Sayyidina Harith Ashari (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: ‘Allah commanded Yahya ibn Zakariya with five things that he may abide by them and command the Banu Isra’il to abide by them. But he was delayed in coveying them. Eesa said to him, “Allah commanded you with five commands that you may abide by them and command the Banu Isra’il to abide by them. So, either you give them the command, or I will do that.” So Yahya said, “If you take precedence over me in conveying them, I fear that I will be swallowed up (in earth) or punished.” So, he assembled the people in Bayt al-Maqdis and it was filled up, and people sat down on elevated places. He said to them, “Allah has commanded me with five commands that I should abide by them and comañd you to abide by them. (1) The first of them is that you worship Allah and associate not anything with Him. And the example of one who associates wit Allah is like a man who bought a slave with his pure earnings of gold or silver and said to him, ‘This is my house and this is my business. So take up this occupation and pay me what you earn) He works but pays another than his master. So, which of you will be pleased to have a slave like that? (2) And Allah commands you to offer salah. When you offer salah, do not turn elsewhere, for, Allah has His face towards His slave who offers salah as long as he does not turn elsewhere. (3) And I command you to keep fast. Its similitude is of a man who is with a party. He has a bagful of mausk. Alla of them are pleased with it or he is pleased with its odour. And the odour of oe who is fasting is more pleasant to Allah than the odour of musk. (4) And I command you to give sadaqah. Its similtude is like that of a man who is imprisoned by his enye my. They tie his hand to his neck and take him to be executed. He offers, ‘I pay ransom to you the little or much, and he ransoms himself from them, (5) And, I command you that you remember Allah. The similitude for that is like a man whose enye my pursue him in haste while he comes to a strong fort and protects himself from them. So is the man whom nothing protects from the devil but dhikr (remembrance) of Allah.” The Prophet (SAW) said. “And I command you with firve commands with which Allah has commanded me. They are: to hear, to obey, to wage jihad, to make hijrah (migration) and to a attach to the main body of Muslim s, for, he who separates from the main body even by a span takes out the rope of Islam from his neck unless he returns to it. And, he who invites people to the evils of jahiliyah is fuel of Hell.” Someone asked, “O Messenger of Allah (SAW) , even if he offered salah and kept fast”? He said, “Even if he offered salah and fasted. So invite to Allah Who named you Muslim s. Believers and slaves of Allah.”
[Ahmed 1717]