Etiquette of Sincere Advice (An-Nasihah) in the Quran & Sunnah
Etiquette of Sincere Advice (An-Nasihah) in the Quran & Sunnah
Sincere advice in Islam (an-nasihah): the religion itself named as advice, Jarir’s pledge beside prayer and zakah, and the consulted person as a trustee, from the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
Part 1: Advice in the Light of the Quran
1. …and urge one another to the truth, and urge one another to patience.
Allah says:
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
except those who believed and did righteous deeds, and exhorted each other to follow truth, and exhorted each other to observe patience. (Surah Al-'Asr 103:3)
In the surah that declares mankind in loss, mutual counsel — to truth, and to patience upon it — is one of the four marks of the saved.
2. “…if they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger.”
Allah says:
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
There is no blame on the weak, or on the sick, or on those who have nothing to spend, if they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger. There is no way against those who are good in deeds. Allah is most Forgiving, Very Merciful. (Surah At-Tawbah 9:91)
The weak and the sick are excused from marching out — on one condition written into the excuse itself: that their hearts remain sincere to Allah and His Messenger. Sincerity is the deed of those who cannot act.
Part 2: Nasihah in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
1. “The religion is sincere advice (nasihah).” — “To whom?”
Tamim ad-Dari reported: “The religion is nasihah.” We said: “To whom?” He said: “To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims, and to their common folk.”
Lesson: Nasihah is not fault-finding; it is wanting for the other what faith wants for him — owed upward to Allah and downward to the weakest Muslim.
2. Jarir’s pledge included advice to every Muslim.
Jarir ibn ‘Abdullah said: “I gave the pledge of allegiance to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ on the establishment of prayer, the giving of zakah — and sincere advice to every Muslim.”
Lesson: Advice stands in the pledge beside prayer and zakah: a pillar in the contract, not a courtesy added later.
3. The one consulted is a trustee.
“He who is consulted is trustworthy.” The one asked for counsel holds an amanah: his answer must be what he believes is best for the asker — not what pleases him, and not what serves the adviser.
Lesson: Give advice as a trustee gives back a deposit: whole, honest, and on time. (This narration is also cited in the Istikhara and Consultation entry, where consultation is the theme.)
Adab No. 70 — all evidences for this entry, taken from the DeenHub Global library. Open any link to read the original hadith or ayah in full.
- Part 1, Point 1: Surah Al-'Asr (103), Ayah 3
- Part 1, Point 2: Surah At-Tawbah (9), Ayah 91
- Part 2, Point 1: Sahih Muslim 55a (Sahih)
- Part 2, Point 2: Sahih al-Bukhari 57 (Sahih)
- Part 2, Point 3: Sunan Abu Dawud 5128 (Sahih (Al-Albani))