Explanation of the Hadith: “Religion is sincere advice”

Question:
The questioner asks for an explanation of the hadith ?

Answer:
This is a great hadith narrated by Muslim in his Sahih from the hadith of Tamim al-Dari, and it has corroborating narrations from other than Muslim. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
This great hadith indicates that religion is sincere advice, and this indicates the greatness of its status; because he made it religion, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
This hadith indicates that sincere advice is religion, and it is sincerity in a matter and truthfulness in it, so that it is performed as Allah has made obligatory. So religion is sincere advice in all that Allah has made obligatory and in leaving what Allah has forbidden. This encompasses the right of Allah, the right of the Messenger, the right of the Qur'an, the right of the rulers, and the right of the common people.
And sincere advice, as mentioned before, is sincerity in a matter, caring for it, and striving to have it performed completely and perfectly, without deception, betrayal, or negligence. It is said in the language of the Arabs: “pure gold,” meaning there is no deception in it.
And they also say: “pure honey,” meaning there is no deception in it.
And so the believer must be sincere in his deeds to Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the rulers of the Muslims, and to the common people.
So sincere advice to Allah is His tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and sincerity to Him, and directing worship to Him (Exalted and Majestic is He), such as prayer, fasting, Hajj, jihad, and other things.
That is, to act with the utmost sincerity for Allah, not worshipping anyone alongside Him, but worshipping Him alone, and being sincere in this worship and perfecting it, along with belief in Him and in everything He has commanded. And so he is sincere in performing what Allah has made obligatory upon him and leaving what Allah has forbidden him, performing that completely because he knows the right of Allah and that Allah has made it obligatory upon him, so he is sincere in it and cares for it.
Likewise, regarding the Qur'an, one should reflect upon it, comprehend it, act upon its commands, and refrain from its prohibitions. It is the great Book of Allah and His firm rope. Therefore, it is obligatory to take care of it and offer sincere advice in that matter, both in word and deed, by preserving the commands, abandoning the prohibitions, and adhering to the limits that Allah has delineated in the Noble Qur'an, so that one does not neglect any of Allah's commands in the Qur'an, and so that one does not commit any of Allah's prohibitions. This is to be accompanied by the belief that it is the speech of Allah, revealed and not created, from Him it began and to Him it returns. This is the position of the people of the Sunnah and the community, all of them, as He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ [al-Shu'ara: 193-194]. And He, the Exalted, said: [al-Zumar: 1].
And He, the Exalted, said: [Surah al-Qadr: 1], and other verses indicating that it is the speech of Allah, the Exalted, and that it is revealed from Him. Thus, the believer believes in all of this, and so does the believing woman, and each of them believes that it is the speech of Allah, revealed and not created, from which it began and to which it returns, contrary to the Jahmiyyah and those who follow in their footsteps among the innovators.
And so sincere advice to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is by obeying his commands, avoiding his prohibitions, and believing that he is truly the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets and messengers, along with defending his Sunnah and protecting it. All of this is part of sincere advice to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And so caring for his hadiths (peace and blessings be upon him), distinguishing the authentic from the defective, defending them, complying with them, and standing by the limits that Allah and His Messenger have defined, as He, the Exalted, said: [Surah al-Baqarah: 299].
This is sincere advice to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And whatever exceeds this in performing the obligatory duties and leaving the forbidden things is the perfection and completion of sincere advice.
So the result is that by caring for what Allah and His Messenger have commanded, and what the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger indicate regarding rights, one has been sincere to Allah, to His Book, and to His Messenger; by performing the obligations of Allah, leaving the prohibitions of Allah, standing by the limits of Allah, and increasing in praising Him and mentioning Him, Exalted and Exalted is He, and fearing Him, Exalted and Majestic is He. All of this is part of sincere advice to Allah, to His Book, and to His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for sincere advice to the rulers of the Muslims, it is by making du'a' (supplication) for them, listening to and obeying them in what is right, cooperating with them in good and leaving evil, and not rebelling against them, and not challenging them, except if there is from them open disbelief with proof from Allah , as that came in the hadith of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the pledge of allegiance of the Ansar to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
And among the advice for them is directing them to good, commanding them to do what is right, and forbidding them from doing what is wrong, using a good manner and gentleness, and other beneficial means; acting in accordance with this authentic hadith. And Allah, the Exalted, says: [Surah al-Ma'idah: 2], and He, the Exalted, says: Indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds and enjoin upon each other truth and enjoin upon each other patience [Surah al-Asr: 1-3].
And as for sincere advice to the common Muslims, it is by teaching them, instructing them in the religion, calling them to Allah, Exalted is He, commanding them to do what is right and forbidding them from what is wrong, and implementing the hudud (fixed Qur'anic punishments) upon them, and the ta'zir (discretionary punishment) prescribed by the Shari'ah. All of this is part of sincere advice to them. And success is from Allah.