Faith followed by steadfastness

What It Means: Reading in Context

Sufyan ibn Abdullah al-Thaqafi asks the Prophet for concise counsel about Islam that will leave him with no need to ask anyone else. This excerpt is the reply, linking an affirmation of faith with steadfastness. The question is retained here as context rather than included in the quotation. This entry comes from Sahih Muslim 38. The displayed text is an excerpt, not the complete narration. Follow the source link to read the narrator, full wording and in-book reference together. A hadith number identifies the source used here; numbering systems can differ between editions. Being able to inspect a source is important when a short statement is shared outside its original setting. The accompanying reflection is an editorial prompt for everyday conduct. It is not part of the hadith and does not replace explanation from qualified scholarship. Avoid extending a short reminder into a religious ruling that the entry itself does not establish.