without associating anything with Him; that you hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided; and that you sincerely advise those whom Allah has placed in charge of your affairs.”

The Sunan collections also relate, on the authority of Zayd ibn Thābit and Ibn Mas‘ūd—two jurists among the Companions—that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“May Allah make radiant the face of someone who hears a hadith from us and conveys it to someone who has not heard it. Many a bearer of religious knowledge lacks understanding, and many a bearer of such knowledge conveys it to someone who understands it better than he does. There are three things towards which a Muslim’s heart harbours no resentment: devoting one’s deeds sincerely to Allah, sincerely advising those in authority, and remaining with the Muslim community, for their call encompasses those beyond them.”

His words, “harbours no resentment,” mean that the heart bears no rancour towards these qualities. A Muslim’s heart does not hate them; rather, it loves and approves of them.

The first matter I shall address under this principle is what concerns me personally. You know—may Allah be pleased with you—that I do not wish any Muslim whatsoever, let alone any of our companions, to suffer harm of any kind, inwardly or outwardly. Nor do I bear any grievance against any of them or blame them at all. Rather, my honour, esteem, love and reverence for them are many times greater than before, each according to his due; and inevitably